Peaches at the local markets here have been quite excellent. They pile them in bins close to the doors, hitting you with a wave of that heady scent of sweet summer nectar. They look so inviting with their earthy red and orange hues, and I haven’t been able to resist bringing home a bag or two every time I walk into the store.
Peaches are perfect without any special preparation. I mostly prefer the “grab and bite” method. But it’d be a shame not to expand that repertoire with the abundance of peaches available right now! So tell us:
What’s your favorite way to enjoy peaches?
Do you like making peach ice cream? Pies? Peach iced tea? Do you enjoy them in a compote for pancakes, or grilled and part of a salad? We want to hear all the ways you use up a bounty of peaches, and share any recipe links you have!
42 Comments
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Marcia on 8.16.2015
There is nothing like biting the flesh of a plain, sweet and juicy peach. No extra frills,hmmmm
Ellen@BakeItWithBooze on 8.16.2015
I like to just peal and eat. I get the best peaches at a very small town in Northern CA where my parents grew up. The orchard is adjacent to land that was my grandparents almond orchard. However, my favorite way is my killer peach and blueberry pie where I add a bit of homemade blueberry liqueur to the filling. Excellent!
dottie1 on 8.14.2015
I live in peach country and we love our peach cobblers!
jp on 8.14.2015
We used to get wonderful peaches when we lived in GA, OK and CA but these days they are hit or miss in quality so mostly we just eat them fresh and sliced. One summer in CA the peaches were extraordinary and I remember eating peaches and Nabisco bacon crackers (they don’t make them anymore) all summer long – truly! I just didn’t want to eat anything else
When we have lots, we like to freeze them (wish I’d known about the oj trick), some with and some without sugar, can some, peach butter (my grandma made *the* best peach butter!), cobbler and also peach ice cream.
Jenny G on 8.14.2015
Best ever Peach Cobbler…It contains a little almond flavoring which makes it soooooo good.
DANA on 8.14.2015
Grilled with pure Maple Syrup drizzle, or just plain raw.
DebbieK on 8.14.2015
Peach pie a la mode. My family’s recipe includes egg in the peach filling, and then a sprinkle of sugar on the top crust. Yum.
Mary D. on 8.14.2015
From a 1963 Home Economics desserts cookbook: Line pie plate with pie pastry. Mix together 1 c. sugar, 1/4 c. flour, 1/4 t. nutmeg. Cut 1/2 c. butter into sugar mixture. Sprinkle half of crumb mixture into pastry. Place 6-8 unpeeled peach halves face down on top of crumb mixture. Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture over top. Dribble 1/4 c. water over all. Bake at 450 X 10 minutes; reduce temp to 350 and bake an additional 30 minutes. Easy, beautiful with an Old World appearance, and delicious!
Deanna F on 8.14.2015
My Dad used to work for the Soo Line railroad back in the 1940s and 1950s. In their dining car they served fresh sliced peaches with a little sugar and freshly squeezed orange juice over them. It’s been a family favorite for years and years. My Mom would also freeze peach slices in o.j. so we could enjoy it in the winter too. For some reason, many people think it’s a strange flavor combination – until they try it! It is so, so good.
georgene on 8.14.2015
Peaches and cream, peach crisp, peach milkshakes, peach ice cream, peaches on german pancakes, canned peaches, peach nectar.
KarenJ on 8.14.2015
One year we had a whole orchard of peaches at our disposal due to a trucking strike. We brought three or four crates home daily! Peach liqueur, peach preserves,canned peaches, peaches in brandy, peaches in rum, *peach chutney*, peach soup, peach crisp and lots and lots of frozen peaches!
What a wonderful summer! (Not to mention all winter long!)
Jennifer on 8.14.2015
We love peaches and I try to can a bunch every year. Tomorrow we’re heading into Michigan to pick up 2 bushels of organic peaches. I will probably make a pie and can the rest.
Patricia @ ButterYum on 8.13.2015
someone gave me a jar of peach jam that had a touch of ground cinnamon – it was life changing. will definitely be recreating it in my kitchen.
Gina on 8.13.2015
Lately, plain Greek yogurt mixed with honey, sliced fresh peaches, and sliced toasted almonds for breakfast. Simple, beautiful and deeeelicious!
Kris J on 8.13.2015
Without a doubt, peach crisp is my favorite. I love, love, love the buttery, crunchy topping with the sweet, spicy, warm peaches underneath. And yes, vanilla ice cream is a must on top. YUMMY…I need to go to the farmer’s market this weekend so I can make one.
Amy A on 8.13.2015
I love peaches straight from the tree or prepared in just about any way. But this year I seem to be stuck on peach galette. It is so easy and just makes me swoon over it’s yummy flavor. Sprinkling the crust with a little demerara sugar adds some extra yumminess to it as well.
Kim M on 8.13.2015
I like to make either peach pie or bourbon peach cobbler!
Lisa B on 8.13.2015
Love warm Peach Crisp with vanilla ice cream on top.
Ja Ella on 8.13.2015
I used to drive to Porter OK for Livesay’s peaches every summer. One day, while there, I heard an elderly couple talking to a gentleman. He said “Well, I better get home & get the pot of water boiling, so I can get these in the freezer.” The lady said “Oh you don’t need to do that”. She said “I get the peaches home & pull out the ripest & put them in gallon size zip bags. Don’t WASH them!! Put them in the freezer. When you’re ready to make something, pull them out of the freezer & let them thaw. The skins will peel right off with little effort.” She also said the ones that weren’t quite ripe, she placed on newspaper, not letting them touch each other, on a spare bedroom floor. She would check them every day for ripeness & bag more & put in the freezer. I decided to get two baskets of peaches, one for the old fashion way of freezing & the other to experiment with her idea. It was AMAZING when I got out my first two bags from the freezer to make a cobbler. The skins DO slip right off & the peaches taste like fresh ones!! I have done my peaches like this ever since. Since I just retired in February, I need to make a run to Porter for some more peaches, before the season is over.
AC on 8.13.2015
I love to use peaches in smoothies and other blended drinks. This may sound a bit weird, but I like to blend carrots and peaches together. It’s a great way to get a good dose of Vitamin A and beta carotene. I also love to make peach hand pies and peach cobbler.
Thanks for the “cheater” dessert recipe, Patty Paulsen. I’ll have to try that one of these days.
elizabethcooks on 8.13.2015
I make a Peach Cobbler or just eat them out of hand, so good when in season.
Terrie on 8.13.2015
Love peaches but when I buy them they always rot from the inside out. Can anyone tell me how to ripen peaches so I can eat them instead of throwing them away?
Arlyne Michelle on 8.13.2015
Really, is there a WRONG way to enjoy peaches??? I’ve never found one.
My current favorite is a peach crostini with grilled peaches, fresh basil, and goat cheese with honey all drizzled with balsamic syrup.
Patty Paulsen on 8.13.2015
I have a cheater dessert that is to die for: Peel and slice some peaches into a buttered 9 x 13 pan, sprinkle with a little sugar (you won’t need much if your peaches are super sweet–you’ll know because as you were slicing them a few fell into your mouth), spinkle in some fresh blueberries if you have them. Open a box of yellow cake mix and spread that all over. Next, open a can of lemon-lime soda and carefully pour it all over. DON’T STIR. Pop it into a 350 degree oven for about 30 – 35 minutes or until bubbly and the topping is slightly golden. Serve warm with ice cream or cold all by itself–it doesn’t matter. Delicious! Bonus: Only one dish needs washing! BTW, this works with any fruit–many times I just use a bag of mixed berries straight out of the freezer.
Glenda on 8.13.2015
My favorite way to eat peaches is whole with the juice running everywhere. I make peach ice cream and cobblers. I also can and freeze peaches but nothing compares to the first peach of the season. This years was heavenly! In the south we have a saying “slap your Mamma good”
Beth B. on 8.13.2015
I found a new love – sliced fresh peaches sprinkled with a little sugar and a little almond milk poured over them!
whitecallalily on 8.13.2015
Marinate them in brandy and brown sugar, then grill them, serve them with the reduced marinade and vanilla ice cream! Yummy!!
KristenM on 8.13.2015
Straight off the branch is great! But there is also a peaches and cream muffin recipe on Tasty Kitchen that is just divine.
Stephani on 8.13.2015
I like to make peach jam and peach butter. I use some of the peach butter to make muffins. I use a basic banana muffing recipe that I have and tweak it by adding cinnamon and nutmeg – just substitute the mashed banana’s with peach butter:)
Judy Fox on 8.13.2015
In oatmeal with walnuts, spiced with cinnamon and a bit of milk.
Janice K on 8.13.2015
I make peach pies in small mason jars, then freeze them before cooking. What a treat in the cold weather.
Kathy K on 8.13.2015
Just sliced. Although I will add them to vanilla yogurt for lunch. I look forward to Colorado peaches ever year. I’ve never had better tasting peaches ever. It’s a short season so I eat as many as possible. Delicious!
rinabeana on 8.13.2015
Last weekend I got peaches at the farmers market and canned Peach Butter and Peach Almond Conserve from the Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving. Two new recipes for me and both were successes! I’m also partial to the Peach Barbecue Sauce and Peach Salsa. If only it wasn’t so difficult to skin and pry the flesh off the pit. I did the boiling water trick, which works for removing the skins of ripe peaches, but the peaches I got were excessively difficult to de-pit. If it wasn’t for that, I think I’d use them more often. At least now I have a load of sweet Christmas presents for my family and friends!
Deb C on 8.12.2015
I’m with Cheryl….I love peach smoothies….peaches, a dash of nutmeg and cinnamon oil, some white liquid(milk, half n half, creamer, almond milk..whatever)….sometimes some greens and plain or vanilla yogurt…..whirl it up and drink away! I also love to slice the peaches about 1/4″ thick and dehydrate them. Talk about making the house smell good!! Some of the best munchies around!
David Worrell on 8.12.2015
My wife and I live in South Carolina – peach country! Our homestead is about 45 minutes from a large peach orchard and trek there every year for their amazing peaches. A few weeks ago we bought 50 lbs of peaches and I canned 36 pints of slices in light syrup and 13 half pints of peach jam.
Roberta on 8.12.2015
My husband likes to cut the peaches in half – soak them in dessert wine – then grill them. Serve in a big bowl with vanilla ice cream, more dessert wine (and some on the side to drink), and raspberry preserves – lip-smacking good!
Cheri on 8.12.2015
Blueberry Peach Pie with Colorado Peaches …. Oh my!
marymc1952 on 8.12.2015
I do like peach ice cream, but a restaurant here in Nashville (TN) serves a great peach pie made with peach jello and whipped cream. I can’t remember if it is low in sugar or sugar free, but lots of us look forward to it each year. I have been looking at peach jam recipes. I’m trying to figure out what to do with all the peaches from Georgia that I have! I’ve frozen peaches in the past, but we didn’t end up eating them. I need to figure this out in the next few days.
Jaci on 8.12.2015
I love peaches with vanilla ice cream or with yogurt, but to save the wonderful flavor, I peel, cut, and put peaches in small freezer containers and cover them with orange juice. Allow enough time for them to mostly thaw before eating. They will need to be eaten right away after thawing, thus small containers. They are a wonderful treat in the middle of a Minnesota winter!
Angele on 8.12.2015
I have a peaches and cream pie (recipe from Cooks Country) in the oven right now. Once I’ve glutted on them fresh, or with cream over shredded wheat, they make such wonderful crumbles, crisps, cobblers, pies, jams… or on cottage cheese, or in plain yogurt, or or or…
Cathy Nunley on 8.12.2015
First, I must say I am in love with Ree Drummond. Not only are your recipes scrumptious, but your wit is second to none (or me). Ok, now that that is out of the way, I’ll tell you what I like to do with peaches.
We have a local market here in Chattanooga, TN, called “Linda’s Produce”. They have 3 locations, but only 2 count. It is open until there is no more local (in local I mean Southeastern TN and N. Georgia) produce. So from about April through October, you can get whatever is in season. They always have an abundance of peaches. My husband is from a little country town, Jasper, TN, and has me make several peach cobblers as long as I can get peaches. I make it and give it away and then make some more. It is such a simple recipe, that I can now make them in my sleep, but I really won’t do that.
So there is my commment. Thank you so much for being you. You have a beautiful family and I hope that in heaven we can be neighbors! God Bless!
C. L. ( Cheryl ) "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser on 8.12.2015
Our favorite peaches are White peaches (from Georgia) oh my they are juicy and so delicious! I love smoothies so I have several combinations using fresh peaches. I love salads and have one almost every day. Grilled peaches are delightful especially in desserts and salads. I have used them in sauces, salsas also. Happy Wednesday Everyone! Have a peachy day LOL…