Peach Cobbler with Almond Paste

It's my Mom's birthday tomorrow and she isn't a sweet fan.  She likes salty.  She's a caterer and I'm a baker so we don't really see eye to eye in the kitchen.  She WILL bend though for sweet involving fruit.  One of her favorite things I've made her is a Peach Cobbler with almond paste.  I think I orignially found it in Gourmet magazine a million years ago, but you can find it here.

The almond really adds something.  I love it too and it's pretty easy to make.  The topping or biscuits are probably the biggest pain.  Oh and cutting up 4lbs of peaches isn't a great time either, but it's worth it.

Pure Peach and Almond Cobbler

Yield

8 to 10 Servings

Time

35 minutes to assemble
50 - 55 minutes to bake
85 minutes total time

Filling4 lbs peaches, peeled and sliced into 1/2" slices3/4 cup sugar3 tablespoons cornstarch1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Cobbler Topping2 cups all-purpose flour1/2 cup sugar1 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon baking soda1/4 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon nutmeg1 stick (8 tablespoons) cold butter1-7 oz box Odense Almond Paste1 cup buttermilk
Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease a 9"X13" baking dish or similar size.
2. Place peaches in a large bowl. Whisk together sugar, cornstarch and nutmeg. Pour over fruit and mix together until well incorporated. Pour into baking dish. Bake for 10 minutes while preparing almond topping.
3. Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg into a medium bowl.
4. On the large hole side of a box grater, grate the Almond Paste and butter (yes, it can be done) into flour mixture. Mix with fingers until the texture of small crumbs, or use a food processor or pastry cutter.
5. Add buttermilk and stir until just mixed. For tender biscuits, don't over mix.
6. Remove baking dish from oven and drop dough by rounded tablespoons on top of hot fruit (an ice cream scoop with a wire release makes this step effortless).
7. Return dish to oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes more, or until fruit is bubbly and biscuits are golden brown. Delicious cold, or warm, served with vanilla ice cream