Peach Spoon Cake – Recipe!

We are less than a handful of days away from the official day of summer, and I’m more than ready to start pumping out the stone-fruit recipes.  Peaches, plums, nectarines and apricots to name just a few, are some of the sweetest things about summertime fun.  Whether you enjoy them fresh off the tree, sliced up in a salad, or dotted in a fruity dessert, it’s time to get onboard with stone-fruit season.

Peaches are probably my favorite fruit of summer, and if you haven’t noticed, there are so many different varieties.  White and yellow peaches, just pertain to the coloring of the flesh, but there are actually over three hundred varieties of this stone-fruit.  Peaches are either, freestone, clingstone or semi-freestone, which describes how the fruit adheres, or clings to the stone inside.  If using peaches to bake or slice, Freestone is a better choice because they are much easier remove from the stone.  However, if you’re just enjoying a fresh peach, it really doesn’t matter, as long as its ripe.

This simple cake recipe made with sliced peaches, is similar to a cobbler, but it’s more of a spoon-cake because of the loose batter.  After slicing peaches into wedges, a simple cake batter is poured over the top before baking.  This summertime dessert can be spooned from the dish at room temperature, or slightly warm, directly to plates, and served with a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream, if desired.  It’s great to serve at backyard barbecues, or after a simple dinner just because it’s stone-fruit season.

Ingredients

Peach Filling

8 large or 10 medium fresh peaches, any variety

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

Batter

4 tablespoons melted butter, cooled

1 large egg

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup plain yogurt or sour cream

1 cup milk

(Serves 8)

To Prepare:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease 9 x 9 baking dish, set aside.  In a large bowl, combine Filling ingredients.  Toss to coat peaches and pour into prepared dish.
2. In a stand mixer, add melted butter, egg and sugar.  Mix on low speed for 2 minutes until combined.  Add flour, baking powder and salt, mix on low for 30 seconds.  Add vanilla, yogurt and milk, continue to mix on low for 1 minute.
3. Pour batter over peach mixture and bake in oven for 40-50 minutes, or until slightly puffed, but not brown.
4. Remove from oven and let cool for at least 30 minutes before serving.  Enjoy!