There’s nothing quite like a slice of warm peach cobbler, especially when it’s crafted with love and a mindful approach to health. This Southern Sugar-Free Peach Cobbler Recipe brings all the traditional comfort and rich flavor you expect, without the added sugar. Imagine a homemade, buttery, and incredibly flaky crust enveloping a luscious filling of gooey, juicy peaches. Whether you prefer the convenience of frozen or canned peaches, or the vibrant taste of fresh ones, this recipe is designed to be versatile and accessible year-round.
This comprehensive guide was originally published in 2020 and has been thoughtfully updated to provide the best possible experience and information.
This post contains carefully selected affiliate links. Please refer to our full disclosure for more details.
Table of Contents
Why Southern Peach Cobbler?
Peach cobbler holds a cherished place in Southern culinary traditions, far beyond just being a dessert. It’s a symbol of hospitality, comfort, and celebration, gracing tables at holiday gatherings, family reunions, cookouts, and Sunday dinners. For generations, this sweet treat has been a staple, enjoyed year-round regardless of the season. This enduring popularity often led to the ingenious use of canned peaches, ensuring that the warmth of peach cobbler could be savored even when fresh peaches were out of season.
The historical roots of peach cobbler in the South are deeply entwined with agriculture. The Southern states are renowned for their abundant peach harvests, with states like Georgia, South Carolina, and California leading the nation in peach production. This natural bounty made peaches an accessible and beloved ingredient for early American settlers, who adapted European pie-making techniques to create this unique, rustic dessert. The simplicity of layering fruit with a biscuit-like topping, or a “cobbled” crust, made it a practical and delicious way to utilize fresh fruit, solidifying its status as an iconic Southern dish.
Lightened Up: Health Benefits of This Recipe
In our quest to enjoy classic Southern flavors without compromising on health, we’ve thoughtfully “lightened up” this peach cobbler recipe. The most significant modification involves replacing traditional refined sugars with natural, zero-calorie, and zero-carb sweeteners. This change not only reduces the overall caloric impact but also helps stabilize blood sugar levels, making it a fantastic option for those managing diabetes or following a low-carb, keto-friendly diet.
Additionally, our homemade crust is a game-changer. By using almond flour instead of conventional wheat flour, we’ve created a gluten-free and lower-carb alternative that still delivers that desirable buttery, flaky texture. Almond flour is also rich in healthy fats, protein, and fiber, contributing to a more satisfying and nutritious dessert. While this recipe does include butter for its irreplaceable flavor and texture, you have the flexibility to experiment with healthier oil alternatives like coconut oil or avocado oil if you wish to further reduce saturated fat content.
Compared to a traditional peach cobbler, which can be packed with sugar and refined carbs, this recipe offers substantial savings. Each serving of our sugar-free version saves you approximately 342 calories and 50 grams of carbs! For an even lighter option, consider using only half the crust dough for the top layer. This variation results in macros of roughly 251 calories, 20 grams of fat, 9 grams of net carbs, and 7 grams of protein per serving, proving you don’t need a bottom crust to enjoy a truly delightful dessert.
Choosing Your Peaches: Fresh, Frozen, or Canned?
The beauty of peach cobbler lies in its adaptability, and that extends to the type of peaches you use. Each option—fresh, frozen, or canned—has its own advantages and considerations for this sugar-free recipe.
- Frozen Peaches (Recommended): My personal favorite method for convenience and consistent availability is using frozen peaches. They are readily found in grocery stores all year long, eliminating the need for peeling and pitting. For this recipe, you don’t need to completely thaw them. I find it best to remove them from the freezer when you begin preparing the dish; they will soften slightly but retain enough firmness to hold their shape during cooking.
- Canned Peaches: If opting for canned peaches, aim for 20-24 ounces. Sometimes, only 15.5-ounce cans are available, in which case you might consider using a can and a half, or simply adjust to a slightly smaller peach volume. It’s crucial to drain about half of the liquid from the can before adding the peaches to your pot. Failing to do so will result in a soupy filling, as canned peaches often come packed in heavy syrup or water.
- Fresh Peaches: For the most vibrant flavor and texture, fresh peaches are unparalleled, especially when they are in season during summer months. However, they require a bit more preparation. You’ll need to peel and pit them before slicing. Furthermore, fresh peaches can vary greatly in sweetness and tartness, so it’s essential to taste your filling mixture repeatedly as it cooks. Don’t hesitate to add more sweetener if needed to achieve your desired balance of flavor.
Store-Bought Pie Crust Options
While our recipe features a delicious homemade almond flour crust, using a store-bought pie crust can be a significant time-saver. It streamlines the preparation process, allowing you to get a homemade-tasting cobbler on the table faster. However, it’s important to be aware of the trade-offs, particularly regarding dietary considerations.
Most readily available store-bought pie crusts are made with traditional wheat flour and often contain refined sugars. If you choose this route, the nutritional information and macros for this recipe will differ considerably from our lightened-up version. As of now, finding a high-quality, gluten-free, or low-carb store-bought crust that perfectly mimics the texture of a traditional crust can be challenging. If your goal is strictly sugar-free or low-carb, making the almond flour crust from scratch is highly recommended.
For an 8×8 inch baking dish, two frozen, pre-made pie crusts are usually sufficient. It’s always a good idea to have an extra set on hand, just in case one crust tears or you decide you want a thicker top layer. Boxed crust mixes are also an option, offering a slight shortcut over full scratch-baking while still allowing for some customization.
Choosing the Right Sweetener for Sugar-Free Baking
Achieving a truly delicious sugar-free peach cobbler hinges on selecting the right sweeteners. Growing up, traditional peach cobbler recipes always called for a mix of light brown sugar and white granulated sugar. To replicate this classic flavor profile while keeping it sugar-free, I rely on a combination of monk fruit sweeteners.
- Golden Monk Fruit Sweetener: This is my go-to substitute for light brown sugar. It offers a rich, caramel-like note that mimics brown sugar beautifully, adding depth to the peach filling.
- Granular Monk Fruit Sweetener: This acts as a perfect stand-in for white granulated sugar, providing clean, sweet notes without any aftertaste often associated with other artificial sweeteners.
Both golden and granular monk fruit sweeteners are derived from natural sources, contain zero calories, zero carbohydrates, and importantly, they do not cause a spike in blood sugar. They also measure cup-for-cup like refined sugar, making them incredibly easy to use in existing recipes without complex conversions.
If you prefer other natural sweeteners, such as stevia, you would follow the standard conversion guidelines for substituting refined sugar with stevia, as its potency differs. For those who don’t need a strictly sugar-free option but want to avoid refined sugars, pure, organic maple syrup can be used as an alternative. If you choose maple syrup, I recommend using approximately ¾ cup for the filling to achieve a balanced sweetness.
Crafting the Perfect Almond Flour Crust
The crust is a cornerstone of any great cobbler, and for our sugar-free version, we opt for a homemade almond flour crust that’s both healthy and incredibly delicious. The key to success here is using blanched almond flour, often labeled as “super fine.” This means the almond skins have been removed, resulting in a much finer, smoother texture compared to unblanched varieties. This fine texture is crucial for achieving a flaky, tender crust, similar to traditional pastry.
Many people who report disliking almond flour in baking may have used unblanched almond flour, which can yield a denser, grittier result. Blanched almond flour is truly superior for pastries and delicate baked goods.
To prepare this delightful crust, you’ll need blanched almond flour, your chosen sugar-free sweetener, a pinch of salt, eggs for binding, and melted unsalted butter for richness. A food processor is highly recommended for achieving the best consistency with minimal effort.
- Begin by combining all the dry ingredients (almond flour, sweetener, and salt) in one bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients (eggs and melted butter).
- Add the dry ingredients to your food processor, then pour in the wet mixture.
- Pulse the food processor a few times until the ingredients are just combined and form a cohesive dough. Avoid over-processing.
- Carefully remove the dough and form it into a large ball. Slice this ball in half; one half will be for the bottom crust, and the other for the top lattice or crumble.
- On a lightly floured surface (using a little extra almond flour), roll out one half of the dough to your desired thickness for the bottom layer.
- **Crucial Tip:** Refrigerate both halves of the dough for at least 30 minutes. This step is vital! The almond flour dough can be quite soft and sticky initially. Chilling it makes it significantly easier to handle, roll, and cut into strips for the top crust without it falling apart. For best results, you can even refrigerate the dough overnight.
Step-by-Step: How to Make Sugar-Free Peach Cobbler
Creating this delectable sugar-free peach cobbler is a rewarding process. Follow these simple steps for a perfect result:
- Prepare the Filling Base: In a saucepan or pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, stir in your chosen sugar-free sweeteners, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Continue stirring until the sweeteners have completely dissolved, creating a fragrant, syrupy base.
- Add Flavor Enhancers: Introduce the fresh lemon juice and vanilla extract to the mixture, stirring well to combine these bright, aromatic notes.
- Incorporate Peaches: Gently fold in the peaches. Stir them into the spiced syrup and allow the mixture to cook for about 4-5 minutes, giving the peaches a chance to soften slightly and absorb the flavors.
- Thicken the Filling: In a small separate bowl, whisk together cornstarch (or gluten-free flour) and water to form a smooth slurry. Pour this slurry into the peach mixture in the pot, stirring continuously until fully incorporated. Continue to cook for another 10-12 minutes, or until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency. Remove from heat.
- Assemble the Cobbler: Grease an 8×8 inch baking dish or a 9.5-inch pie pan. Carefully place one half of your prepared almond flour pie crust dough onto the bottom of the dish, pressing it evenly to form the base.
- Add Peach Filling: Using a slotted spoon, transfer the peach filling over the bottom crust. This technique allows you to control the amount of liquid added, preventing a runny cobbler. After adding all the peaches, you can drizzle a large spoonful or two of extra liquid from the pot over the top if you prefer a juicier cobbler.
- Top with Crust: Take the remaining chilled crust dough and slice it into strips (about 1 inch thick) or create decorative shapes. Arrange these strips over the peaches. For a golden finish, whisk one egg with a teaspoon of water for an egg wash, brush it over the top crust, and sprinkle with a touch of cinnamon.
- Bake to Perfection: Place the assembled cobbler in a preheated oven and bake as directed in the recipe card.
Ensuring Your Peach Cobbler is Perfectly Baked
Knowing exactly when your peach cobbler is done baking is key to achieving that perfect balance of tender peaches and a golden, flaky crust. Keep an eye on a few indicators during the baking process.
The most reliable signs that your cobbler has finished baking are:
- Bubbling Filling: The peach filling around the edges of the pan will begin to bubble vigorously. This indicates that the fruit is thoroughly cooked and the sauce has reached the right temperature.
- Golden Brown Crust: The top crust should turn a beautiful golden brown. This color signifies that the crust is crispy and fully cooked through. If it starts to brown too quickly, gently tent the pan with aluminum foil (don’t let the foil touch the cobbler) to prevent over-browning while the interior finishes cooking.
These visual cues will help you remove your cobbler from the oven at precisely the right moment, ensuring a delicious and perfectly textured dessert every time.
Troubleshooting: How to Thicken Runny Peach Cobbler
One of the most common concerns when making peach cobbler is ending up with a filling that’s too runny. A perfectly thick, gooey peach filling is essential for that classic cobbler experience. Here’s how to prevent and fix a runny filling:
- Use a Slotted Spoon: When you transfer the peach filling from the pot to the pie crust in the baking dish, always use a slotted spoon. This allows you to scoop out the peaches while leaving excess liquid behind. Adding too much liquid at this stage is the primary cause of a runny cobbler.
- Adjust Liquid to Taste: After you’ve added all the peaches, you can always go back and add a large spoonful or two of the leftover liquid from the pot if you prefer a slightly juicier filling. Some people prefer very little liquid, while others like a more saucy consistency – it’s entirely up to your personal preference.
- Correcting During Cooking: If you find your peach filling in the pot is not thickening enough, you can create another small slurry with cornstarch (or gluten-free flour) and water. Add it gradually to the simmering peach mixture, stirring constantly until it reaches the desired thickness. Cook for a few more minutes to ensure the cornstarch is fully cooked and the thickening agent is activated.
By following these steps, you can ensure your peach cobbler filling is perfectly thick and luscious, never watery.
Nutritional Breakdown: Calories and Macros
Understanding the nutritional value of your food is crucial, especially when making conscious dietary choices. This sugar-free peach cobbler recipe offers a significantly healthier alternative to its traditional counterpart.
Each serving of our Sugar-Free Peach Cobbler contains approximately 547 calories. By utilizing an almond flour crust and opting for monk fruit sweetener, you’re saving a remarkable 342 calories per serving compared to traditional recipes. This makes it an excellent choice for those looking to enjoy a delicious dessert while managing their caloric intake.
For a detailed breakdown, please refer to the nutrition label in the recipe card below. Remember that macros can vary slightly depending on the specific brands of ingredients used and any modifications you make.
Storage and Shelf Life: How Long Can it Sit Out?
Proper storage is essential to maintain the freshness and safety of your delicious peach cobbler. Here’s a guide to help you enjoy your leftovers:
- Room Temperature: Fruit-based desserts like peach cobbler can generally be left out, covered loosely with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, at room temperature for up to 2 days. This is often preferred for serving cobbler warm or at room temperature.
- Refrigeration: To extend its shelf life, transfer any remaining cobbler to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for an additional 2 days. While refrigerating, the crust might soften slightly, but the flavors will remain delightful.
For more in-depth information on pie storage, you can refer to resources like “How to Store Leftover Pie.”
Make-Ahead Tips for Convenience
Planning ahead for holidays or special occasions? Peach cobbler is a fantastic dessert to prepare in advance, making your hosting duties much smoother. Many home bakers, especially during festive seasons, will bake their cobblers and pies the night before. This sugar-free peach cobbler holds up beautifully, and can even benefit from the flavors melding together overnight.
Once baked, you can let it cool completely and then cover it at room temperature for up to two days, as mentioned in the storage tips. When you’re ready to serve, simply reheat the cobbler in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until it’s warmed through. This makes for a stress-free dessert option that’s just as delicious as when it first came out of the oven.
Freezing Your Peach Cobbler for Later
If you love having delicious desserts on hand, or if you simply have leftovers you want to save, this peach cobbler freezes exceptionally well. Freezing allows you to enjoy homemade cobbler anytime, even months after baking.
To freeze your cobbler:
- Allow the baked cobbler to cool completely.
- Cut it into individual serving-sized slices.
- Wrap each slice tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe, sealable bag or an airtight container. This double-layer protection helps prevent freezer burn.
- The cobbler can be stored in the freezer for up to 5 months.
When you’re ready to enjoy a slice:
- Remove the desired portion from the freezer.
- Thaw the cobbler at room temperature for 1-2 hours.
- Reheat in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) until warm, or in a microwave for quicker individual servings.
This method ensures you can savor the delightful taste of Southern sugar-free peach cobbler whenever the craving strikes!
More Delicious Dessert Recipes
If you enjoyed this sugar-free peach cobbler, you’ll love exploring more of our favorite dessert recipes, designed to satisfy your sweet tooth with mindful ingredients:
- Sugar-Free Southern Sweet Potato Pie
- Sugar-Free Pumpkin Pie
- Banana Pudding Trifle
- Air Fryer Lemon Pound Cake
- Sugar-Free Apple Crisp
- Sugar-Free Blueberry Crisp
- Sugar-Free Creme Brulee
- Sugar-Free Apple Pie
- Keto Low Carb Key Lime Pie
Explore More Southern Cuisine
Beyond desserts, the South offers a rich tapestry of flavors. Discover more must-try Southern recipes that bring warmth and soul to any meal:
- Southern Style Soul Food Baked Mac and Cheese
- Southern Mustard Greens
- Southern Cornbread Dressing
- Southern Homemade Cornbread
- Okra and Tomatoes
For a complete collection of festive dishes, explore our full listing of Soul Food Thanksgiving Recipes.
Sugar-Free Peach Cobbler
Brandi Crawford
Rated 5 out of 5 stars by 9 users.
📍Pin Recipe
Want to save this recipe for later?
We’ll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also get our free digital cookbook with 30-Minute One-Pot Recipes and weekly recipes and tips.
Essential Equipment
- 8×8 Baking Dish
- Food Processor
- Rolling Pin
- Foil
Ingredients
Crust
- 4 cups blanched almond flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup sweetener or sugar (if not sugar free)
- 2 eggs
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted Measured solid.
Peach Filling
- ½ cup unsalted butter 1 stick
- ½ cup brown sweetener or light brown sugar (if not sugar free)
- ½ cup sweetener or sugar (if not sugar free)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ fresh lemon, juice of About 2-3 tablespoons.
- 2 teaspoons vanilla Pure extract, not imitation.
- 20 oz frozen peaches This is usually 1 large bag. Or you can combine multiple. See notes for canned or fresh peaches.
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch For gluten-free, use gluten-free flour.
- 1 teaspoon water
- 1 egg Beaten with 1 teaspoon of water for egg wash
- cinnamon for topping
Instructions
Crust
- Add the almond flour, sweetener, and salt (dry ingredients) to a mixing bowl. Stir to combine.
- Add the eggs and melted butter (wet ingredients) to a separate bowl and stir.
- Add the dry ingredients to a food processor. Next, pour in the wet ingredients. Manually pulse until the mix is incorporated. You can also combine the dry and wet ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix by hand, but after testing, the best results are using a food processor.
- Remove the dough and roll it up into a large ball. Slice the dough in half. One half will be used for the bottom crust of the cobbler.
- Sprinkle a flat surface with a little almond flour to prevent the dough from sticking. Use a rolling pin and roll out the dough until flat.
- Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes to overnight before handling. It will be really sticky if you skip this step. The longer you refrigerate, the easier it is to handle. I refrigerate half of the dough after it has been rolled out, my preference. You can keep it in a ball if you wish.
- After you have refrigerated, slice half of the dough into strips about 1 inch thick.
Filling
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Heat a saucepan or pot on medium heat and add the butter. When melted, add in the sweeteners, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Stir continuously. Allow the mixture to cook until the sugar or sweetener has melted.
- Add in the lemon juice and vanilla and stir. Pour in the peaches. Stir and allow the mixture to cook for about 4-5 minutes to soften the peaches.
- Combine the cornstarch and water in a small bowl to create a slurry. Stir it together and add it to the pot. Stir to fully combine. Allow the mix to cook for 10-12 minutes until the filling thickens and remove it from heat.
Assemble and Bake
- Spray an 8×8 baking dish or a 9.5 inch pie pan with cooking spray or grease.
- Place ½ of the pie crust into the bottom of an 8×8 baking dish.
- Using a slotted spoon, top the crust with the peaches mixture. You want to use a slotted spoon here so that you don’t add too much liquid to the cobbler. If you use too much liquid it will be runny. I add it using a slotted spoon, and then I top it off with one large spoonful of liquid from the pot.
- Add slices of pie crust to the top. You can arrange the crust however you wish. If you have uneven strips, you can mold two together to form one. Cut off the remainder of any strips that are too long. Brush the crust with the egg wash and sprinkle with cinnamon.
- Bake for 25 minutes. At this point the crust will begin to brown. Open the oven and tent the pan with foil. Don’t fully cover, loosely tent (it shouldn’t touch the cobbler). This will prevent the cobbler from browning too much on the top as the interior continues to bake.
- Bake for an additional 20-25 minutes. You can remove the foil after 15 minutes if the crust needs more browning.
Video
Video tutorial coming soon!
Notes
- You can combine the pie crust ingredients by hand. However, using a food processor generally yields the best results for a smooth, well-incorporated dough.
- Feel free to substitute brown sweetener or sugar for white sweetener, or use only one type of sweetener if preferred.
- Many traditional peach cobbler recipes feature only a top crust. If you prefer a lighter cobbler or wish to reduce carbs further, you can halve the crust recipe and use only a top layer. This results in approximately 251 calories, 20 grams fat, 9 grams net carbs, and 7 grams protein per serving. Alternatively, you can double the top layer for a thicker, more pronounced lattice pattern.
- When placing the crust into the bottom of the baking dish, using the bottom of a glass cup can help you flatten it out evenly.
- If using canned peaches (20-24oz recommended), remember to drain about half of the liquid to prevent a soupy filling. If using fresh peaches, peel them first and adjust sweetener to taste, as fresh peaches can be more tart.
- Using store-bought pie crust and regular sugar will significantly change the nutritional profile, resulting in approximately 889 calories, 61 grams fat, 62 grams net carbs, and 16 grams protein per serving.
- Pure vanilla extract offers a much richer flavor than imitation vanilla.
- If using store-bought pie crust, you may not need to tent the pan with foil, as they often brown differently. Monitor closely; if it browns too quickly within 30 minutes, tent it loosely.
- While this recipe includes butter, you can experiment with oils like coconut or avocado oil if you prefer.
Nutrition
Nutrition Data Disclaimer
Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.