Easy Peach Cobbler with Cake Mix: The Ultimate Dump Cake Recipe
This easy peach cobbler with cake mix and canned peaches is a beloved classic that brings warmth and nostalgia with minimal effort. Often referred to as a “peach dump cake” due to its incredibly simple preparation, it’s the perfect dessert for any occasion, from casual family dinners to festive potlucks. Imagine a bubbling, syrupy peach filling crowned with a golden, buttery crust – all achieved by simply ‘dumping’ ingredients into a baking dish and letting your oven do the magic.
You won’t need to peel or slice fresh peaches, nor will you dirty multiple mixing bowls. This recipe uses readily available pantry staples, making it an ideal last-minute dessert that tastes like it took hours to prepare. Serve it warm with a generous scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream, and watch it disappear! Thanks to canned peaches and cake mix, this delightful dessert can be enjoyed all year round, bringing a taste of summer to any season.
This recipe truly lives up to its “dump cake” moniker, requiring almost no prep work. Just layer your ingredients directly into the baking dish, and you’re good to go. It’s perfect for those busy evenings when you crave a homemade dessert but are short on time. Its adaptability also means it’s not just a summer treat; canned peaches allow you to whip up this comforting cobbler whenever the craving strikes.
If you’re a fan of this simple peach cobbler with cake mix, you’ll love exploring other variations. Cake mix cobblers are incredibly versatile and can be customized with various canned fruits. Be sure to try our cherry dump cake or our blueberry dump cake for equally delicious and effortless dessert experiences.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Peach Cobbler
- Effortless Preparation & Cleanup: This truly is the best peach cobbler recipe for convenience. Forget extensive mixing or extra dishes; simply dump the ingredients, bake, and serve a delicious dessert with minimal fuss.
- Irresistibly Classic Flavor: Every spoonful offers the perfect blend of sweet, tender peaches, warm cinnamon, and a rich, buttery, crisp topping. It’s comfort food at its finest.
- Only 4 Simple Ingredients: You only need four core ingredients to create this masterpiece: canned peaches, ground cinnamon, yellow cake mix, and unsalted butter. It doesn’t get much simpler than that!
- Versatile for Any Occasion: Whether it’s a cozy family night, a backyard BBQ, or a holiday gathering, this peach cobbler recipe fits right in. It’s always a crowd-pleaser and easy to scale up for larger groups.
Essential Ingredients for Your Peach Cobbler
Creating this delightful peach cobbler requires just a few basic ingredients, most of which you likely already have in your pantry. The quality of these simple components is key to achieving that perfect balance of sweet, juicy, and buttery goodness. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need:
- Canned Sliced Peaches in Heavy Syrup: This is the foundation of our easy cobbler. Using peaches in heavy syrup is crucial as it provides the perfect amount of sweetness and creates that wonderfully thick, gooey filling once baked. While juice or extra light syrup versions can work in a pinch, they might result in a less sweet and slightly thinner filling. If you use them, consider adding a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar to the peaches.
- Ground Cinnamon: A touch of cinnamon elevates the natural sweetness of the peaches and adds a classic warm, comforting spice note that is essential for any great peach cobbler.
- Yellow Cake Mix: This is the star of the “dump cake” method! Used dry, the cake mix combines with the peach syrup and melted butter to form a crispy, golden, and wonderfully buttery topping that bakes into a cake-like crust. A standard 15.25-ounce box is ideal.
- Unsalted Butter, Melted: The melted butter is poured over the dry cake mix, allowing it to soak in and create that signature rich, golden-brown, and crispy finish. Unsalted butter gives you control over the overall sweetness and saltiness of the dessert.
- Vanilla Ice Cream (for serving): While optional, a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting over the warm cobbler is highly recommended. The creamy, cool contrast perfectly complements the warm, fruity sweetness, making for an unforgettable dessert experience. Or try whipped cream for a lighter touch!
For precise measurements and detailed instructions, refer to the recipe card below.
How to Make This Easy Peach Cobbler
Making this dump cake peach cobbler is incredibly straightforward. Follow these simple steps to create a delicious dessert with minimal effort:
Step 1: Prepare Your Baking Dish
Preheat your oven to 350ºF (176°C) degrees. Lightly grease the sides of a 9×13-inch baking dish. This prevents the cobbler from sticking and ensures easy serving.
Step 2: Add the Peaches
Pour both cans of peaches, along with all their heavy syrup, directly into the prepared baking dish. It’s crucial NOT to drain the peaches, as the syrup is essential for moistening the cake mix and creating that luscious, gooey base.
Step 3: Season the Peaches
Sprinkle the ground cinnamon evenly over the peaches in the baking dish. Gently stir the cinnamon into the peaches directly in the dish to ensure they are well coated and infused with flavor.
Step 4: Add the Cake Mix Topping
Evenly sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix over the entire surface of the peaches. Gently but firmly press the cake mix down with your hands or the back of a spatula, leveling it as much as possible. This ensures the cake mix makes good contact with the fruit and syrup for an even crust.
Step 5: Drizzle with Butter
Pour the melted butter evenly over the dry cake mix layer. Use the back of a spoon to gently smooth the butter over any dry spots, ensuring full coverage. Remember, do NOT mix the butter into the cake mix; simply distribute it over the top.
Step 6: Bake to Golden Perfection
Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the cake layer is beautifully crisp and golden brown on top, and the peach filling is bubbling around the edges. Allow the cobbler to cool for about 10 minutes before serving. This cooling time allows the filling to set slightly.
Step 7: Serve and Enjoy!
Serve the peach cobbler warm, straight from the oven, or at room temperature. It’s absolutely delicious on its own, but truly shines when paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of fresh whipped cream.
Flavorful Substitutions and Variations
One of the joys of this peach cobbler dump cake is how easily it can be adapted to suit your preferences or what you have on hand. Here are some fantastic substitution ideas to keep your cobbler exciting:
- Canned Peaches: While peaches in heavy syrup are recommended for their rich sweetness and thick consistency, you can certainly use those packed in light syrup or even juice. Just be aware that the final dessert might be slightly less sweet and a bit less gooey. To compensate, stir in 2-3 tablespoons of brown sugar with your peaches before adding the cake mix.
- Fresh Peaches: If you’re lucky enough to have fresh, ripe peaches, they make an incredible cobbler! You’ll need about 6 cups of peeled and sliced fresh peaches. Toss them with ⅓ cup of granulated sugar (or brown sugar for deeper notes) and let them sit for 10-15 minutes to release their juices before adding to the baking dish. You may also want to add 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch to the peaches to help thicken the natural juices during baking.
- Frozen Peaches: Frozen sliced peaches work wonderfully too. Use about 6 cups, thawed and drained slightly, then toss them with ⅓ cup of sugar and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. The extra cornstarch helps absorb excess moisture released during baking.
- Yellow Cake Mix: Don’t limit yourself to just yellow cake mix! White cake mix offers a subtle vanilla flavor, while French vanilla cake mix provides a richer, more aromatic twist. For a seasonal treat, try spice cake mix, which adds notes of nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon that perfectly complement the peaches. Avoid chocolate or highly flavored cake mixes, as they might overpower the delicate peach flavor.
- Add-ins: For extra texture and flavor, sprinkle ½ cup of chopped pecans or walnuts over the cake mix before pouring the butter. A pinch of nutmeg or a splash of vanilla extract can also be added to the peaches for an even more complex flavor profile.
Kelsey’s Top Tips for the Best Peach Cobbler
Achieving a perfectly moist, flavorful, and crispy peach cobbler is easier than you think with these expert tips:
- Don’t Stir the Cake Mix into the Peaches: This is perhaps the most important rule of a dump cake. Resist the temptation to mix everything together! The magic happens when the dry cake mix slowly absorbs the peach syrup and melted butter during baking, creating distinct, delicious layers.
- Press in the Cake Mix Firmly: After sprinkling the cake mix, gently press it down with your hands or a spatula. This ensures a more even contact with the syrupy peaches below, allowing the cake mix to moisten consistently and bake into a uniform, crispy crust.
- Even Butter Distribution is Key: Whether you’re pouring melted butter or placing pats of cold butter, ensure it’s distributed as evenly as possible over the dry cake mix. This guarantees a uniformly golden and crisp topping, preventing any dry, powdery spots. If using melted butter, a gentle swirl of the dish can help spread it.
- Use Heavy Syrup Peaches: As mentioned, canned peaches in heavy syrup provide the ideal sweetness and moisture for that gooey, delicious filling. If using lighter syrup, compensate with a bit of added sugar.
- Don’t Overbake: While you want a golden crust, overbaking can dry out the peach filling. Keep an eye on it after 40 minutes. The edges should be bubbling, and the top golden.
- Cool Before Serving: Allowing the cobbler to cool for about 10 minutes helps the filling to set slightly, making it easier to scoop and preventing it from being too runny.
Serving, Storage, and Make-Ahead Tips
This easy peach cobbler is best served warm, allowing the gooey peach filling and crisp topping to shine. A scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of fresh whipped cream is the classic accompaniment, but don’t hesitate to get creative. A drizzle of caramel sauce, a dusting of powdered sugar, or even a spoonful of crème fraîche can add an extra layer of decadence.
Storage: If you have any leftovers (which is rare!), store them covered tightly with plastic wrap or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. The topping may soften slightly over time, but the flavors will still be delicious.
Reheating: Individual portions can be easily reheated in the microwave until warmed through. For a crispier topping, reheat the entire cobbler in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 15-20 minutes, or until warm.
Freezing: This dessert can also be frozen! Once completely cooled, wrap the cobbler tightly in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. To serve, thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat in the oven as described above.
Make-Ahead: While it’s best served fresh, you can assemble the cobbler up to a day in advance. Prepare all layers as instructed, cover the baking dish tightly, and refrigerate. When ready to bake, add about 10-15 minutes to the baking time to account for the chilled ingredients. This makes it a fantastic option for entertaining!
Did you make this recipe? We’d love to hear what you think! Please take a moment to leave a rating and review—it helps us create high-quality recipes and lets others know what to expect.
📖 Recipe Card: Easy Peach Cobbler with Cake Mix
Pin Recipe
Save RecipeSaved!
Email
Print
Peach
Cobbler with Cake Mix and Canned Peaches
peaches and cake mix for a buttery, golden topping and juicy peach filling.
Kelsey Smith
time: 5 minutes
time: 50 minutes
time: 55 minutes
12 servings
Equipment
-
9×13 baking dish
Ingredients
- 2 cans sliced peaches in heavy syrup 15.25 ounce each,
or one large 29-ounce can - ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 15.25 ounces boxed yellow cake mix
- ¾ cup unsalted butter melted
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to
350ºF (176°C) degrees and lightly grease the sides of a 9×13-inch baking dish. -
Dump the peaches (with
syrup) into the baking dish. -
Add the ground cinnamon
and stir directly in the baking dish to combine. -
Cover peaches evenly
with dry cake mix and press down firmly with your hands or a spatula, leveling as much as
possible. -
Pour the melted butter
evenly over the dry cake mix. Use the back of a spoon to smooth the butter over any drop
spots but do not mix. -
Bake for 45-50 minutes
or until the cake layer is crisp and golden brown. Cool for about 10 minutes before
serving. Serve warm or at room temperature with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Video
Notes
covered in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. Reheat portions in the microwave until warmed through.
This dessert is best enjoyed fresh but can be frozen. Cool completely, wrap tightly, and freeze for
up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
Nutrition
Dessert
American
cake mix, peaches, dump cake,
easy cobbler
was!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is a “dump cake”?
- A “dump cake” is a dessert where ingredients are simply “dumped” into a baking dish without much mixing, resulting in an incredibly easy and quick preparation. The cake mix and butter form a delicious crust over the fruit filling as it bakes.
- Can I use fresh or frozen peaches instead of canned?
- Yes, absolutely! If using fresh peaches, you’ll need about 6 cups of peeled and sliced peaches, tossed with ⅓ cup of sugar and optionally 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch. For frozen peaches, use about 6 cups, thawed and slightly drained, then toss with ⅓ cup sugar and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. The sugar and cornstarch help create a syrupy filling similar to what you get from canned peaches in heavy syrup.
- Do I need to drain the canned peaches?
- No, do NOT drain the canned peaches! The heavy syrup is essential. It provides the liquid needed to moisten the dry cake mix, transforming it into a rich, buttery crust and ensuring the peach filling remains juicy and delicious.
- Can I use a different flavor of cake mix?
- Yes, you can! Yellow cake mix is classic, but white cake mix, French vanilla, or even spice cake mix can offer delightful variations. Experiment to find your favorite, but avoid strong flavors like chocolate that might overshadow the peaches.
- How do I know when the peach cobbler is done?
- The cobbler is ready when the topping is golden brown and crisp, and the peach filling is visibly bubbling around the edges of the baking dish. A toothpick inserted into the cake topping (not the peaches) might come out mostly clean, but the main indicator is the color and bubbling of the fruit.
- Can this peach cobbler be made ahead?
- Yes, you can assemble the cobbler a day in advance. Cover the baking dish tightly and refrigerate. When ready to bake, add an extra 10-15 minutes to the baking time to ensure it cooks through from chilled.
More Easy Cake Mix Dessert Recipes
Looking for other simple, crowd-pleasing desserts like this easy peach cobbler? Cake mix dump cakes are incredibly versatile and perfect for effortless baking. Try these equally delicious and minimal-effort recipes:
- 5-Ingredient Blueberry Dump Cake
- 3-Ingredient Cherry Dump Cake
No matter which fruit you choose, these dump cake recipes promise minimal fuss and maximum flavor, making them ideal for any baker looking for quick and satisfying desserts.