Get ready to fall in love with the ultimate summer dessert. This peach cobbler with crumble topping features a jammy, sweet filling of fresh peaches topped with the most irresistible, buttery, and crunchy streusel. It’s warm, comforting, and surprisingly simple to make.
Forget everything you know about complicated desserts. This recipe is designed to be foolproof, delivering a perfect result every single time. We’ve cracked the code to a bubbly, delicious filling and a topping that stays wonderfully crisp, never soggy.
Why This is the Best Peach Cobbler with Crumble Topping
We don’t call this the “best” for nothing! This recipe stands out for a few key reasons. First, the balance of flavors is perfect—sweet, ripe peaches with a hint of cinnamon and lemon to brighten everything up. Second, the star of the show, the crumble topping, is loaded with buttery, brown sugar goodness and bakes up to a perfect golden-brown crunch.
Most importantly, our method is straightforward and reliable. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting, you’ll find these steps easy to follow for a dessert that looks and tastes like it came from a gourmet bakery. It’s the perfect treat for family dinners, summer barbecues, or any time you need a little sweetness.
Cobbler vs. Crumble vs. Crisp: What’s the Difference?
You might see these terms used interchangeably, but there’s a subtle difference! A traditional cobbler has a biscuit or batter topping dropped over the fruit, creating a “cobbled” look. A crumble, like this recipe, has a streusel-like topping made from flour, sugar, and butter that’s crumbled on top. A crisp is very similar to a crumble but almost always includes oats in the topping for extra texture.
So while this is technically a peach crumble, many people search for it as a “peach cobbler with crumble topping”—and we’re here to give you exactly that delicious recipe you’re looking for!
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe uses simple, wholesome ingredients to create a truly spectacular dessert. The quality of your peaches will make a big difference, so aim for the best you can find!
For the Juicy Peach Filling
- Peaches: About 6-8 medium ripe but firm peaches are perfect. This ensures they hold their shape and don’t get too mushy during baking.
- Granulated Sugar: To sweeten the filling. You can adjust this based on the sweetness of your peaches.
- Cornstarch: Our secret weapon for a thick, jammy filling that isn’t watery.
- Lemon Juice: A little acidity brightens the peach flavor and prevents the fruit from browning.
- Cinnamon: Adds a touch of warm spice that complements the peaches beautifully.
- Vanilla Extract: For a little extra warmth and depth of flavor.
For the Buttery Crumble Topping
- All-Purpose Flour: The structural base of our crumble.
- Brown Sugar: Provides a deep, molasses-like sweetness and helps the topping crisp up. Light or dark brown sugar works well.
- Granulated Sugar: Adds extra sweetness and contributes to the crunchy texture.
- Cold Unsalted Butter: The key to a flaky, crisp topping! It must be cold and cubed.
- Cinnamon: More warm spice for the perfect finishing touch.
- Salt: A pinch of salt balances all the sweetness.
How to Make Peach Cobbler with Crumble Topping (Step-by-Step)
Making this dessert is a simple four-step process. Just prepare the filling, mix the topping, assemble, and bake. Let’s get started!
Step 1: Prepare the Oven and Peaches
First, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). If you’re using fresh peaches, bring a pot of water to a boil. Score a small “X” on the bottom of each peach and blanch them in the boiling water for 30-60 seconds. Immediately transfer them to an ice bath. The skins should peel off easily. Once peeled, slice the peaches into ½-inch thick wedges and place them in a large bowl.
Step 2: Make the Peach Filling
To the bowl with the sliced peaches, add the granulated sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Gently toss everything together until the peaches are evenly coated. Pour this mixture into a 9×13 inch baking dish (or a similar 3-quart dish) and spread it into an even layer.
Step 3: Make the Crumble Topping
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter to the flour mixture. Using a pastry cutter, two knives, or your fingertips, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining. Don’t overmix!
Step 4: Assemble and Bake
Evenly sprinkle the crumble topping over the peach filling in the baking dish. Make sure to cover the fruit completely. Place the dish on a baking sheet to catch any potential drips. Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until the peach filling is hot and bubbly and the crumble topping is a deep golden brown.
Let the cobbler cool on a wire rack for at least 20-30 minutes before serving. This allows the filling to set up properly.
Tips for the Perfect Crumble Topping
The topping can make or break a good peach cobbler. Follow these tips to ensure yours is absolutely perfect every time.
- Use COLD Butter: This is the most important rule. Cold butter creates little pockets of steam as it bakes, which results in a lighter, crispier topping. If your butter gets soft, pop the whole bowl of topping mixture in the fridge for 15 minutes before using it.
- Don’t Overmix: Work the butter in just until you have a crumbly, sandy texture with some larger clumps. Overmixing will develop the gluten in the flour and make the topping tough instead of tender.
- Add Oats for Extra Crunch: For a texture more like a peach crisp, feel free to add ½ cup of old-fashioned rolled oats to the topping mixture. Our peach cobbler with oatmeal topping is a fan favorite for this reason!
- Bake Until Deeply Golden: Don’t be afraid to let the topping get a nice, deep golden-brown color. That color means flavor and crunch! If the topping is browning too quickly, you can loosely tent it with aluminum foil for the last 10-15 minutes of baking.
Fresh, Frozen, or Canned Peaches?
While fresh summer peaches are unbeatable, you can absolutely make this delicious cobbler year-round using frozen or canned peaches. Here’s a quick guide on how to adjust the recipe.
| Peach Type | Preparation Notes |
|---|---|
| Fresh Peaches | Best option during peak season. Follow the recipe as written. |
| Frozen Peaches | Thaw completely and drain any excess liquid before mixing with other filling ingredients. This prevents a watery cobbler. |
| Canned Peaches | Use peaches packed in juice, not heavy syrup. Drain them very well. You may want to reduce the sugar in the filling by a couple of tablespoons. |
How to Serve and Store
This peach cobbler is heavenly on its own, but a few simple additions can take it to the next level.
Serving Suggestions
The classic way to serve warm peach cobbler is with a generous scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. The contrast of the warm, fruity cobbler and the cold, creamy ice cream is pure perfection. It’s also delicious with a dollop of fresh whipped cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce. For an extra rustic presentation, try making it in a skillet with our cast-iron peach cobbler recipe.
Storing Leftovers
Cover the cooled cobbler tightly with plastic wrap or foil and store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. The topping will soften slightly upon refrigeration, but it’s still delicious.
Reheating
For the best results, reheat individual portions in the oven or an air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through. This will help re-crisp the crumble topping. While you can use a microwave, it will make the topping soft.
The Ultimate Peach Cobbler with Crumble Topping
Peach Cobbler with Crumble Topping (The BEST Easy Recipe!)
Ingredients
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large bowl, combine the sliced peaches, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Gently toss to coat. Pour the mixture into a 9x13 inch baking dish and spread evenly.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, brown sugar, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter.
- Using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture forms coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.
- Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the peach filling in the baking dish.
- Place the baking dish on a baking sheet to catch any drips. Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
- Let the cobbler cool on a wire rack for at least 20-30 minutes before serving. This allows the filling to set. Serve warm, ideally with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Notes
Fruit Variations: This crumble topping is also delicious with apples, berries, or a mix of stone fruits.
Make Ahead: You can assemble the cobbler (without baking) up to 4 hours ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator. You may need to add 5-10 minutes to the baking time.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can assemble the unbaked cobbler up to 4 hours in advance and keep it covered in the refrigerator. You may need to add 5-10 minutes to the baking time when baking from cold. Alternatively, you can bake it completely and reheat it before serving.
Yes! If using frozen peaches, thaw them completely and drain any excess liquid before using. If using canned peaches, choose ones packed in juice (not heavy syrup) and drain them very well to avoid a watery filling.
The key is to use very cold, cubed butter and not to overmix the topping. The small pieces of cold butter will melt during baking, creating steam that results in a light, crispy texture rather than a dense, soggy one.
You’ll know the cobbler is done when the fruit filling is thick and bubbling vigorously around the edges, and the crumble topping is a deep, even golden brown.
A traditional cobbler has a biscuit or batter-like topping dropped onto the fruit. A crumble, which this recipe is, features a streusel topping made of flour, sugar, and butter that is sprinkled or ‘crumbled’ over the fruit before baking.
Share Your Masterpiece!
We know this Peach Cobbler with Crumble Topping will become a new family favorite. It’s the essence of summer in a baking dish! If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and rating below to let us know how it turned out.
And don’t forget to save this recipe for later! Pin it on Pinterest so you can always find it when a craving strikes. For a more classic version, be sure to check out our easy peach cobbler recipe with a soft, cake-like topping!
