Description
Heavenly Summer Peach Bars are a delightful dessert featuring a buttery crust topped with juicy, fresh peaches baked to golden perfection. Perfect for summertime gatherings or a sweet treat, these bars combine the natural sweetness of peaches with a tender crumbly base for a mouthwatering experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- ¼ cup brown sugar
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
- Prepare the oven and pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal of the bars.
- Make the crust mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the cold cubed butter using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, creating a tender and flaky texture.
- Add eggs and vanilla: Incorporate the eggs and vanilla extract into the flour and butter mixture, mixing just until combined to form a dough. Press about two-thirds of this dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to create a sturdy base for the peaches.
- Prepare the peach topping: In a separate bowl, gently toss the diced peaches with cornstarch and brown sugar to thicken the fruit juices during baking and add a subtle sweetness. Spread this mixture evenly over the crust layer in the pan.
- Top with remaining dough: Crumble the remaining dough over the peach layer to create a crumbly topping that will bake to a golden brown, adding texture and flavor.
- Bake the bars: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for about 35 minutes or until the top is a beautiful golden brown and the peaches are bubbly.
- Cool and serve: Allow the peach bars to cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, lift out the bars using the parchment paper and cut into squares. Serve immediately or store for later enjoyment.
Notes
- For easier peeling, blanch peaches in boiling water for 30 seconds, then transfer to ice water to loosen skins.
- Use ripe but firm peaches to avoid soggy bars.
- These bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to a week.
- For added flavor, sprinkle a little cinnamon or nutmeg over the peach layer before baking.
- Gluten-free flour can be substituted for all-purpose flour to make this recipe gluten-free, but texture may vary slightly.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (approx. 2x2 inch)
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
Keywords: summer peach bars, peach dessert, fruit bars, summer dessert, baked peach bars, easy peach recipe
