There is something mighty handy about a five-ingredient dessert when the holiday weekend is full of company, grilling, and folks wandering in and out of the kitchen looking for a little something sweet. This easy baked cornbread cobbler-style dessert turns a simple box of dry cornbread mix into a warm, golden treat with bubbling fruit underneath and a soft, buttery topping on top. It has that old-fashioned potluck spirit to it, the sort of dessert you can stir together in a baking dish without much fuss and carry right to the table.

Serve this dessert warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a good spoonful of whipped cream. It is especially nice after barbecue, burgers, ribs, or grilled chicken, since the sweet fruit and tender cornbread topping balance out smoky savory foods so well. If you are setting out a Labor Day spread, add iced tea, fresh coffee, or even a bowl of sliced peaches or berries alongside.

5-Ingredient Oven-Baked Cornbread Peach Cobbler

Servings: 8

Finished cornbread peach cobbler in a casserole dish
Finished cornbread peach cobbler in a casserole dish

Ingredients

1 box dry cornbread mix powder, about 8.5 ounces

2 cans sliced peaches in syrup, about 15 ounces each
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and lightly butter a 9x13-inch casserole dish.

2. Pour both cans of peaches with their syrup into the prepared casserole dish and spread them out evenly.

3. Sprinkle the dry cornbread mix powder evenly over the peaches. Do not stir.

4. Sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon over the cornbread mix, then drizzle the melted butter as evenly as you can across the top.

5. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the top is deep golden and the fruit is bubbling around the edges. Let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Variations & Tips

Use a different fruit: This works nicely with canned cherries, apples, or mixed berries if peaches are not what you have on hand. Just keep enough syrup or juice in the dish so the topping can bake up tender and rich.

Add a little crunch: A small handful of chopped pecans or walnuts sprinkled over the butter before baking gives the top a pleasant crunch and a fine holiday feel.

Mind the butter coverage: If there are a few dry patches of mix left on top before baking, it is all right, but try to drizzle the butter as evenly as possible. That is what helps create those lovely golden crisp spots across the cobbler.

Serve it warm: This dessert is at its very best while still a little warm from the oven. If you make it ahead, reheat individual portions briefly so the fruit softens and the topping tastes freshly baked again.