Our Best Sweet-and-Juicy Peach Recipes
Peach Upside-Down Cake [1]
The family behind Illinois' Rendleman Orchards has amassed some great peach recipes in 135 years of growing peaches. This cake is no exception. Peach slices and brown sugar form a moist base for the tender, square cake--and when flipped over, that base becomes the topping. We like the cake warm with ice cream.
Peach Cordial Mini Bundt Cakes [5]
The memory of a childhood orchard trip inspired Melinsa Murphey of Olathe, Kansas, to create this recipe, which was a finalist in our 2012 Best of the Midwest® Recipe Contest. The cakes are moist and sweet and quite generously proportioned, so you may want to serve a half-cake to each person (or bake them in muffin cups instead).
Just peachy: Pannekoeken [9]
This Dutch specialty, a puff pancake, bakes into a bowl shape that cradles a pile of sliced fresh peaches. The recipe comes from the Hidden Lake Bed and Breakfast in Jonesboro, Illinois, where the pannekoeken gets a dollop of sour cream and a generous sprinkling of powdered sugar. "It's simple, presents elegantly and always generates a round of oohs and aahs from our guests," says B&B co-owner Mary Jo Smith. "We typically serve it with maple sausage."
Pannekoeken [10]
Peach Cake Roll [14]
Spread a homemade cake roll with softened peach or vanilla ice cream, then top with peach slices to create this dessert from Michigan Peach Sponsors.
Peach Cake Roll [15]
Peach Pinwheel Dumplings [18]
Peach Pinwheel Dumplings is a family recipe from Rendleman Orchards in southern Illinois, a region where some of the Midwest's finest fruit is found. "For the ultimate in old-fashioned comfort food, try Granny Rendleman's dumplings," says Betty Sirles of Rendleman Orchards. It takes some time to make, but, as Betty says: "Boy, is it worth the effort!"
Rendleman Orchards [20]
Peach Breakfast Parfaits [23]
"This very simple fruit dish goes over big," says Mary Jo Smith, describing this breakfast at Hidden Lake Bed and Breakfast in Jonesboro, Illinois. She serves it in sundae glasses with a swirl of yogurt on top. For a variation, add raspberries to the peaches.
Peach Kuchen [27]
Like any good cook, Mary Jo Smith of Hidden Lake Bed and Breakfast adjusts her recipes as she prepares them over time. She has fine-tuned the custard layer for Peach Kuchen and added spices to the peaches. If you're in a hurry, Mary Jo recommends substituting a single refrigerated unbaked piecrust for the Kuchen Crust.
Peach Kuchen [28]
Flamm's Peach Ice Cream [31]
Flamm Orchards is a major peach producer in southern Illinois. The Flamm family likes to churn peach ice cream on the Fourth of July. The whole group gets involved in ice cream prep, then eating.
Flamm's Peach Cobbler and Yogurt Pie [35]
Flamm's Peach Cobbler is a combination of recipes that's baked for the Flamm Fruits and Cream stand at the orchard's Cobden, Illinois, market (left). It's heavenly served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
For a no-bake summer favorite, try Creamy Peach Yogurt Pie. The recipe comes from the Flamm family's Good Food from the Orchard Cookbook, which is sold at their market.
Peach Chutney [40]
Southern Illinois' peach growers provide the fruit that stars in specialty dishes at local eateries. This Peach Chutney recipe comes from Gerd Hedman, who owns the Peach Barn Cafe in Alto Pass with her husband, Anders. "We serve this with spicy food, like pork tenderloin or shrimp curry," Gerd says. She and Anders also run the Peach Barn Bed and Breakfast and Hedman Winery.
Gerd recommends serving the chutney with a glass of dry to semi-dry local white wine. You can freeze the chutney for up to six months.
Peach Chutney [41]
Peach Barn Cafe, Peach Barn Bed and Breakfast, Hedman Winery [42]
Vanilla Roasted Fruit [45]
Oven-roasted nectarines or peaches create their own vanilla syrup as they're baked in vanilla-flavored sugar with water. They're heavenly with ice cream and syrup drizzled over the top.
Peach of a Crumble [49]
Cranberries make this peach crumble special--no surprise, since the recipe comes from Canoe Bay resort near Chetek, Wisconsin. Wisconsin produces more cranberries than any other state in the nation. Serve with your choice of store-bought ice cream if you don't have time to make the Hint-of-Ginger Ice Cream accompaniment.
Peach of a Crumble [50]
Summer's Best Peach Pie [53]
Just-picked fruit from your farmers market will taste great in this pie, but you can use frozen peach slices if needed.
Pretty Peaches 'n' Pound Cake [57]
Juicy, fresh peaches star in this dessert, based on store-bought pound cake. "It's easy and there's nothing to it," says the Rochester, Minnesota, reader who contributed the recipe. "It takes only about 5 minutes to prepare."
German-Style Peach Kuchen [61]
German immigrants to the Red River Valley brought their cooking traditions with them, including recipes for this peachy dessert. We especially like this with cinnamon whipped cream.
Summer Fruit Daiquiris [65]
Choose from peaches or strawberries and rum or orange juice for this chiller. Then rev up your blender. Our recipe includes variations with and without alcohol.
For another refreshing blender peach drink, try Peach Sunrisers. The drink gets its rosy color from cranberry juice concentrate.
Peach Sunrisers [67]
Peach Streusel Pie [70]
A buttery topping, with a hint of cinnamon, crowns this spectacular dessert.
Peach Streusel Pie [71]
Peach Pecan Vinaigrette with Spring Green Salad [74]
Sarah Slater of Casa Nueva looks forward to fresh peaches appearing at her farmers market in Athens, Ohio. This is just one way she uses the juicy fruit.
