Peachy keen recipes for summer

To go along with our Peachy sweet pastries article:  

Grilled Peaches with Whipped Cream

Serves 4

Ingredients:

4 Freestone peaches (white or yellow)

2 Tbsp Cinnamon

2 Tbsp Granulated sugar

1 cup Heavy whipping cream

1/3 cup Confectioners sugar

Optional: Fresh mint leaves for garnish

Directions: 

1.  Turn on grill and warm up to medium heat.  Carefully slice each peach in half and remove pit.  Peel if desired.  Mix the cinnamon and sugar, set aside. 

2.  Place peaches on the grill, face down and cover.  Grill no more than 2-3 minutes each side.  Carefully remove from the grill.  Meanwhile, beat heavy cream and confectioners sugar on high until it holds stiff peaks.  

3.  To serve, place 2 peaches on plate.  Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, top with a dollop of whipped cream and garnish with a fresh mint leave. 

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Peach & Pecan Bars

Makes 2 dozen

Ingredients: 

2 cups Flour

1 3/4  cup Packed brown sugar, divided

1 cup COLD Butter (2 sticks)

1 jar Peach preserves

5 Eggs

1 cup Honey

1 pinch Salt

1 tsp Vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups Whole pecans

3 Fresh peaches

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  In a large bowl, mix flour and 1 cup of brown sugar.  Cut cold butter into cubes and using a pastry cutter or two knives, cut butter into flour mixture until crumbly.  Press down into a greased and floured 9x13 aluminum pan.  Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden.  

2.  When the crust has cooled, warm jar of peach preserves for 30 seconds in microwave, then carefully and evenly spread across crust. 

3.  Meanwhile, mix eggs, honey, remaining 3/4 cup brown sugar, salt, and vanilla in a bowl until sugar dissoves.  Carefully fold in pecans.  Spread pecan mixture evenly over crust.  Reduce oven temperature to 275 degrees F and bake for 40 minutes.  

4.  Meanwhile, peel and pit the fresh peaches and cut into 8 slices each.  After 40 minutes of baking, remove the pecan bars from the oven and place slices 8 across and 3 deep.  Place bars back in the oven and bake for 5-10 more minutes.  Allow to cool completely before cutting. 

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Peach Almond Crumble

Serves 8

Ingredients: 

1/2 cup Rolled oats

3/4 cup Flour

1/2 cup Brown sugar

1 pinch salt

3/4 cup Slivered almonds

8 Tbsp Room temperature butter

1 bag Frozen peaches or 4 Fresh peaches, peeled, pitted and cut into 8 slices

1/4 cup Granulated sugar

3 Tbsp Cornstarch

1 tsp Lemon juice

2 Tbsp Cold butter

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Butter 8 6-oz ramekins or 1 2-qt baking dish.  Mix oats, flour, brown sugar and salt in large bowl.  Add in almonds and mix well.  

2.  Cut in butter with pastry cutter or 2 butter knives until mixture is crumbly and well moistened.  

3.  Combine peaches, sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice and mix well.  Divide peach mixture among ramekins.  Cut 2 Tbsp of cold butter into 8 pieces and place one dot on each ramekin. Top with crumble and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until golden and bubbly.  Allow to cool completely before serving.