Award-Winning Peaches and Cream Pie

1. Preheat & Prepare the Pan: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease the bottom and sides of a 10-inch deep-dish pie pan thoroughly to ensure easy release after baking.
2. Make the Base Batter: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking powder, and vanilla pudding mix. Stir well to evenly distribute the dry ingredients.
3. Add Wet Ingredients: Add the softened butter, egg, and milk to the dry mixture. Beat with a hand mixer for about 2 minutes, until the batter is smooth, creamy, and slightly thick.
4. Fill the Pie Pan: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pie pan, smoothing the surface with a spatula so it spreads to the edges.
5. Add the Peaches: Arrange the drained peach slices evenly over the batter. Slight overlapping is fine, but aim for even coverage so each slice gets plenty of fruit.

Finishing, Baking & Serving