Tennessee Peach Pudding Recipe

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Here’s a big, detailed version of your Tennessee Peach Pudding Recipe written in a traditional Southern storytelling style, with everything you requested: introduction, ingredients, instructions, methods, history, benefits, formation, nutrition, conclusion, and even a note for peach dessert lovers. 🍑

🍑 Tennessee Peach Pudding Recipe – A Southern Classic Comfort Dessert

Introduction

Tennessee Peach Pudding is a warm, soul-soothing Southern classic that embodies the charm of family gatherings, church suppers, and cozy Sunday dinners. Unlike peach cobbler, this dessert is known for its pudding-like texture that forms as it bakes, creating a juicy fruit base topped with a cake-like crust and a luscious buttery sauce. It’s rich, sweet, and comforting – a true celebration of fresh peaches.

This dessert bridges generations, reminding Southerners of their grandmothers’ kitchens where love was poured into every dish. Whether served alone or topped with vanilla ice cream, it is a Southern hug in a bowl.

Ingredients

For the Peach Filling:

  • 4 cups fresh peaches, peeled and sliced (about 6–7 medium peaches)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon (optional, for warmth)
  • ½ cup milk
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

For the Pudding Sauce:

  • 1 ½ cups brown sugar, packed
  • 1 ½ cups boiling water
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Instructions & Methods

  1. Prepare the Oven & Dish
    • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
    • Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter.
  2. Make the Peach Filling
    • In a large mixing bowl, combine sliced peaches with ½ cup sugar and let sit for 10 minutes to release juices.
    • In another bowl, whisk together flour, remaining sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
    • Stir in milk and melted butter until you get a smooth batter.
    • Gently fold in the peaches.
  3. Pour into Baking Dish
    • Spread the peach mixture evenly into the prepared dish.
  4. Prepare the Sauce
    • In a saucepan, bring brown sugar, butter, and boiling water to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves.
    • Pour this hot mixture evenly over the peach batter. Don’t stir—it will create the pudding effect as it bakes.
  5. Bake
    • Place in the preheated oven and bake for 50–55 minutes, until the top is golden and slightly crisp, and the sauce has thickened beneath the crust.
  6. Serve
    • Let it cool for at least 15 minutes before serving.
    • Best enjoyed warm, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

History of Tennessee Peach Pudding

Peach pudding has its roots in the deep South, particularly Tennessee and Georgia, where peach orchards thrived. Unlike peach cobbler, which became widespread in cookbooks during the 19th century, peach pudding stayed more of a regional treasure. Families passed the recipe down through generations, each adding their own twist—extra cinnamon, nutmeg, or a splash of bourbon. It was often served after Sunday dinners, symbolizing abundance, hospitality, and the sweetness of Southern life.

Benefits of Tennessee Peach Pudding

  • Seasonal Goodness: Celebrates fresh summer peaches, full of vitamins A & C.
  • Comfort Food: Rich, warm, and soothing—a mood-lifting dessert.
  • Family-Friendly: Perfect for gatherings, reunions, and potlucks.
  • Versatile: Can be adapted with nectarines, plums, or even apples in cooler months.

Formation (How It Comes Together)

The magic of Tennessee Peach Pudding lies in its baking transformation:

  • The batter rises to form a cake-like topping.
  • The sugary sauce seeps below, blending with peach juices to create a rich, pudding-like layer.
  • The result is a three-texture dessert: golden crust, tender peaches, and syrupy pudding.

Nutrition (Per Serving – about 1 cup)

  • Calories: ~310
  • Carbohydrates: 65g
  • Protein: 3g
  • Fat: 6g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Vitamin C: 20% DV (thanks to peaches!)

Conclusion

Tennessee Peach Pudding is more than just a dessert—it’s a Southern tradition, a reminder of home, and a bowl of pure comfort. Its rich flavors, tender peaches, and pudding-like sauce make it irresistible. Whether enjoyed fresh from the oven on a summer night or as a sweet memory of peach season during the winter, this dish always delivers joy.

For the Lovers of Peach Desserts ❤️

If you’re someone who loves the sweet juiciness of peaches, this pudding is your dream dessert. Pair it with ice cream for indulgence, serve it with coffee for an afternoon treat, or enjoy it plain to savor its natural fruity sweetness. Lovers of peach cobbler will fall in love with its softer, richer cousin—the Tennessee Peach Pudding.

Would you like me to also expand this into a storytelling-style recipe card (like something from a Southern cookbook) so you can keep or print it?

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