Ultimate Skillet Peach Cobbler: A Rustic Bourbon Brown Sugar Crumble Delight

Step back in time to those cherished childhood memories of gathering around a crackling campfire, eagerly anticipating a warm, comforting dessert. This Skillet Peach Cobbler with Bourbon Brown Sugar Crumble is more than just a recipe; it’s a direct portal to those simple, joyful summer nights. Crafted to evoke a sense of nostalgia while offering a refined, adult twist, this summer dessert comes together surprisingly quickly with a bit of mindful planning. We’ve elevated the classic peach cobbler experience, adding sophisticated layers of flavor and texture that will undoubtedly impress. Get ready to create new memories right in your own kitchen or even under the stars!

Recreating the Campfire Magic at Home with Cast Iron

For many, including myself, there’s an undeniable connection between food and memory, especially when it involves cooking in cast iron. My formative years were filled with scouting adventures, camping beneath starry skies, and the rich aroma of meals cooked over open fires in sturdy cast-iron skillets. This profound love for cast iron cookware only deepened with age. I distinctly recall one of my last scout trips through Tennessee, where I insisted my parents stop at the renowned Lodge factory store. There, I proudly invested in a collection of cast-iron essentials that have served me faithfully ever since.

Thanks to those early experiences, I’m fortunate enough to cook with cast iron that boasts over 15 years of natural seasoning. This well-cared-for cookware delivers unparalleled heat retention and a naturally non-stick surface, making every dish a joy to prepare. Speaking of seasoning, I recently discovered a new product that has truly transformed my cast iron’s finish. It’s a seasoning wax that has given my already well-used skillets an incredible, glass-like sheen, enhancing their performance and longevity.

I wholeheartedly recommend getting your hands on some BuzzyWax. I swear by this stuff; it has revitalized my cast iron and I’ve been recommending it to everyone I know. It’s a small investment that makes a huge difference in maintaining your beloved cast-iron pieces, ensuring they’ll be cherished heirlooms for generations to come.

Now, let’s circle back to the culinary delights. You might wonder how a simple piece of cookware can evoke such strong emotions and connections. It’s truly one of those unique aspects that brings immense joy to my time in the kitchen. Finding such a connection, be it with a specific ingredient, a cooking method, or even a cherished piece of equipment, can transform cooking from a chore into a deeply fulfilling experience. My cast-iron collection transports me back to those foundational moments of learning to cook over a campfire, to family mountain trips where the scent of bacon cooking in my new skillet filled our cozy cabin. This is the essence of finding true joy in the food you create – the memories, the process, and the delicious outcome.

Why This Skillet Peach Cobbler Stands Out from the Rest

What makes this particular Skillet Peach Cobbler recipe so special? It’s the harmonious fusion of two beloved dessert categories: the crisp and the cobbler. I’ve always admired the delightful nutty crunch and textural contrast that a crisp topping provides, and simultaneously cherished the fluffy, tender, biscuit-like dough of a classic cobbler. Instead of choosing between them, I decided to marry these two favorites into one magnificent dessert, creating a truly unique and satisfying experience.

The result is a culinary masterpiece that boasts the best of both worlds. Imagine sinking your spoon through a generous layer of tender, juicy peaches, then encountering the light and airy texture of a homemade biscuit, only to be met by the irresistible, rich crunch of a bourbon brown sugar crumble. This combination delivers a symphony of textures and flavors in every bite. I meticulously selected my go-to crumble topping, featuring hearty rolled oats and crunchy pecans, and paired it with my tried-and-true flaky biscuit recipe. The outcome? It surpassed even my highest expectations, aligning perfectly with the vision I had from the very beginning. This creative process, experimenting with what might seem unconventional and then discovering a new, beloved recipe, is precisely what fuels my passion for cooking and recipe development.

Seamless Preparation: The Power of Planning for a Perfect Cobbler

While the overall process of making this Skillet Peach Cobbler is relatively straightforward, the inclusion of both homemade biscuits and a flavorful crumble topping means a little foresight goes a long way. Don’t worry, it’s not a lot of extra time, but dedicating a few moments to preparation, including a quick bowl wash here and there, and allowing some resting time in the fridge for your dough, will ensure a truly spectacular dessert.

Begin by preparing your biscuit dough. I personally find using a stand mixer makes this step incredibly easy, but it’s certainly achievable by hand. For ultimate convenience, you can even prepare the biscuits a full day in advance. Simply cut out your biscuits, arrange them on a baking tray, and wrap them tightly with plastic wrap before refrigerating. This crucial resting period allows the gluten to relax, resulting in a more tender and flaky biscuit. When it’s time to assemble, these homemade biscuits will form the first delightful layer over your luscious peach filling.

Next, move on to crafting your bourbon brown sugar crumble topping. I prefer a crumble that incorporates both rolled oats and nuts, as this combination provides an essential textural contrast to the soft peaches and tender biscuits, preventing the entire dessert from becoming uniformly soft or “mushy.” The oats offer a satisfying chewiness, while the pecans (or walnuts, if you prefer) add a delightful crunch and nutty depth. The hint of bourbon in the crumble also adds a sophisticated warmth that complements the sweet peaches beautifully. Like the biscuits, this crumble mixture can be made up to a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake. When assembling, you’ll strategically fill the spaces between the biscuits with this irresistible crumble, ensuring every bite gets a taste of that glorious crunch.

Once your biscuit and crumble toppings are prepped, the rest of the cobbler assembly is truly a breeze – or, dare I say, “cake” (or cobbler!). The peach filling itself is incredibly simple to prepare. Begin by quickly sautéing fresh, ripe peaches in a generous amount of butter and a touch of sugar. This step enhances their natural sweetness and begins to break them down, releasing their flavorful juices. Then, infuse them with warm spices, a splash of vanilla extract, a bright squeeze of lemon juice, and, of course, a dash of bourbon to elevate the flavor profile. A small amount of flour is then stirred in to create a perfectly thickened, glossy filling that isn’t too runny. This quick sauté ensures your peaches are tender and flavorful, ready to be topped and baked into a golden masterpiece.

For those truly seeking that authentic campfire experience, this recipe is perfectly adaptable for outdoor cooking in a Dutch oven. Simply prepare all your components – the biscuits, crumble, and peach filling – ahead of time. When you’re at camp, assemble everything in your Dutch oven, place coals on the lid and beneath the pot, and bake until the biscuits are golden brown and the crumble is crisp. The even heat of the Dutch oven mimics a conventional oven, making it ideal for this rustic dessert.

Another fantastic tip for this cobbler, especially when camping or entertaining, is its excellent ability to hold up. Any leftovers can be left covered on the counter for up to 24 hours, maintaining much of its deliciousness. When you’re ready to enjoy it again, gently reheat it in the oven at 350˚F (175˚C) until warmed through and the crumble regains its delightful crispness. If you’re at a campsite, simply place it over indirect heat on the fire, ensuring it warms evenly. And, of course, no peach cobbler experience is complete without a generous scoop (or two!) of creamy vanilla ice cream melting decadently over the warm, fruity goodness.

📖 Recipe

Skillet Peach Cobbler with Bourbon Brown Sugar Crumble

This recipe is a bit of a combo of some of my favorite childhood memories, taken up just a notch. Get your toppings prepared up to a day ahead of time, then the cobbler comes together in a flash.

Ingredients

for the biscuit top:

• 2 cups All-Purpose Flour
• 3 tablespoons Baking Powder
• ½ teaspoon Baking Soda
• ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
• 12 tablespoon Unsalted Butter, small diced
• 1 lg Egg
• ¾ cup Buttermilk

for the brown sugar crumble:

• 4 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
• ½ cup Brown Sugar
• ½ cup Rolled Oats
• ¼ cup All-Purpose Flour
• ½ cup Pecans
• 1 tablespoon Bourbon

for the peach filling:

• 4 tablespoon Unsalted Butter
• 10 Peaches, pitted and diced
• ½ cup Light Brown Sugar
• ¼ teaspoon Kosher Salt
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1 tablespoon Bourbon
• Juice of a Lemon
• ¼ cup All-Purpose Flour

Instructions

for the biscuit top:

1. Gently mix beat the eggs into the buttermilk in a measuring cup. In the bowl of a stand mixer combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Fitted with the paddle attachment, mix on low to combine. Add the butter and mix on low until the flour clumps in your hand and the pieces are the sizes of peas. With the mixer on low, slowly add the buttermilk and eggs and mix until fully combined. Turn the mixture out onto a lightly floured surface and flatten the dough with your hands until it is about 1-inch thick. Fold the dough over on itself and flatten it again, repeat this process 5-6 times to create flaky biscuits. After the final fold flatten the biscuits dough out to about ¾-inch and cut out 10 biscuits. Place them on a tray and refrigerate until needed.

for the brown sugar crumble:

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter, brown sugar, rolled oats, and flour and mix until well combined. Just before a paste forms, add the pecans and the bourbon and mix just until the pecans break up into pieces. Place the mixture in the refrigerator until needed.

for the peach filling:

1. Preheat the oven to 400˚F.
2. In a 12-inch cast-iron skillet or deep sauté pan, melt the butter and add the diced peaches to the pan. Cook over medium heat until the peaches begin to break down a bit and some juice begins to settle in the bottom of the pan, about 3-4 minutes. Add the brown sugar, salt, vanilla, bourbon, lemon juice, and flour. Cook for 2-3 minutes just until the flour becomes fully incorporated and you no longer see lumps. The mixture should be thick at this point. Turn off the heat and top with the 10 biscuits, arranging them with gaps in-between them, and then fill the gaps with the brown sugar crumble. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes. Place a baking sheet on the rack below or under the skillet to prevent overflow from making a mess in your oven. When the biscuits have lightly browned and the crumble has disappeared, it is ready!
3. Serve warm topped with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Notes

The mixture will fill the pan and bubble over a bit, this is what makes it great, be sure to place the pan on a foil-lined baking sheet or place a sheet pan on a rack below the pan to prevent a messy oven. But I guarantee it is all worth it in the end!

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size:

1 grams

Amount Per Serving:
Unsaturated Fat: 0g

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