Favorite (and Forgiving) Peach Cobbler Recipe

It is peach season in Missouri.

Peaches from Schreiman Orchard

Peaches from Schreiman Orchard

If it is peach season, it is time for peach cobbler, one of my favorite desserts. We like to buy our peaches from Schreiman Orchards in Waverly, Missouri, but any fresh peaches will do. Canned peaches will do in a pinch.

I don’t really believe in recipes, which is one of the differences between my husband and me.

“If you don’t always use the same ingredients, you will get a different result every time,” he tells me.

He may be right, but who’s to say I always want the same result?  A little variation never hurt anyone. (At least most of the time.)

When I sent a friend another recipe and told her what I did and didn’t follow when I made it, she wrote back, “Love the extra notes, those are always helpful!”

So some people agree with me that a recipe is just a suggestion. Not everyone is as strict as my husband.

peach cobblerHere is the recipe I have developed for peach cobbler. It was adapted from a Better Homes & Gardens recipe that calls for oatmeal muffin mix. Now who keeps oatmeal muffin mix on hand? My variation doesn’t require anything more exotic than Bisquick. I’m flexible with the proportions, as indicated below, but it always turns out tasty.

The trick is to use fresh peaches, and lots of cinnamon, nutmeg, and/or mace. (But I’ve used the same topping with canned cherries, too, and that cobbler turned out pretty good. See, a recipe is only a suggestion.)

Favorite Peach Cobbler Recipe

6 fresh peaches, cut into bite-size pieces (no need to peel, unless you want the extra work) – enough to make 4 heaping cups

1 cup sugar

2 Tbsp lemon juice (skip, if you don’t have any)

Mix of Bisquick, quick oats and sugar, to make 2 cups – I use about 1 ½ cups of Bisquick, ¼ cup quick oats, ¼ cup sugar, but don’t worry about being precise

¼ tsp nutmeg, and throw in some cinnamon and/or mace also – total about ½ tsp of spices; a little more won’t hurt

½ cup butter or margarine; I usually use soft margarine

  1. Combine peaches, sugar and lemon juice, and put in 8x8x2 baking dish.
  2. Combine Bisquick mix described above with spices and butter. Cut until it forms coarse crumbs. Spoon over peaches.
  3. Bake in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.
  4. Serve warm or cold, with or without ice cream, whipped cream, half-and-half, or whatever you like.

Serves 6-8. Can be frozen, but mine never lasts long enough. Good for breakfast (because of the oatmeal, as if that matters), lunch, or dinner.

What’s a favorite summer treat of yours?

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