I love when I’m able to make this delicious peach cake recipe, as once fresh peaches are abundant, it means summer is in full swing! You will love how easy it is to make this easy peach cake in a few simple steps and with a handful of ingredients. Ripe peaches have a wonderfully bright, floral sweetness and an almost creamy texture, making for an excellent addition to any dessert recipe.
This peach cake is always my go-to summer recipe as it’s perfect for any occasion. You can enjoy it for breakfast with some coffee or tea, as an afternoon snack, or even as an after-dinner dessert! The tangy, juicy sweet peaches pair wonderfully with the cake, and once you take that first bite, there won’t be a crumb left on your plate. Want another fruity dessert recipe to enjoy this summer? Try my cherry pie recipe, blueberry coffee cake recipe, or strawberry cobbler recipe.
What You Need to Make This Recipe
Flour — you do not need anything fancy, just all-purpose flour for this cake.
Baking powder — make sure the baking powder is fresh. Since the peaches are heavy, you’ll need baking powder to help the cake rise.
Butter — use unsalted butter to control the amount of salt added to the peach cake. Be sure to have your butter at room temperature so you can easily cream it. Room temperature butter should make a slight indent when pressed with your finger.
Eggs — eggs help the cake rise and provide moisture.
Sour cream — the sour cream gives the cake a light, tender, and moist crumb. If you don’t have sour cream, you can make sour cream with 3 simple ingredients.
Peaches — you need ripe peaches for the best flavor. If you squeeze them and they feel firm, then they’re not ready to use. When the peaches give to gentle pressure, they’re ripe.
How to Make Peach Cake
1. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy. Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Then add the eggs one at a time before beating in the sour cream and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture until combined.
3. Clean and slice or chop the peaches.
4. Fold three-quarters of the peaches into the batter.
5. Spread the batter into a greased 9-inch cake pan.
6. Sprinkle the top with the remaining peaches and additional sugar, if desired. Bake for 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Pro Tips for Making This Recipe
- I highly recommend using a kitchen scale to measure your flour correctly as it’s the most accurate method. If you don’t have a digital scale, fluff your flour with a spoon and spoon it into your cups before leveling it off with a knife. This method prevents you from overpacking the measuring cup.
- You can peel or leave the skins on the peaches. It’s also up to you if you prefer to slice or dice the peaches for the batter and topping.
- Bring cold ingredients to room temperature before mixing them into the batter. This will make them mix easier and avoid accidentally overmixing the batter. Overmixed batter will lead to a dense cake.
- Pure vanilla extract will enhance the flavors of the peach cake more than artificial vanilla.
- Sprinkling the top of the cake with extra sugar is optional but will yield a crispy, golden brown top.
- If you do not have enough peaches, try adding plums, nectarines, or apricots!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use canned or frozen peaches?
While I prefer fresh peaches, you can swap for canned or frozen peaches if they’re not in season. If using canned peaches, drain and pat dry the peaches before adding them to the batter. The cake will take on some of the flavor from the syrup that’s on the canned peaches. If using frozen peaches, thaw and drain as well.
How do I store leftover cake?
Any leftover peach cake can be covered and stored at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also refrigerate the cake if you’d like for it to last longer.
Can I freeze this cake?
You sure can! Once completely cooled, wrap the peach cake tightly with plastic and transfer it to a freezer-safe container or bag. Freeze for up to 3 months.
If you’ve tried this Peach Cake recipe, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!
Peach Cake
Video
Equipment
- 9-inch round cake pan
- Mixing Bowls
- Electric or stand mixer
- Kitchen scale
- Cake stand
Ingredients
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour (180g)
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter softened (170g)
- 1 cup granulated sugar (200g)
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup sour cream room temperature (60g)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups ripe peaches peeled, pitted, and sliced or chopped (400g/2 to 3 peaches)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Grease a 9-inch round cake pan with butter or baking spray.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy. Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl and beating well after each addition. Beat in the sour cream and vanilla.
- With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture just until combined. Fold in three-quarters of the peaches. Spread the batter into the prepared cake pan. Sprinkle the top with the remaining peaches and additional sugar, if desired.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool for at least 30 minutes before serving. Cake can be covered and stored at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Notes
- I highly recommend using a scale to measure your flour as it’s the most accurate method. If you don’t have a scale, fluff your flour with a spoon and spoon it into your cups before leveling it off with a knife. This method prevents you from overpacking the measuring cup.
- You can peel or leave the skins on the peaches. It’s also up to you if you prefer to slice or dice the peaches for the batter and topping.
- Bring cold ingredients to room temperature before mixing them into the batter. This will make them mix easier and avoid accidentally overmixing the batter. Overmixed batter will lead to a dense cake.
- Pure vanilla extract will enhance the flavors of the peach cake more than artificial vanilla.
- Sprinkling the top of the cake with extra sugar is optional but will yield a crispy, golden brown top.
- If you do not have enough peaches, try adding plums, nectarines, or apricots!
John K. says
Hi Forozan,
My mistake, I fixed it. The recipe should say 420 grams now since it is 3.5 cups.
Thank you,
John
Rosemary says
Hello
Looks great! Step #3 of the instructions for the cake mentions vanilla extract, but it is not listed in the ingredients. How much vanilla extract should I add?
John K. says
Rosemary,
I would use 1 – 2 tsp vanilla extract in this cake! Hope you enjoy!
John
Megan says
Made two of these for my sisters birthday and they turned out so yummy! The cake itself was like taking a bite of peach cobbler. The only flaw I saw was that the meringue would start to melt more quickly and seemed a bit more oily than other meringues I’ve made. I think next time I’ll use a couple less tablespoons of butter and it might hold up better? Anyway, awesome recipe – definitely would make again!!
John K says
Megan,
Thank you so much! I wonder if the temperature could have affected consistency. You can always play around with the amount of butter and sugar in a swiss buttercream!
John
Liz says
Your method of preparing SMBC is different. I’ve always whipped the whites until cool after heating, then added butter. Does this method melt the butter? A little nervous to try this!
John says
Hi Liz — I hope you’re having a great day! I apologize for the confusion. You are correct. I have updated the recipe to account for this mistake. Thank you! Best, John.
KK says
YUMMMM!!!!
Yasmin says
Hi can I use all purpose flour? For the cake
John says
Hi Yasmin — Yes you can. Best, John.
LIV says
OMG YUM!!
Alyssa says
Did you make the peach puree or use store bought? I definitely want to make this awesome cake soon and am deciding if I should use fresh peaches or not. Thanks.
jkanell says
I pureed the peaches myself. The easiest way for me is to halve them, remove the pit then push through a strainer. Have to be ripe of course!
Alyssa says
Perfect! Thanks. I’ll share on instagram when I make it 🙂
Jennifer Loaiza says
Hi, I don’t understand the Swiss buttercream part, step 6. What strawberry reduction reserved from making the filling? Your ingredients doesn’t list any Strawberries? Thanks.
John says
Hi Jennifer — I do not see what you are talking about with this recipe. Please let me know how I can best assist you otherwise. Best, John.
Gina says
Can this be made with Gluten free All Purpose flour?