Peach Crisp with fresh, sweet juicy peaches and a cinnamon, brown sugar topping served warm from the oven is a bowl of deliciousness.
Warm peach crisp is dessert perfection when topped with homemade vanilla ice cream. I am not sure there is a better combination.
Peach Crisp
Confession time – baking with peaches used to make me slightly crazy because of the way the peach flesh would attach to the pit. It was never easy to get out and I always felt like I was squishing the peach to do it.
Then I learned the difference between freestone and clingstone peaches. Now I always look for freestone whenever they’re available, which means the peach flesh is not attached to the pit and it pops out easier. I get it, it sounds silly but it was a game changer.
I have also learned that ripe peaches will smell, sweet and peachy. While that seems obvious, it wasn’t until I was able to find peaches at a local farmers’ market that were truly fresh from being picked that I really understood this difference.
Living in Ohio vs. Arizona I have really come to appreciate what we can get fresh from the farm here in Ohio. The freshness is like nothing I experienced in Arizona and I am definitely here for it!
When it comes to peeling peaches, it can be a pain if they aren’t perfectly ripe. Sometimes when baking I just don’t peel them.
If they are slightly difficult to peel and I don’t feel like letting them get a bit riper. I will go ahead and slice them skins and all and my dishes turn out just fine.
If I really want to peel them and the skins aren’t sliding off easily a quick blanch will do the trick. Just drop them in boiling water for 30 seconds and then immediately into an ice bath. The skins will literally slide right off.
Peach Crisp from Fresh Peaches
Fresh is my favorite way to make these but you can use frozen. If using frozen make sure they are thawed or adjust your cook