Luscious Brown Sugar Layer Cake with Peach Filling Recipe

Sweet bakers seeking a decadent dessert will adore this brown sugar layer cake that balances rich, caramel-like flavors with bright peach filling.

Southern bakeries have long celebrated this delightful combination of tender cake and luscious fruit.

Warm afternoons call for generous slices of this remarkable dessert that melts in your mouth.

Layers of soft, golden cake provide a perfect canvas for the vibrant peach compote nestled between each delicate tier.

The brown sugar brings deep, molasses-like warmth that complements the fresh, tangy peach notes.

Each forkful promises a harmonious blend of textures and tastes that dance across your palate.

Prepare to fall in love with this irresistible cake that transforms an ordinary gathering into a memorable celebration.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Calories: 450 kcal

Servings: 12

Ingredients for Brown Sugar Layer Cake with Peach Filling

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides sturdy cake structure with smooth, fine crumb and perfect texture.
• Baking Powder: Creates essential lift and airiness in cake layers.
• Baking Soda: Helps balance acidity and supports rising process.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor depth and balances sweetness.

• Unsalted Butter: Delivers rich, velvety smoothness and supports cake's tender consistency.
• Brown Sugar: Adds deep caramel undertones and moist, soft texture.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients together and provide structural stability.
• Vanilla Extract: Infuses warm, aromatic flavor throughout cake layers.

• Buttermilk: Tenderizes cake crumb and adds subtle tangy brightness.
• Sour Cream: Creates incredibly soft, luxurious texture with gentle tang.

Tools That Help Build and Fill This Summery Cake

• Stand Mixer or Electric Mixer: Perfect for creaming butter and sugar, and mixing cake batter smoothly.
• 8-inch Cake Pans (3): Essential for baking even cake layers with consistent thickness.
• Parchment Paper: Helps cakes release easily and prevents sticking.
• Whisk: Great for combining dry ingredients without lumps.
• Large Mixing Bowls (2): One for dry ingredients, another for wet ingredients.
• Toothpicks: Crucial for checking cake doneness.
• Cooling Rack: Allows cakes to cool evenly and prevents soggy bottoms.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient quantities.

How to Bake Brown Sugar Cake With Juicy Peach Layers

• Prepare Baking Station

Warm up your oven to a cozy 350F. Lovingly coat three 8-inch cake pans with grease and line them with parchment paper.

• Mix Dry Ingredients

Grab a bowl and gently whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until they’re perfectly blended.

• Cream Butter and Sugar

In a separate bowl, beat butter and brown sugar until they transform into a fluffy, dreamy mixture that looks like clouds.

• Incorporate Eggs

Drop eggs into the butter mixture one by one, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Splash in vanilla extract for an extra flavor boost.

• Create Cake Batter

Slowly fold in the flour mixture, alternating with buttermilk and sour cream. Blend until everything comes together in a smooth, silky batter.

• Bake to Perfection

Pour the batter evenly into prepared pans. Slide into the warm oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. The cake is ready when a toothpick comes out clean.

• Cool and Assemble

Let the cakes cool completely before bringing your delicious layers together with luscious peach filling.

Tips to Adjust Sweetness or Spice for Your Taste

• Make-Ahead Magic: Bake cake layers up to 2 days in advance and store wrapped tightly in plastic wrap at room temperature to save time on event day.
• Moisture Master: Always use room temperature ingredients like eggs and buttermilk to ensure smooth, even cake texture and prevent dense, lumpy batter.
• Gluten-Free Option: Swap all-purpose flour with a reliable gluten-free blend, adding 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum for better structure and texture.
• Dairy-Free Swap: Replace butter with dairy-free margarine and use almond or oat milk mixed with lemon juice as buttermilk alternative for sensitive diets.
• Fresh Fruit Twist: Experiment with different seasonal fruits like nectarines or apricots instead of peaches to create unique flavor variations throughout the year.

Serve With Whipped Cream or Cream Cheese Frosting

• Peachy Cake Paradise: Serving Suggestions
• Rustic Farmhouse Slice: Serve thick wedges on vintage wooden boards with a dusting of powdered sugar, highlighting the cake's homemade charm and warm brown sugar tones.
• Summer Brunch Stunner: Pair with fresh whipped cream, extra sliced peaches, and a drizzle of honey for a delightful morning treat that celebrates seasonal fruit flavors.
• Afternoon Tea Elegance: Plate individual slices on delicate china with a side of earl grey tea, creating a sophisticated dessert moment that feels both refined and comforting.
• Picnic Perfect Dessert: Pack individual slices in mason jars or wrapped in parchment paper for a portable, charming dessert that travels well and looks Instagram-worthy.

Store in the Fridge So It’s Just as Good Later

• Smart Fridge Storage: Keep cake covered in an airtight container for 3-4 days, preventing moisture loss and maintaining soft texture.
• Freezing Strategy: Wrap individual cake layers tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze up to 2 months for future dessert emergencies.
• Room Temperature Timing: Allow cake to sit at ambient temperature for maximum flavor release before serving, ideally 30-45 minutes prior to enjoying.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare cake layers and filling one day in advance, refrigerating separately to streamline assembly and enhance flavor development.

Gourmet Brown Sugar Layer Cake With Peach Filling

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4.7 from 24 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Rich brown sugar layer cake with peach filling celebrates Southern summer dessert traditions. Moist cake layers complemented by sweet peach preserves create a delightful experience you cannot resist.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 ¾ cups (350 g) light brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 4 large eggs
• 3 cups (375 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk
• ½ cup (120 ml) sour cream
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 2 cups fresh or frozen peaches, diced
• 3 cups (360 g) powdered sugar
• 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, softened
• ⅓ cup (65 g) granulated sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• Fresh peach slices
• Caramel drizzle
• Toasted pecans

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Instructions

1. Preparation Setup: Ignite the oven to 350F (175C), meticulously outfit three 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper and a thorough butter coating.
2. Dry Ingredient Fusion: Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a homogeneous powder, ensuring seamless cake texture and consistent flavor distribution.
3. Butter and Sugar Transformation: Whip butter and brown sugar in a capacious mixing vessel, elevating the mixture to a voluminous, cloud-like consistency with vigorous blending.
4. Liquid Integration: Introduce eggs one at a time, permitting complete absorption, then infuse vanilla extract, allowing its fragrant essence to permeate the mixture.
5. Batter Composition: Alternate folding of dry ingredients and liquid components (buttermilk and sour cream), maintaining the batter’s delicate architectural integrity while preventing overmixing.
6. Pan Filling and Baking: Evenly disperse batter across prepared pans, creating uniform layers, then slide into the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick emerges impeccably clean.
7. Cooling and Assembly: Extract cakes from oven, allow ten-minute pan rest, then transfer to wire rack for complete temperature reduction, preparing layers for peach filling and final artistic embellishment.

Notes

• Prevent Cake Sinking: Avoid opening the oven door during initial baking to maintain consistent temperature and prevent cake from deflating.
• Achieve Smooth Texture: Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature before mixing to create a more uniform and tender cake batter.
• Maximize Peach Flavor: Drain peach filling thoroughly to prevent excess moisture from making cake layers soggy during assembly.
• Perfect Cake Layering: Use a cake turntable and offset spatula for precise filling and frosting application, creating a professional-looking final presentation.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 565
• Sugar: 59 g
• Sodium: 350 mg
• Fat: 28 g
• Saturated Fat: 17 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 73 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 95 mg