Ever hit that point in summer where you're staring at a mountain of peaches, wondering what on earth to do with them all? Or maybe it's the middle of winter and you're just dreaming of peach season? Either way, this easy 5-ingredient peach cobbler with cake mix has your back.
At my house, fresh peaches disappear faster than I can say "save some for dessert!" My kids and husband could down a dozen in a day, easy. So I needed a go-to cobbler recipe that didn't rely on fresh peaches, something I could whip up anytime with pantry staples.
Enter: canned peaches and a little dessert magic. Just like my cake batter dip, chocolate pudding pie, and pumpkin dump cake, this cobbler is all about keeping it simple. No fussy toppings, no fancy steps, just 5 ingredients and 10 minutes of prep before you've got a warm, bubbly peach dessert ready to wow.
Jump to:
Ingredients
- Cake Mix: Yellow cake mix is our favorite to pair with the peaches, you can use regular (Duncan Hines is our brand of choice) or a gluten free cake mix.
- Peaches: Canned, Fresh or Frozen will all work in this recipe. Look for sliced peaches in light syrup. If using frozen peaches, you'll want to let them defrost before baking.
- Cornstarch: This one tablespoon of cornstarch is essential in making sure that the peach juices don't leak out all over the place.
Mom Hack: Make sure to watch for cake mixes to go on sale. It happens a few times a year and I always grab a bunch so I'm ready when I need dessert in a pinch.
How to Make a Peach Cobbler with a Cake Mix
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 cake pan with baking spray. I like using a glass or Pyrex baking dish so I can see the peach juice bubbling up when it's done cooking.
Drain 2 of the cans of peaches, but keep the liquid from the 3rd can of sliced peaches.
Mix the peaches, cornstarch and cinnamon in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. I like to use a gloved hand or a wooden spoon to do this.
Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the bottom layer of peaches, cornstarch and cinnamon. Then pour the melted butter over the entire dish, being sure to cover all of the cake mix.
Bake for 40-45 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the filling bubbling up.
Alternatively, mix the cake mix and melted butter in a separate dish until it makes crumbs. Then pat this mixture over the prepared peaches. I like the dump cake method so I don't have to clean another bowl, but either method will work.
Making this cobbler is more about the method than the ingredients. Have fun playing with the pie filling and the cake mix flavors. Some of our family favorites are pumpkin pie cobbler in the fall and lemon dump cake version on repeat in the summer.
Canned Peaches vs. Fresh Peaches
I wrote and tested this cobbler with canned peaches so it's easy to make any time of year (hi, cozy winter baking!). But if you've got fresh peaches on hand, go for it!
For canned, look for sliced peaches in light syrup if you can, but heavy syrup or fruit juice will work too.
If you're using fresh peaches, aim for ripe, juicy ones (typically in peak season during July and August). You'll want about 10-12 sliced peaches, and it helps to toss them in a little sugar or simple syrup to boost that juiciness. The cake mix topping needs something to soak into to get that golden, bubbly finish we love.
Serving Suggestions & Easy Variations
This peach cobbler is best served warm, about 20 minutes after it comes out of the oven so it has time to set just a bit. Once it's plated up, try topping it with:
- Vanilla or Strawberry Ice Cream: Hot cobbler + cold ice cream = dreamy dessert magic.
- Whipped Cream: Homemade or store-bought, it's always a good idea.
- Caramel Sauce: A little drizzle takes it to "fancy dessert" territory with zero effort.
Easy Variations
- Gluten-Free: Swap in your favorite gluten-free yellow cake mix. We love King Arthur's.
- Dairy-Free: Use a plant-based butter alternative instead of regular melted butter.
- Extra Peachy: Stir in ½ cup of homemade peach puree with the fruit for even more flavor.
💡Pro Tip: Want to make this in a crockpot? Just layer everything in your slow cooker instead of a baking dish. Cook on low for about 4 hours or high for around 2 hours until the top is golden and the filling is bubbling. Perfect for summer potlucks or keeping the oven off!
Make Ahead and Storage Tips
Make Ahead: You can prep the cobbler up to the point before baking and pop it in the fridge for a few hours. When you're ready, just bake as usual. Leftovers reheat beautifully too.
Storing Leftovers: I always suggest eating a peach cobbler while it's warm, you can also leave any leftovers on the counter, covered, for up to 3 days. If your house is anything like ours, it won't last that long. Leave a spoon on the counter next to the pan for quick tastes as you walk by.
More Easy Desserts your going to love!
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📖 Recipe
Easy Peach Cobbler With Cake Mix (5 Ingredients)
Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 3 can sliced peaches in light syrup 15 oz cans, 2 drained, one with syrup
- ¾ cup melted butter 12 TB
- 1 TB cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13 cake pan with baking spray. Then Drain 2 of the cans of peaches, but keep the liquid from the 3rd can of peaches.
- Mix the peaches, cornstarch and cinnamon in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. I like to use a gloved hand or a wooden spoon to do this.
- Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the bottom layer of peaches, cornstarch and cinnamon. Then pour the melted butter over the entire dish, being sure to cover all of the cake mix.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the filling bubbling up.
Notes
- Make a dairy free dessert: Substitute the butter for a plant based option
- To make a more crumbly top with piles of topping: In a mixing bowl, mix the cake mix and melted butter together until it makes crumbs. Then pat this mixture over the prepared peaches. I like the dump cake method so I don't have to clean another bowl, but either method will work.
Nutrition
🍑 FAQ's
Yes! Any type of canned peaches will work, light syrup, heavy syrup, or even fruit juice. Just be aware that peaches in heavy syrup will make the cobbler a bit sweeter.
They're super similar. A dump cake usually layers canned fruit, dry cake mix, and melted butter, dump and bake, no mixing. Cobbler is a broader term and can include biscuit or pastry toppings. This recipe is basically a dump cake style cobbler.
Marni Katz says
So simple to make! The family loved it.