Heavenly Summer Peach Bars Recipe

Introduction

These Heavenly Summer Peach Bars are a perfect blend of sweet, juicy peaches and a buttery, tender crust. Ideal for warm-weather gatherings or a simple treat, they capture the essence of summer in every bite.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups fresh peaches, peeled and diced

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the cold cubed butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Step 3: In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and vanilla extract until smooth. Pour this into the flour mixture and stir until just combined into a dough.
4. Step 4: Press about two-thirds of the dough evenly into the prepared pan to form the base layer.
5. Step 5: Spread the diced peaches evenly over the crust layer.
6. Step 6: Crumble the remaining dough over the peaches to create a topping.
7. Step 7: Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the peaches are bubbly.
8. Step 8: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan before slicing and serving.

Tips & Variations

• For a deeper peach flavor, toss the diced peaches with a tablespoon of brown sugar and a pinch of cinnamon before layering.
• If peaches are not in season, frozen peaches work well—just be sure to thaw and drain them to reduce excess moisture.
• Adding a sprinkle of chopped almonds or pecans on top before baking adds a nice crunch.

Storage

Store the peach bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer freshness, refrigerate for up to a week. Reheat individual portions in a microwave for 10-15 seconds to enjoy a warm treat.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use canned peaches instead of fresh?

Yes, canned peaches can be used in a pinch. Be sure to drain them well to avoid making the bars too soggy, and reduce added sugar slightly since canned peaches may be sweeter.

How do I prevent the crust from becoming soggy?

Using cold butter and not overmixing the dough helps create a crumbly crust. Also, pressing two-thirds of the dough firmly as the base layer and baking the bars fully ensures a crisp texture. Draining excess juice from peaches is also important.

Heavenly Summer Peach Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

5 from 108 reviews

Heavenly Summer Peach Bars are a delightful treat combining a buttery, tender crust with juicy, fresh peaches. Perfect for summer gatherings or a sweet snack, these bars feature a delicate balance of sweetness and fruitiness, with a simple preparation that yields irresistible results.

• Author: Zane
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 50 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 12 bars 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Dry Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Fruit

• 3 cups fresh peaches, peeled and diced

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s at the right temperature for baking the peach bars.
2. Prepare Dry Mix: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt until well combined. This creates a balanced dry base for the bars.
3. Cut in Butter: Add the cold, cubed unsalted butter to the dry ingredients. Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized bits of butter visible. This process helps create a tender and flaky crust.
4. Add Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, beat the eggs with vanilla extract. Then pour this mixture into the flour-butter mixture. Mix thoroughly until the dough comes together, forming a slightly sticky but cohesive dough.
5. Form Base Layer: Reserve about two-thirds of the dough. Press this dough evenly into the bottom of a greased 9×13 inch baking pan to form a solid crust layer.
6. Prepare Peach Filling: Spread the diced fresh peaches evenly over the dough layer in the pan, ensuring a uniform layer of juicy fruit.
7. Add Top Crust: Crumble the remaining one-third of the dough over the peach layer, covering it with a crumbly topping. This will bake into a crisp and buttery topping for the bars.
8. Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for about 45-50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the peaches are bubbling around the edges.
9. Cool and Serve: Remove the peach bars from the oven and let them cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. Once cooled, cut into squares and serve as a delightful summer dessert or snack.

Notes

• Use ripe, juicy peaches for the best flavor and texture.
• To peel peaches easily, blanch them in boiling water for 30 seconds then transfer to ice water before peeling.
• You can add a sprinkle of cinnamon or nutmeg to the dry mix for extra warmth and flavor.
• Store leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
• For gluten-free option, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.

Keywords: Peach bars, summer dessert, fruit bars, baked peach dessert, homemade peach bars, fresh peach recipe