Grilled Fresh Peach Skillet Cake in a Cast Iron Pan

Grilled Fresh Peach Cast Iron Skillet Cake features juicy fresh peaches nestled in a rum‑kissed caramel butter sauce, topped with a simple scratch-made buttermilk cake and finished on the grill (or baked in the oven). It’s a summer dessert with bright fruit, a buttery caramel base, and a tender cake — irresistible warm with vanilla ice cream.

Yes — cake on the grill. The smoky heat from the grill adds a subtle, delightful depth to this dessert, creating a unique flavor you won’t get from the oven alone. If you enjoy spending evenings on the patio, this dessert lets you finish the meal outdoors without missing a minute of the fun.

How to make Grilled Fresh Peach Cast Iron Skillet Cake

A 10″ cast iron skillet works beautifully for this recipe, giving the edges a lovely, slightly crisp crust. Start by preparing the buttermilk cake batter: cream the softened butter with brown sugar, then add the egg, buttermilk, vanilla, flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir until combined — a few small lumps are fine. Set the batter aside.

For the caramel rum sauce, add butter, brown sugar, spiced rum, cinnamon, and vanilla to your skillet.

Place the skillet briefly over direct heat so the butter melts, then whisk until the mixture simmers and becomes a bubbly brown caramel. Remove the skillet from the heat and gently stir in the sliced fresh peaches (peeling is optional). Pour the cake batter over the peaches and caramel — do not stir, the batter will settle and bake on top.

Finish the cake on indirect heat (not directly over coals or flames) with the lid closed, aiming for about 350°F. Cook 30–40 minutes, until the center is set and a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Remove from the grill and let cool slightly before serving.

Can I use frozen or canned peaches?

Yes. Fresh peaches give the best texture and flavor, but thawed, well-drained frozen or canned peaches work fine in a pinch. Drain any excess syrup before adding to the caramel.

Does this Skillet Peach Cake have to be cooked on the grill?

No — if you prefer to bake indoors, follow the oven directions below.

Serve warm or at room temperature with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a classic pairing. The contrast of warm cake and cold ice cream makes each bite extra special.

• GRILLED desserts I love: skillet crisps, Bananas Foster, and grilled fruit like peaches or pineapple.
• This recipe is great for patio entertaining — you can grill the whole meal and finish dessert outdoors.

If you try this Grilled Fresh Peach Cast Iron Skillet Cake, please rate the recipe and leave a comment about how it turned out. I enjoy seeing photos of finished desserts — share on social media and tag your post with #SAVORWITHJENNIFER if you’d like.