Delicious peach recipes to try
By midsummer, grocery stores, farmers markets and roadside stands across the country burst with one of the season’s most beloved fruits: the peach. With their fuzzy skins, intoxicating fragrance and sweet, juicy flesh, peaches are the epitome of summer indulgence. Whether you prefer biting into one on a sunny afternoon or transforming them into a decadent dessert or refreshing cocktail, knowing how to select and enjoy fresh peaches will help you savor their fleeting season to the fullest.
How to spot
the ripest peach
Not all peaches are created equal. The key to a truly memorable peach experience is choosing fruit at the peak of ripeness — sweet, aromatic and bursting with juice. But how can you tell if that blushing beauty in the basket is ready to eat?
Start by giving it a gentle squeeze. A ripe peach should yield slightly under light pressure, especially near the stem end. If it’s rock hard, it still needs time to ripen, while a fruit that’s mushy or leaking juice is likely overripe.
Next, check the color. The “blush” of pink or red isn’t as important as the background color underneath. Ripe peaches have a golden yellow or creamy undertone; if the skin looks green, the peach isn’t fully ripe yet.
Finally, take a sniff. A perfectly ripe peach smells like summer itself — fragrant, floral and sweet. No scent usually means no flavor.
If your peaches are a little too firm when you bring them home, don’t worry. Place them in a paper bag on the counter for a day or two, and they’ll ripen to perfection. Just don’t store them in the refrigerator until they’re ripe, as the cold can halt the ripening process and make the flesh mealy.
Delicious peach recipes to try
Once you’ve brought home a basket of luscious peaches, the possibilities are endless. Here are four delicious ways to make the most of this summertime star:
1. Classic Peach Cobbler (Dessert)
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter-melted
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- One 15 oz. can of sliced peaches-drained
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350 F.
Pour melted butter into an 8×8 baking dish.
Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and milk to combine, then pour the batter over the melted butter. (Do not stir!)
Place the peaches on top of the batter and bake for about 30 minutes, until golden brown.
2. Peach and Burrata Salad (Appetizer or Side)
Ingredients
Vinaigrette
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup balsamic or champagne vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 shallot, finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
- Red pepper flakes
- Kosher salt and black pepper
Salad
- 1 1/2 -2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved if large
- 2-3 peaches, sliced into wedges
- 1 cup pitted fresh cherries
- 8 ounces burrata cheese, at room temperature
- 1/4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds (or other nut/seed)
Instructions
1. To make the vinaigrette: combine all ingredients in a glass jar and whisk until smooth. Taste and adjust the chili flakes, salt and pepper.
2. In a large bowl toss the tomatoes, peaches and cherries with 1/3 of the dressing. Let sit 15 minutes at room temperature or up to 4 hours in the fridge.
3. Break the balls of burrata around the salad. Drizzle with the remaining vinaigrette and top with pumpkin seeds and additional fresh herbs. Serve with grilled or toasted bread.
3. Peach Basil Smash (Cocktail)
Ingredients
- 2 oz Bourbon
- 1/2 cup Fresh Peaches, peeled
- 4–5 large Basil Leaves
- 1/2 oz Peach Basil Brown Sugar Syrup
- 1/4 oz Lemon Juice
- Splash Club Soda
- Garnish: Peach slice and/or basil sprig
Instructions
For the cocktail:
- Add peaches and basil to a cocktail tin and muddle together.
- Add Bourbon, syrup, lemon juice and ice and shake until cold.
- Double strain into a cocktail glass filled with ice.
- Top with a splash of club soda and give a gentle stir.
- Garnish with basil and a peach slice.
For the syrup:
- Combine one cup brown sugar and one cup water in a small saucepan and heat until sugar dissolves.
- Add 1 cup diced peaches and about 12 large basil leaves and remove from heat.
- Let sit for 15-20 minutes.
Celebrate peach season while it lasts
Peaches have a short but glorious window of ripeness — usually late June through August in most parts of the U.S. — so now is the time to enjoy them in all their juicy glory. Whether you savor them straight from the market, baked into cobbler, tossed into a salad or shaken into a cocktail, these sun-kissed fruits are a true taste of summer.
So head to your local farm stand, fill a basket and let their sweet aroma guide you to the ripest picks. Just be warned: once you’ve had a perfectly ripe peach, you may find yourself dreaming of summer all year long.
