Peach cobbler

  • 1 h 22
  • Prep 25 min
  • Cook 42 min
  • Serves 6
  • easy

Juicy cinnamon-scented peaches baked under a soft, golden scone topping until the fruit bubbles thickly up around the edges.

Method

  1. 1

    Heat the oven to 190°C and butter the baking dish. Bring a large pan of water to the boil.

  2. 2

    Cut a small cross in the base of each peach and lower them into the boiling water.

  3. 3

    Lift them into the iced water, then slip off the skins.

  4. 4

    Halve the peaches, remove the stones and cut each half into 4 thick wedges.

  5. 5

    Toss the peaches with the sugar, lemon juice, cornflour and cinnamon, then spread them in the dish.

  6. 6

    Bake the fruit on its own so it heats through and starts to release its juice.

  7. 7

    Meanwhile, mix the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt, then rub in the cold butter until it looks like coarse breadcrumbs.

  8. 8

    Stir in the milk with a fork until it just comes together into a soft, sticky dough.

  9. 9

    Drop heaped spoonfuls of the dough over the hot peaches, leaving small gaps between them.

  10. 10

    Scatter the demerara sugar over the topping.

  11. 11

    Bake until the topping is risen and golden and the juices bubble thickly around the edges.

  12. 12

    Leave to settle so the juices thicken, then serve warm.

Notes

  • Ripe peaches peel easily. If the skins cling, give them another 30 seconds in the water.
  • Out of season, use 2 large cans of peach slices, well drained, and cut the sugar in the filling by half.
  • Vanilla ice cream melting into the warm cobbler is the usual way to serve it.

Equipment

2 litre baking dish, Large saucepan, Bowl of iced water, Slotted spoon, Mixing bowls, Fork

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