Tess Rose Lampert is a New York City-based writer, beverage educator, and lover of savings. With over a decade in the alcoholic beverage industry, she strives to enhance consumers' everyday experiences with food and beverage through dynamic and interactive writings, educational seminars, and events.
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Cooking with seasonal fruit is not only smart and economical but also pretty darned tasty. Read on for a sampling of some of the best peach recipes that feature the all-time summer favorite in everything from a cocktail to chilled soup, from entrees to salads to, of course, a handful of desserts.
This casserole-style dessert — which will likely become a picnic and potluck favorite — has the baker laying the fruit on top of the batter before putting it in the oven. As the cobbler bakes, the batter rises through the fruit to create a “light, airy cake-like topping.” Serving with vanilla ice cream is suggested.
Recipe: Food Network
Are you craving a milkshake but not wanting the guilt that might accompany it? This peach smoothie, ideal for a bright breakfast or midday snack, uses Greek yogurt and coconut milk to lighten things up while not skimping on rich flavor.
Recipe: She Wears Many Hats
Pies are a classic dessert. Here, nutmeg and cinnamon add warm and spicy notes to this peach pie recipe that’s as traditional as one could hope for. Make sure to let it cool before digging in.
Recipe: Land O’Lakes
Looking for more pie inspiration? We’ve rounded up some of our favorite cheap and easy pie recipes for you.
Sure, most everyone loves a brownie, but sometimes it’s nice to mix things up. These five-star-reviewed peach crumble bars feature a buttery crust topped with a peach layer that can be drizzled with an optional icing. Store leftovers, if any, in the fridge.
Recipe: Saving Room for Dessert
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No ice cream maker? No problem. This recipe taps into the no-churn ice cream craze, taking five ingredients and turning them into a homemade treat sure to impress.
Recipe: Delicious On A Dime
Peach season is a tasty season. If you want to extend its bounty, whip up a batch of peach jam in just 90 minutes. This straightforward recipe combines peaches with sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, and a pinch of salt.
Recipe: Southern Living
Raise a toast to the peach in the form of a classic cocktail. This pink-hued drink, which features peach puree, Prosecco, and a splash of juice, is said to trace its roots back to the venerable Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy.
Recipe: Pinch and Swirl
Why not raise a second glass to the peach? This time, create the classic cooling summer sip with a combination of white wine and thinly sliced fresh peaches. A fresh mint garnish sets it off just right.
Recipe: Mom on Timeout
No one has to know you took the easy way out with this recipe that features peaches plus a crispy topping made with boxed cake mix and pecans.
Recipe: She’s Not Cookin’
Related: Ridiculously Easy Dump-and-Bake Desserts to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it … there are plenty of delicious cold soups beyond the traditional gazpacho (just take a look at our roundup of the best cold soups for summer). Here, fresh peaches, sugar, cream, and vanilla are combined to create a silky bowl that’s an ideal appetizer that might equally serve as an unexpected dessert.
Recipe: Butter With a Side of Bread
A salad offers one of the most creative opportunities in the kitchen, as you can customize it to your heart’s content. This spin on spinach salad — pun intended – brings peaches, goat cheese, avocado, and toasted almonds to the mix for something both memorable and delicious.
Recipe: Ambitious Kitchen
Looking for more salad inspiration? Check out our collection of tasty pasta salad recipes for summer.
Peaches aren’t just for sweet dishes, as this grill preparation shows. The classic stone fruit earns classic char marks from the grill but also gets a savory note thanks to Gorgonzola cheese, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. A touch of honey satisfies those with a sweet tooth, as well.
Recipe: Thriving Home
Hungry for more recipes for summer barbecues? Check out our meatless grilling ideas and unexpected barbecue recipes.
Serve tortilla chips along with this peach-based salsa for the perfect party pairing, or use it as an unexpected topping for chicken, pork, or fish. Though the peaches may take center stage, a combination of tomatoes, red onion, jalapeno, cilantro, and lime juice round out the proceedings.
Recipe: Modern Meal Makeover
This fast, family-friendly recipe creates an affordable (chicken thighs are suggested) meal where peaches are elevated with a glaze featuring garlic, fresh herbs, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, and cider vinegar. It all adds up to a savory-sweet twist.
Recipe: The Seasoned Mom
Save time and effort with more of our favorite cast iron skillet recipes.
This salmon recipe is said to yield an impressive entrée that’s “golden brown” on the outside while still tender on the inside, infused with a marinade featuring peaches and brown sugar.
Recipe: This Worthey Life
Instead of just slicing up a peach over your morning yogurt or cereal, up the ante by making these muffins for breakfast or brunch. Each bite offers a delicious mix of juicy peaches along with cinnamon spice and brown sugar. Icing is optional.
Recipe: Sally’s Baking Recipes
While it may sound odd to diehard pepperoni lovers, this pizza combination suggested by Martha Stewart will win over skeptics at first bite. The combination of salty, sweet, gooey, fresh, and charred creates an explosion of flavor that pairs well with crisp, white wine.
Recipe: Martha Stewart
Tangy and sweet peaches draw out the natural richness of pork, each flavor complementing the other. An easy recipe from the blog Macheesmo takes humble and inexpensive ingredients and elevates them to restaurant quality. This party-worthy dish is so simple that there's no need to wait for a special occasion to break it out, either.
Recipe: Macheesmo
Peaches naturally mimic many of the flavors inherent to barbecue sauce, so it's no surprise that peach barbeque sauce is a popular twist on the all-American condiment. A smoky rendition from the blog Kiss My Smoke is easy to prepare and versatile enough to work on a variety of dishes. Make it spicy by adding a fresh chili.
Recipe: Kiss My Smoke
Infusing inexpensive, store-bought vinegar with fresh peaches, with a recipe from the online magazine Organic Authority, is a cheap way to enhance the flavor of many dishes. Use the infused vinegar to make salad dressings, marinades, and sauces. The subtle peach flavor will lend complexity.
Recipe: Organic Authority
