Stay with me guys, we still have almost a full month left until Fall starts so everybody just pump your pumpkin spiced brakes. I am a "live in the now" gal so I struggle to get excited over the impending seasonal shift while summer is still shining down. Kindly stop trying to steal my sunny thunder by sprinkling pumpkin spice on all over my peaches, mmmkay?
Seasons mark change which can be both exciting and daunting. Newness is fresh but change can be paralyzing. There is something terribly special about that sliver of time between summer and fall, when everything seems to be in balance. You can live in the warm moments and do all of the things but you're also readying yourself to slow down and settle in. This transitional time is evident in the produce of the season too. Summery ingredients are plump and abundant but some heartier plants are beginning to sneak their way in through the side door. To really dive deep into this concept, I highly recommend Joshua McFadden's cookbook Six Seasons
. He explores the fruits and veggies of each of the seasons and introduces a concept of 6 unique seasons, breaking summer into 3 abundantly distinct categories.
This Blueberry Peach Cornmeal Skillet Cake embraces the concept of the 4th season, late summer. When the crops are still warm from sun drenched days but the evenings bring a barely brisk nip to the air. The Blueberry Peach Cornmeal Skillet Cake captures some of our most cherished summer flavors and wraps them in a warm blanket of toothsome cornmeal
that comforts like a beloved hoodie
on a late summer night.
With this Blueberry Peach Cornmeal Skillet Cake recipe I celebrate all that is summer and the memories that came along with it. The balance of bursting blueberries and juicy peaches against the warmth from the browned butter
and bourbon snuggle up comfortably in the textural cornmeal
cake. It all bakes together in a humble yet trusted cast iron skillet
which adds depth to the flavor and texture. This Blueberry Peach Cornmeal Skillet Cake is simple yet complex, much like that late summer season.
Before you rush out and buy the first Pumpkin Spice Latte they're slinging, I suggest savoring the late summer bounty to the last drop. Fall is beautiful but it turns into winter, fast. In these wee hours of summer, I can't think of a more appropriate way to prolong the sun filled magic than this Blueberry Peach Cornmeal Skillet Cake. Take the time, enjoy the view and live in the now.
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Thank you for supporting the brands that I love!
and cake, trust me.
into a few.
the dry ingredients together makes for an airy texture and keeps the Blueberry Peach Cornmeal Skillet Cake from being too grainy.
give the peaches a deep layer of flavor. Adding a bit of bourbon seals the deal and rounds out the sweetness with warmth.
brings depth and warmth.
.
so it soaks up all of the juicy goodness from the cooked peaches.
for a sweet crunch right before popping it into the oven.
cake.
powdered sugar
.
Blueberry Peach Cornmeal Skillet Cake is a comforting transition from summer into fall.
This Blueberry Peach Cornmeal Skillet Cake is a perfect dessert for those dwindling summer nights when the air starts to crisp up and you need an extra layer of warmth.
Slice it up and serve it with a side of whiskey for delicious depth. This Blueberry Peach Cornmeal Skillet Cake understands how sad you are about summer coming to an end.
Recipe
Blueberry Peach Cornmeal Skillet Cake
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 10 slices
Description
Bursting blueberries and juicy peaches against the warmth of browned butter and bourbon snuggle up comfortably in the toothsome cornmeal cake that comforts like a beloved hoodie on a late summer night.
Ingredients
- 4 peaches (- sliced into ¼" - ½" wedges)
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter (- cut into 1" chunks)
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 3-4 tablespoons bourbon
- 1 ¼ cup all purpose flour
- ½ cup cornmeal (- fine ground)
- ½ cup + 1 TB granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 2 large eggs (- at room temperature)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup Greek yogurt (- at room temperature)
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
-
Add butter to a 10" cast iron skillet and melt over medium heat. Slowly whisk or swirl the butter until it begins to turn a warm chestnut color and tiny brown flecks start to form on the bottom of the skillet. This is a delicate process, so stay vigilant. You want the butter browned but not burnt. Just before it's ready the butter will start to foam up.
- Carefully pour ½ cup of the browned butter into a heat proof liquid measuring cup and set aside to cool. Leave remaining browned butter in the skillet.
- Add the brown sugar and heat over medium until the sugar dissolves into the butter. Add the peaches and stir together. Simmer for a few minutes.
- Pour the bourbon into the skillet over the peaches and carefully ignite with a culinary torch or the flame of a gas stove to flambé the peaches. Allow the flame to die down and simmer the peaches for a few minutes until the juices start to caramelize and the peaches soften.
- Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Then whisk together to mix. Make a well in the center and set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and vanilla. Then add the yogurt and cooled browned butter and whisk until smooth.
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and fold together until just combined into a thick batter.
- Transfer the batter into the skillet with the flambéd peaches and stir together. Top with blueberries and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon of granulated sugar.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool, then sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with a cup of coffee for breakfast or a glass of bourbon for a nightcap.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: cake
Sokny Field says
This was delicious! Moist, not too sweet. I used frozen blueberries so baked for 45-50min in a 9x9” dish since I didn’t have a cast iron skillet. Thanks for a great recipe! It was fun to flambe the bourbon!
Becky Sue says
So great to know that your adaptations worked out well and you enjoyed this cake. A little flambe is always a fun time!
Margie says
This is amazing!! So good...I didn’t mix the batter with the peaches...I just spread it on top by mistake but it incorporates just fine. I also didn’t have bourbon so I used Marsala (what I had because I don’t drink) but I think it was delicious with that flavor. I will make it again and buy some bourbon to use. I served it with some So Delicious peachy maple pecan ice cream and I’m in heaven and trying to not go get another piece!!! Thanks for the great recipe.
beckysue says
Hi Margie! Oooh, the marsala sounds yummy. Great idea, I might have to try that sometime. So glad to hear you enjoyed the cake! Thanks so much for sharing. <3