Every summer I purchase pounds of Southern peaches and over the years, I’ve tested and compiled a collection of the Best Peach Recipes.

Fresh Peach Recipes vary from sweet to savory, including salads, main dishes, pies, tarts, and ice creams. Buying sweet, flavorful, seasonal peaches will ensure the tastiest results!

Fresh Peach Recipes Roundup collage with 3 photos over a title text box

 

Table of Contents hide
1 Why You’ll Love Fresh Peach Recipes
2 Expert Tips
3 Our Favorite Recipes for Peaches
4 Pies, Tarts and Galettes:
5 More Peach Desserts
6 Savory Recipes
7 Scones, Bars, Bread, Turnovers, Cocktails
8 Peach Ice Cream Recipes
9 Frequently Asked Questions

Why You’ll Love Fresh Peach Recipes

  • A perfectly ripe peach is one of the joys of summer. They’re fabulous in desserts!
  • If you overbuy fresh peaches, you are now armed with loads of delicious recipes.
  • Peaches can be used for desserts, entrees, cocktails, and more!
  • Peaches contain fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins A and C.
Peach galette on a ruffled white plate

Peach Galette

Expert Tips

  • Use fresh, seasonal, fragrant peaches. If they don’t smell like peaches when they’re ripe, they won’t be flavorful.
  • Most often, you’ll want to peel your peaches before using them. See above for the easiest technique.
  • To remove the pit, slice the peach in half using the natural crease on the peach as a guide, cut from stem to tip on both sides. Twist the peach gently to separate the halves. If you have a cling peach, carefully use a knife to pry the pit from the peach. A table knife is the safest choice.
  • To ripen your peaches, leave them out at room temperature until they are fragrant and “give” slightly when gently pressed with your finger near the stem end. You may place them in a paper bag so that the carbon dioxide they produce will hasten the ripening process.
  • Beware that fresh peaches can oxidize, or turn brown, when exposed to air. It’s best to use them soon after they are sliced. If there will be a delay, you can keep them in acidulated water, better known as cool water with lemon juice.

Our Favorite Recipes for Peaches

Pies, Tarts and Galettes:

More Peach Desserts

Savory Recipes

Peach beet salad in a white salad bowl

Peach and Beet Salad

Scones, Bars, Bread, Turnovers, Cocktails

Peach Ice Cream Recipes

Peach raspberry crisp in a dessert bowl with a red handled fork

Peach Raspberry Crisp

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Two Types of Peaches?

The two main types of peaches are Freestone Peaches and Cling Peaches. Freestone peaches have a pit that’s easy to remove, a “free” stone. Cling peaches have a pit that takes a little more effort to remove since it “clings” to the fruit.

How Do You Select the Best Peaches?

Use all your senses. The peaches should be yellow and/or peach-colored without any green areas. The green means they were picked too early. They should smell like peaches as they ripen. Peaches should give a little when you hold them in your hand and press gently near the stem end. If they’re rock hard, they may never ripen.

How Do You Peel Peaches?

Bring a pot of plain water to a boil. Cut a superficial X just through the skin on the end opposite of the stem. Gently lower the peaches into the boiling water. Let them boil for 30-60 seconds, then remove them to a large bowl of cold or ice water.
With your fingers or a knife, peel the skin off of the peaches. It should slip off easily. If it does not, your peaches may not be ripe.

What Can You Make with Fresh Peaches?

 Fresh peaches can be used in so many recipes from pies, tarts, cakes, and ice creams to salads, main dishes, and appetizers.

What Flavors Pair Well with Peaches?

Peaches pair deliciously with pork, duck, lemon, berries, tomatoes, fennel, endive, grapes, and other stone fruit. You can flavor your peach dishes with allspice, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, vanilla, mint, basil, ginger, honey, tarragon, and/or rosemary.

How Do You Store Fresh Peaches?

If they aren’t quite ripe, store them stem side down at room temperature. Check them daily and move them into the refrigerator when ripe.
In the refrigerator, the ripening process slows down. As long as you allow air circulation, and not keep them in a plastic bag, they’ll be good for a few more days. Once they start looking dehydrated, it’s best to freeze them.

How Do You Freeze Fresh Peaches?

Purchase a product like (affiliate links) Fruit Fresh, which will prevent your peaches from browning in the freezer. Follow the instructions on the jar to help preserve the peach slices. Finally, if you have a vacuum food saver, place the peaches in a bag and seal it airtight according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

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