Some recipes have “granny” in the name because they’re humble and a little old-fashioned and made with love — and this one earns that title completely. Peaches and Cream Granny Cake is the kind of dessert that gets handwritten onto recipe cards and passed down without much fanfare because it seems so simply, even if the end result is stunning. A tender, pudding-based cake topped with juicy peaches, a creamy and sweet cream cheese layer, and a light dusting of cinnamon-sugar, it’s simple, it’s nostalgic, and it’s absolutely irresistible warm from the oven.

What Ingredients Do You Need for Peaches and Cream Granny Cake?

Nothing fancy required here. You’ll need:

• All-purpose flour.
• Salt and baking powder.
• A package of vanilla pudding mix — non-instant. (This is the secret to the cake’s incredibly soft, tender texture!)
• Butter. An egg. Milk.
• A can of sliced peaches — or fresh peaches if they’re in season.
• Cream cheese, at room temp.
• Granulated sugar.
• A little cinnamon and nutmeg.

Why the non-instant pudding mix?
Non-instant pudding mix (also sometimes called cook-and-serve pudding) is made with different starches than instant pudding and behaves differently in baking. It gives the cake base a wonderfully soft, almost custardy texture that instant pudding won’t give you.



How Do You Make Peaches and Cream Granny Cake?

This is a layered affair, but each one is simple and quick, and the result is much more than the sum of its parts. Here’s how you make it:

Start with the base. Whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, and pudding mix, then add the butter, egg, and milk and beat it all together for a couple of minutes until smooth. Pour that batter into your greased baking dish and arrange the peach slices right on top in an even layer.



Next, beat the cream cheese until smooth, then mix in the sugar and a few tablespoons of reserved peach juice until you have a creamy, pourable filling. Spoon or pour it over the peaches, it will spread as it bakes and settle down into the nooks and crannies around the fruit.



Finish with a generous dusting of the cinnamon, nutmeg, and sugar mixture over the top and pop it into the oven until it’s set!



Let it cool so it sets up a bit — though you can speed that up by putting it in the fridge for a bit — and then dig in. That combo of cream and peaches is second to none. Granny always knows best!