Baked Peaches

This easy recipe for baked peaches will yield a dessert that’s a revelation to anyone who has never before enjoyed cooked fruit. Sweet, tender and surprisingly complex in flavor, baked peaches are a must-have when this beloved stone fruit is in season.

And when you serve this baked peaches recipe over ice cream, things get even more wonderful. This is the perfect dessert to make when you want to impress guests but also don’t want to work that hard. It can be our little secret just how easy it is to make a tasty baked peach treat. Now, let’s talk about how to do that.

Ingredients for Baked Peaches

• Peaches: For this recipe, you’ll want four medium-size ripe peaches that have been halved and pitted.
• Brown sugar: As always with brown sugar, make sure you pack it down before you measure it, so you don’t accidentally use less than you need.
• Maple syrup or honey: You can use maple syrup or honey interchangeably in terms of sweetening; the maple syrup might add a bit more of a complex and nuanced flavor profile.
• Butter: You’ll want the butter to be slightly softened when you prepare the sweet glaze, so take it out of the fridge a little while before you start cooking.
• Cinnamon: Be sure to stick to the recommended 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon—it’s delicious, but it’s potent and can be overpowering.
• Vanilla ice cream (optional): Yes, the vanilla ice cream is optional, but it’s highly recommended. As in, we don’t recommend you serve these peaches without it! Unless you serve them with a different flavor of ice cream, of course.

Directions

Step 1: Prep the peaches

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Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the peach halves in a greased 11×7-inch baking dish, cut side up.

Step 2: Prepare the glaze

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In a small saucepan, combine the water, brown sugar and maple syrup, and cook and stir over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. Add the butter and cinnamon, and cook until the butter is melted, one to two minutes longer. Pour the glaze over the peaches.

Step 3: Bake the peaches

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Bake, uncovered, until the peaches are tender, 25 to 30 minutes, basting the fruit occasionally with the juices. Serve the baked peaches with ice cream, if desired.

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Baked Peach Variations

• Add a bit of heat: Sprinkling a bit of cayenne pepper over the peaches during a couple of the basting sessions will add a kick that actually helps bring out the other flavors.
• Try it with nectarines: A close cousin of the peach, the nectarine can serve as a stand-in for this recipe, with all other steps the same and the outcome a delight.
• Use whipped cream instead: If you don’t have any ice cream on hand, a generous dollop of whipped cream served beside these baked peaches will be a welcome partner as well.

How to Store Baked Peaches

These baked peaches will store well in the fridge for up to four days, and they can be reheated in the oven or in a pan on the stove. Secure them well in an airtight container before storing.

Can you freeze baked peaches?

From a food-safety standpoint, yes, they will remain safe and edible for several months. But they will be rather mushy when thawed, and really only good for smoothies.

Baked Peach Tips

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Can you grill these peaches?

Grilled peaches are an absolute treat, but grilling won’t achieve the same flavor profile you’ll get from this recipe, as the peaches need to be regularly basted and sitting in the sweet glaze as they bake.

How can I make the cleanup less of a mess here?

It’s true, you’re creating quite the sticky glaze, which really can do a number on your baking dish. You can always line the baking dish ahead of time in aluminum foil or parchment paper to help mitigate the mess.

Is this a healthy recipe?

If you skip the ice cream, then this is a sugary but low fat, low sodium and relatively guilt-free treat.