Peach Pandowdy

Old Fashioned Southern Cookin' - Perfect Desert for covered dish dinners.

Print Recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 45

Total Time 55

Course lunch/dinner

Cuisine American

Servings 6 people

Calories 1841.7 kcal

Equipment

1 Casserole Dish 2 to 2 1/2 quart capacity
2 Medium Bowls For mixing ingredients separately
1 Pastry Cutter Or a fork, for cutting butter into flour
1 Rolling Pin For rolling out the dough
1 Measuring Spoons and Cups Essential for accurate ingredient measurement

Ingredients

Main

6 cups thickly sliced peaches
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ cup white sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
½ cup heavy cream

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Place the peaches in a medium bowl. Sprinkle lemon juice over them. Mix together 1/2 cup of sugar and cornstarch. Sprinkle over the peaches, and stir to coat. Spoon into a 2 to 2 1/2 quart casserole dish.
In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, 2 tablespoons of sugar, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter with a fork or pastry cutter until it is in fine crumbs. Make a well in the center, and pour in the cream. Stir with a fork until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
Roll out dough on a floured surface until it is just big enough to cover the baking dish. Cut a 2 inch cross in the center. Place over the peaches, and tuck in the dough around the sides. Turn back the corners of the cross to reveal the filling.
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes in the preheated oven, until filling is bubbly, and top is golden brown.

Notes

1. **Peach Quality:** For the best flavor, use ripe, fragrant peaches. If fresh are out of season, quality frozen peaches (thawed and well-drained) are a good substitute. Adjust sugar based on the sweetness of your peaches.2. **Dough Handling:** Ensure your butter is very cold and cut into small pieces for the flakiest crust. Do not overmix the dough; stir just until it comes together to avoid a tough topping.3. **Enhancement:** A pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg in the peach filling will beautifully complement the fruit's sweetness. A splash of vanilla extract can also deepen the flavor profile.4. **Serving:** This dish is best served warm, perhaps with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of créme fraîche for an added layer of richness.