The Best Easy Peach Cobbler Recipe (Just 4 Ingredients!)

There’s something magical about the aroma of peaches baking in the oven that instantly transports me back to summer afternoons at my grandmother’s house. This easy peach cobbler recipe has become my absolute summer dessert essential—a perfect blend of sweet, juicy peaches nestled under a golden, buttery crust that develops the most delightful crispy edges while baking.

What makes this recipe particularly special is that it requires just four simple ingredients, yet delivers an impressive dessert worthy of any gathering. While it’s perfect during peach season, I love that it can be enjoyed year-round thanks to the convenience of canned peaches.

Serve this warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting into all those peachy crevices, and you’ll understand why this recipe has been shared over 10,000 times and garnered nearly 400 glowing reviews from home bakers.

Published: May 2, 2025 | Updated: May 2, 2025 | By Ethan Chef

Why This Recipe Is So Wonderfully Simple (Just 4 Key Ingredients)

The beauty of this peach cobbler lies in its simplicity. Unlike more complex cobbler recipes that require cutting butter into flour or making a separate biscuit topping, this version uses a clever technique where the flour mixture magically transforms during baking.

When combined with melted butter and the natural juices from the peaches, the simple flour mixture creates a batter that rises through the fruit to form a perfect cobbler crust. It’s not a biscuit-style topping, and it’s even better than using a cake mix (which many quick cobbler recipes call for).

Don’t worry when you first assemble the cobbler—it will look very wet and somewhat strange before baking. The magic happens in the oven as the ingredients work together to create that classic cobbler consistency and appearance. Trust the process!

Key Ingredients and Substitutes for Your Peach Cobbler

This remarkably simple peach cobbler requires just four main ingredients:

• Self-rising flour (1 cup)
• Granulated sugar (¾ cup, plus 2 tablespoons for topping)
• Butter (½ cup, divided and melted)
• Canned peaches (one 29 oz can, undrained)

Self-rising flour substitute: If you don’t have self-rising flour on hand, you can easily make your own. For each cup of self-rising flour needed, combine 1 cup all-purpose flour with 1½ teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon baking soda.

Equipment needed: A 9×9-inch baking dish works perfectly for this recipe. If you only have an 8×8-inch dish, the cooking time may need to be extended by a few minutes.

Detailed Instructions: How to Make This Cobbler Step by Step

• For a larger crowd, simply double the recipe and use a 9×13-inch baking dish.
• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Mix the dry ingredients and part of the butter. In a medium bowl, combine the self-rising flour with ½ cup of the granulated sugar. Add ¼ cup of the melted butter and stir until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. For a warm, spiced variation, you can add ½ teaspoon of cinnamon to this mixture.
• Prepare the baking dish by sprinkling approximately ⅓ of the flour mixture across the bottom of your 9×9-inch baking dish. No need to grease the dish beforehand.
• Add the peaches with their juice (or reduce the liquid if you prefer a drier cobbler) over the flour layer.
• Top with remaining mixture by sprinkling the rest of your flour mixture evenly over the peaches. Then sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar over the top.
• Drizzle with butter by pouring the remaining ¼ cup of melted butter evenly over the entire dish. At this point, the cobbler will look very wet and somewhat unusual—this is completely normal!
• Bake until golden and bubbling, about 40-45 minutes. The top should develop a beautiful golden-brown color and the edges should become slightly crisp.
• Allow to rest for at least 5 minutes before serving to let the cobbler set properly.
• Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate dessert experience.

Using Peaches: Fresh or Canned?

Peach Cobbler Made With Canned Peaches

The primary version of this recipe is designed for canned peaches packed in heavy syrup (29 oz can). This makes it incredibly convenient to prepare this delicious dessert any time of year, without waiting for peach season. The syrup from the can provides just the right amount of sweetness and moisture for the perfect cobbler consistency.

Pro tip: If you prefer a slightly less sweet or drier cobbler, you can reduce the amount of liquid from the canned peaches. Simply drain some (but not all) of the syrup before adding them to your baking dish.

Fresh Peach Cobbler Recipe Variation

When summer brings ripe, juicy peaches to your local market, making this cobbler with fresh peaches elevates it to an entirely new level. Here’s how to adapt the recipe:

• You’ll need approximately 1¾ pounds (about 5-6 medium peaches)
• Peel and slice the peaches into thin wedges
• Add an extra ½ cup of granulated sugar to compensate for the missing syrup
• Allow the peaches to rest in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours with the sugar to create their own natural syrup
• Then continue with the recipe as written

The fresh version requires a bit more effort and planning, but the bright, natural peach flavor is absolutely worth it when these fruits are in season.

Tips and Variations (Based on Reader Feedback)

After hundreds of reviews and comments, these helpful tips and creative variations have emerged from our community of bakers:

• Adjusting sweetness: While this is designed to be a sweet dessert, you can reduce the sugar if preferred. Some readers have successfully used as little as ½ cup total. Others enjoy substituting brown sugar for some or all of the granulated sugar to add a deeper, caramel-like flavor.
• Adding flavors: Enhance the basic recipe with a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice, a teaspoon of vanilla extract, a dash of cinnamon, or ¼ cup of chopped nuts (pecans work beautifully).
• Using other fruits: Readers have successfully adapted this recipe using apples, blackberries, cherries, pears, raspberries, or strawberries. Remember to adjust sugar levels depending on the fruit’s natural sweetness—berries may need a bit more, while sweet cherries might need less.
• Canned peach variations: Some readers prefer using peach pie filling or peaches packed in light juice rather than heavy syrup. Both work well with minor adjustments—reduce added sugar when using pie filling or add a bit more when using light juice.
• Troubleshooting: If your cobbler top isn’t getting golden enough, you may need to bake it longer. Oven temperatures can vary significantly, so trust your eyes over the timer.
• Following the order: Several readers mentioned that following the steps in the exact order prescribed is crucial for this recipe’s success.
• Gluten-free option: Yes, you can make this with gluten-free flour blend plus the appropriate leavening agents to create a gluten-free self-rising flour substitute. Many readers reported excellent results with their favorite cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blends.

Nutritional Information

Other Fruit Dessert Recipes You’ll Love

Once you’ve mastered this easy peach cobbler, you might want to explore other simple fruit desserts in our collection:

• Hawaiian Roll French Toast 
• Sweet Potato Pie
• Condensed Milk Bread
• Berry Crumble
• Blackberry Cheesecake

These recipes all follow our philosophy of maximum flavor with minimal effort, perfect for both weeknight desserts and special occasions.

Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting out in the kitchen, this four-ingredient peach cobbler proves that sometimes the simplest recipes deliver the most impressive results. The combination of juicy peaches and that magical self-forming crust creates a dessert that tastes like it came from a skilled pastry chef rather than your own oven.

Next time you’re craving a homemade dessert but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen, remember this easy peach cobbler. It might just become your signature dessert!