Description
Heavenly Summer Peach Bars are a delightful treat featuring a buttery crust, juicy peach filling, and a crumbly topping with a hint of cinnamon. Perfect for showcasing ripe summer peaches, these bars bake to a golden, bubbly perfection and are great served on their own or with a scoop of ice cream.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Crust:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
For the Peach Filling:
- 3–4 large peaches, peeled, pitted, and sliced
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Crumb Topping:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal of the bars later.
- Make the Crust: In a mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, and salt. Cut in the cold, cubed unsalted butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press this mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake the crust for 15 to 18 minutes until it turns lightly golden. Remove from oven and allow it to cool slightly.
- Prepare Filling: In another bowl, toss the peeled, pitted, and sliced peaches with granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Let this mixture sit for a few minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the juices to release slightly.
- Make Crumb Topping: In a separate bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in the melted unsalted butter until the mixture forms crumbly clusters.
- Assemble: Spread the peach filling evenly over the slightly cooled crust. Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the peach layer, covering it completely.
- Bake: Place the assembled bars in the oven and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly around the edges. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely in the pan.
- Serve: Once cooled, use the parchment paper overhang to lift the bars from the pan. Cut into squares and enjoy them plain or with a scoop of ice cream. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator or freeze for longer storage.
Notes
- Use ripe, juicy peaches for the best flavor and texture. Canned or frozen peaches can be substituted—just be sure to drain them well to avoid excess moisture.
- Feel free to add fresh berries, chopped nuts, or warm spices like nutmeg or ginger to customize the filling or crumb topping.
- Ensure the crust is slightly cooled before adding the filling to prevent it from becoming soggy.
- These bars store well in the fridge for up to 5 days or can be frozen for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (1/16 of recipe)
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 100mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: summer peach bars, peach dessert, crumb topping, fruit bars, easy dessert, summer baking, peach recipe
