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20 fresh peach recipes to make before summer ends — cobblers, crisps, salads, chicken dinners, and more. The ultimate guide to using up peak-season peaches. Here’s a collection of the best peach recipes.
Peach season doesn’t last forever, and once those tree-ripened, fragrant peaches start showing up at the farmers market or grocery store, it’s time to use them in absolutely everything. From warm baked desserts to fresh salads to savory dinners, this roundup has 20 ways to make the most of peak peach season before it slips away.
Whether you’ve got a full basket from a peach orchard or just picked up a few at the store, there’s a recipe here for every meal of the day — breakfast, lunch, dinner, and of course, dessert.
Scroll down below to find out tips on choosing the best, ripest, juiciest peaches.
Magnolia Bakery is famous for its banana pudding, but it also has seasonal offerings, and its peach crisp pudding is heavenly!
Magnolia Bakery Peach Crisp Pudding
A warm, bubbling peach filling topped with a soft, biscuit-like crust — the quintessential Southern peach dessert, and one of the most-searched peach recipes every summer.
Peach Cobbler
Slow Cooker Peach Barbecue Sauce Chicken
Peach Dump Cake
A sweet-and-savory twist on the classic sandwich, layering juicy peach slices with melty cheese between golden, buttery grilled bread.
Honey Peach White Cheddar Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Juicy peaches baked beneath a buttery, golden oat crumble topping. Easier and quicker than a cobbler, with all the crunch of a classic crisp.
Peach Crisp
Sugar Cookie Peach Cobbler
Brown Sugar Peach Dutch Baby
Summer Peach Fresh Mozzarella Salad
Peaches and Cream Pie
Peach Galette
Peach Cobbler Muffins
Texas-Style Peach Cobbler
Peaches and Cream French Toast
Peach Basil Mozzarella Flatbread
A fresh, chunky salsa combining sweet peaches with diced onion, jalapeño, cilantro, and lime — the perfect sweet-and-spicy topping for grilled meats or a scoop with tortilla chips.
Fresh Peach Salsa
Peach Berry Trifle
Pavlova
White Peach Raspberry Almond Salad
Peach Gouda Honey Almond Salad
Nectarine Recipes:
Nectarine Cobbler
Nectarine Brown Sugar Crisp
How to Choose Ripe Peaches
Picking the right peaches makes a real difference in how these recipes turn out, so here’s what to look for:
- Smell first. A ripe peach should have a sweet, fragrant aroma right at the stem end. If it smells like nothing, it likely needs more time to ripen.
- Give it a gentle squeeze. Ripe peaches yield slightly to gentle pressure, especially near the stem, but shouldn’t feel mushy or soft all over.
- Look at the color, not just the blush. The red “blush” on a peach’s skin isn’t a reliable ripeness indicator — instead, look at the background color between the red areas. It should be golden yellow, not green, which is a sign the peach ripened fully on the tree.
- Avoid wrinkled or bruised skin. Wrinkling can mean the peach is starting to dry out or overripen, while soft bruised spots can quickly spread to the rest of the fruit.
- If they’re not ripe yet, leave them at room temperature. Peaches continue to ripen after being picked. Place them in a paper bag at room temperature (a banana or apple nearby speeds this up) and check daily.
- Once ripe, refrigerate to slow things down. A ripe peach will keep for a few extra days in the fridge, though the texture is best when eaten close to peak ripeness.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is peach season? Peak peach season generally runs from June through August in most parts of the United States, though it can vary depending on your region and the specific peach variety.
Can I use frozen or canned peaches in these recipes? For recipes where peaches are the star (like a peach crisp or peach cobbler), fresh is best for flavor and texture. For baked recipes where peaches are cooked down anyway, well-drained canned peaches or thawed frozen peaches can work as a substitute.
How do I keep sliced peaches from browning? Toss sliced peaches with a little lemon or lime juice to slow down browning if you’re not using them right away.
What’s the difference between a peach and a nectarine? They’re actually the same species — a nectarine is simply a peach variety without the fuzzy skin. Nectarines tend to be slightly firmer and a bit more aromatic, but they can be used interchangeably in most recipes.
Here is a collection of more fruit crisp and cobbler recipes perfect for summer!
