Grilled peaches and cream are the ultimate summer dessert! Ripe, juicy peaches infused with cinnamon and brown sugar are caramelized to perfection and then served with cold, vanilla-laced cream, for a summertime indulgence.
Grilled peaches captures the essence of late summer cooking. With ripe, sweet peaches on the grill, it's a perfect way to enjoy the warm weather while it lasts. Grilling enhances their natural sweetness and adds a subtle smoky flavor, making them even juicier and sweeter.
While grilled peaches are typically paired with vanilla ice cream, I decided to put a spin on tradition by combining them with cream for a deliciously unique flavor.
Peaches and Cream ranks among the simplest yet most satisfying summer desserts. Just slice up some juicy fresh peaches, pour on rich heavy cream, and finish with a dollop of fluffy whipped cream.
The warm, caramelized cinnamon-sweet peaches paired with cold cream create an absolutely divine flavor combination.
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Why you'll love it?
- Best summer dessert
- Contrasting textures and flavor
- Visually stunning
- Easily halve or double the recipe as needed
- Individually portioned
- Only 5 ingredients
- The perfect way to use fresh peaches
- Easy dessert for a crowd at a BBQ.
Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and amounts.
- Peaches - This grilled peaches recipe calls for four peaches, but you can easily double or triple the recipe depending on the size of your crowd. Read on for tips on selecting the perfect peaches for grilling.
- Brown sugar - It melts into the warm peaches, adding caramel notes while also enhancing the smokiness from the grill.
- Heavy cream - You can't have grilled peaches and cream without heavy cream. Ensure it's very cold straight from the fridge to guarantee easy whipping and full volume.
- Flavorings - I use ground cinnamon to top the peaches, and then vanilla for flavoring the whipped cream.
- Butter - Brush melted butter on the peach halves before grilling. This prevents sticking and enhances caramelization.
How to select peaches for grilling?
Picking the right peaches that aren’t too hard or too soft is essential so that you can easily cut, pit, and grill them.
- Touch - To select peaches for grilling, gently press down on the flesh to test ripeness and juiciness. Opt for those that are ripe but still firm to the touch, avoiding ones that feel too soft or mushy, as they may not hold up well on the grill.
- Aroma - Opt for peaches with a fragrant aroma, particularly around the stem end. Ripe peaches usually emit a light, sweet peach smell even before slicing into them! Be cautious if they smell overly strong, as this may indicate they're too ripe.
- Color - Ripe peaches should feature golden and vibrant yellow tones, rather than appearing pale or green. This indicates they're at their peak ripeness.
How to make?
You can find full printable recipe below, but here is a quick overview of the procedure along with step-by-step photos.
💡 How to cut a peach for grilling? Run a sharp knife all the way around the peach, following the natural line that starts at the top. Carefully twist the peach halves to loosen them, then pull them apart. Use the tip of a small pairing knife and gently remove the pit from one-half of your peach.
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Tip: Closing the grill for a minute or two accelerates the melting of the sugar.
Serving ideas
Grilled peaches are at their best when served hot from the grill, when they’re juicy, tender and warm. To serve, place one or two grilled peach halves in a serving bowl, top with cold heavy cream, and add a scoop of whipped cream.
More serving ideas for grilled peaches:
- Serve the grilled peaches with a scoop of vanilla ice cream to keep it classic. Top with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup and a sprinkle of chopped nuts for added sweetness and crunch.
- Add a scoop of Greek yogurt, toasted nuts or granola for a healthier treat.
- Leftover grilled peaches are great sliced and served as a salad with arugula, goat cheese, and a balsamic glaze.
- Slice the grilled peaches and use as a topping for breakfast dishes like toasts, pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, overnight oats or coconut chia pudding.
- Serve alongside grilled chicken or pork chops.
- Top with mascarpone cheese, honey and toasted nuts.
Helpful tips
- Selecting perfectly ripe peaches, neither too firm nor too soft, is crucial.
- Preheat and clean the grill grates before adding peaches.
- Grill over medium-high heat.
- Closing the grill for a minute or two accelerates the melting of the sugar.
Recipe FAQs
Fully ripe peaches are sweeter, juicier, and hold up better on the grill. However, slightly underripe ones can still be grilled. The grill's heat enhances natural sugars and softens the flesh, yielding a sweet, slightly caramelized peach, though they may not be as juicy or flavorful as fully ripe ones.
Peach skin is edible and packed with fiber and nutrients, but it can also harbor more pesticides than the flesh. To ensure safety, it's best to thoroughly wash peaches before grilling.
Absolutely, you can grill sliced peaches, although I find peach halves work best for the grilled peaches and cream recipe. They can easily hold the cinnamon sugar and allow it to melt into the hot peaches. With sliced peaches, the sugar may tend to fall off onto the grill. If you're grilling sliced peaches, I recommend sprinkling the cinnamon sugar as soon as you remove them from the grill while they're still very hot. This helps the sugar melt and adhere to the peach slices.
More BBQ desserts
Grilled Peaches
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 ripe peaches halved and pitted
- melted butter for brushing
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup heavy cream, plus more for serving
- ⅓ cup confectioners sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
- Brush the cut side of the peaches with some melted butter and grill cut-side down for 3 minutes, until char marks form.
- Combine brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
- Flip over, immediately sprinkle the brown sugar-cinnamon mixture, then grill for 3-5 minutes or until browned and tender and the sugar slightly melted.Tip: Closing the grill for a minute or two accelerates the melting of the sugar.
- For serving, place a warm peach on a plate, drizzle with cold heavy cream, and top it off with a dollop of whipped cream.To make whipped cream, beat the 1 cup heavy cream, confectioners sugar and vanilla extract until soft peaks form.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information, based on third-party calculations, should be seen as estimates, not guarantees, as various factors like product types, brands, processing methods, and more can alter the nutritional content in recipes.
Kavs
Love it, wondering if this can be made in the air fryer?