There is something mighty satisfying about a dessert that asks almost nothing of you and still comes out tasting like you fussed half the afternoon. This 3-ingredient oven baked peach dessert is the kind of simple, homespun sweet I have always loved, the sort of thing a Midwestern cook can pull together from the freezer and pantry when company is on the way or when a family supper needs a little happy ending. Using solid unthawed frozen peaches keeps it easy as can be, and as they bake down under a buttery cake topping, they turn into a bubbling, spoonable treat that feels like a peach cobbler's easygoing cousin.
Serve this warm in bowls with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of whipped cream, or even a splash of cold heavy cream if you like old-fashioned desserts the way many of us grew up eating them. If you are putting it on the table after supper, it goes especially well after baked ham, roast chicken, pork chops, or any simple Sunday meal, and a cup of coffee alongside never hurt a thing.
3-Ingredient Oven Baked Sweetest Day Peach Dessert
Servings: 6 to 8
Ingredients
1 bag (about 32 ounces) solid unthawed frozen peach slices
1 box yellow cake mix (about 15.25 ounces)
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
Directions
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 9x13-inch oven-safe ceramic casserole dish.
2. Pour the solid unthawed frozen peaches evenly into the prepared casserole dish.
3. Sprinkle the dry yellow cake mix evenly all over the peaches, covering them as uniformly as you can without stirring.
4. Drizzle the melted butter as evenly as possible over the top of the cake mix. Do not stir; the layers need to stay put so the topping can bake up nicely.
5. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, until the peaches are bubbling around the edges and the topping is golden brown. Let it rest for about 10 minutes before serving so the juices can settle a bit.
Variations & Tips
Make it extra cozy: A light sprinkle of cinnamon over the peaches before adding the cake mix gives this dessert a warm, old-fashioned flavor that suits fall and holiday tables beautifully.
Try a butter trick: If you do not want to melt the butter, you can slice it very thin and lay the pats all across the top of the cake mix. Just aim for good coverage so you do not wind up with too many dry spots.
Use a different fruit: This same easy method works nicely with frozen mixed berries, cherries, or sliced apples, though peaches do have a particularly sunny flavor and soft texture that make this version hard to beat.
Serving tip: This dessert is best served warm the day it is baked, but leftovers can be covered and refrigerated. Reheat individual portions in the microwave so the fruit loosens up and the topping softens a little.