Sure, you can probably find a peach at the supermarket all year round. But it’s probably not very good: it lacks flavor, it’s probably a bit floury, and certainly not juicy. Grab a sweet Georgia peach when it’s in season in June and your life will change for the better, bite after bite. (Even if you don’t live in the south, you can probably find good ones during the summer). These recipes, all 30, make the most of summer’s gems in cakes, cobblers, ice cream and some refreshing drinks (some alcoholic, some not) to wash it all down. What are you waiting for? Life is a peach!
1. Renee Erickson’s Peach Cobbler with warm sugar crust
Instead of garnishing juicy peaches with cookies or a brown sugar crumble, the fruit is coated with a moist batter. I’m not complaining, am I?
2. Simple summer peach cake
Summer recipes should be low effort, quick to make, and highlight some of the season’s best produce. This no-nonsense pie packed with juicy stone fruits sure fits the bill.
3. Peach tart
This peach-filled tart is so good we once wrote a whole article about its biggest fan (looking at you Rob!). Amanda’s recipe has developed a cult following over the years, thanks to its crumbly, almondy crust and juicy peach filling.
4. Peach cobbler cake
This cake is a real summer show. It’s basically a deconstructed peach cobbler and then reconstructed in the form of an eight-layer cake (count them, eight!). It features extra lumpy streusel made from all-purpose flour, light brown sugar, old-fashioned oats, ground cinnamon, and butter.
5. Almond and peach cobbler
Dig into this rustic dessert that’s made equally of bread pudding, peach pie, and your favorite crumbly, buttery cookies.
6. Fishing Bostock
We love every single recipe in Jason Schreiber’s cookbook, Fruit cakebut this peach and almond might be our favorite.
7. Grilled peaches
After grilling burgers, veggie skewers, and corn on the cob, leave it on a little longer for these grilled peaches – they’re brushed with just a little butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon for those warm flavors we love so much.
8. Louisa’s pie with peaches
A cup of cottage cheese makes this peach and cream pie so intensely fluffy.
9. Peach and sour cream ice cream
No ice cream maker needed here! Spicy sour cream fat naturally adds body to ice cream, without churning. Simply blend the sour cream with the sugar, peaches and lemon juice together in a food processor until everything is blended; serve as is or freeze for a firmer texture.
10. Fresh peach tartlets
Rather than making a big cake, these minis are a fun summer treat. While making nearly a dozen individual pies might seem like a feat, I promise this recipe is as easy as pie.
11. Peach and lemon sorbet from the River Café
Everything Ruth Rogers touches turns to gold or, in this case, a pale peach color that I would like to nickname “dreamsicle”. All you need to make this refreshing vegan dessert are three ingredients: peaches, a large lemon, and superfine sugar.
12. Roasted raspberry and peach tart
We love an open faced cake or tart like this one because you can actually see the bevy of beautiful fruit waiting for you inside. Here you’ll see a vibrant array of fresh raspberries and peach slices sprinkled over a ginger cookie crumb crust.
13. Vegan coffee cake with peach crumble
Instead of cold butter, we switch to coconut oil to create crumbly streusel for this vegan dessert. After all, what is a coffee cake without large chunks of sweet, spicy crumbs on top?
14. Cinnamon rolls and peach butter
Here’s a reason to get out of bed: Spice up classic cinnamon rolls with homemade peach butter (this recipe calls for 1 ½ pounds of fresh peaches, so a great one to make after an overzealous farmer’s market plunder). Also includes sugar, honey, vanilla bean, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and vinegar.
15. Tomato, peach, Chèvre and aromatic herb salad with apple vinaigrette
When it comes to summer salads, you probably think of peach salads or tomato salads, but not a hybrid salad. This “better together” seasonal cream is simply seasoned with good quality olive oil and vinegar.
16. Four generation peach pie with coconut meringue crust
Instead of a traditional pie crust, we love this naturally gluten-free use of a whipped coconut meringue stuffed with stewed peaches.
17. “Hydrangea” cake with peach butter plate
Not only does this peach pie look so beautiful and summery; there are also practical advantages to the preparation. “The clusters of little baked ‘flowers’ made with a pie crust make it cute, but they also add a nice crunch without the fuss of a double crust,” writes recipe developer Erin Jeanne McDowell.
18. Pavlova of peaches and cream
You can garnish Pavlovas with almost any seasonal fruit, but in the summer, we’re all focused on juicy peaches. Keep in mind that the summer months are generally wetter, which means your Pavlova will be softer, rather than crunchy.
19. Cabbage rolls with peaches and herbs
Peaches aren’t just for sweets. We love the way they work in tandem with the pork for savory cabbage rolls that will feed a hungry group.
20. Peach buttermilk sorbet
This four-ingredient sorbet requires buttermilk, sugar, peach jams, Andfresh peach slices (why why should we limit the flavor to just one variety)?
21. Barbecue sauce with peach, bacon and bourbon
Barbecue sauce doesn’t just need honey or brown sugar for sweetness. “Here, peach juice and apple cider vinegar provide the acid while molasses, brown sugar and bourbon complement the sweetness,” writes recipe developer Ali Slagle.
22. Peach salad with anchovy vinaigrette
This is not an ordinary fruit salad. Thinly sliced peaches are seasoned with a salty (in a good way!) Anchovy dressing.
23. Peach macarons
How cute are these peach-inspired macarons? They are not only shaped like peaches, but they are also flavored like them!
24. Inverted peach mochi cake
“Peaches. Cream. Caramel. Need I say more? This thick, chewy cake has all the flavors I want in late summer,” writes recipe developer Sohla El-Waylly. We couldn’t agree more. Seconds, anyone?
25. Peach and Earl Gray Julep
Peach and bourbon come together like peanut butter and jelly, and Earl Gray tea adds a depth of floral and slightly citrusy flavor to this cocktail.
26. Sweet and smoked peach spritz
I’m not even thirsty, yet I know this fruity spritz will quench my thirst and taste oh so refreshing for the summer.
27. Whiskey Peach Smash
Whiskey and peaches go together like peaches and cream (only better).
28. Frozen peach lemonade with gin
Cool off on a sweltering summer day with this alcoholic and muddy drink.
29. White Sangria
Sangria is truly a blank canvas for any fruit and vegetable, but peaches are a naturally delicious choice for white wine-based sangria.
30. Cointreau’s grilled peach margarita
Your new favorite margarita recipe for the summer! Use homemade smoked peach juice, which you can make by caramelizing sugary peaches on a grill, then blended into a smooth puree.
What’s your favorite way to cook or bake with peaches? Let us know in the comments below!