A Peachy Dessert Idea

 

Peach cobbler is one of my favorite desserts.  I also love peach pie, peach betty and peach chutney.  It’s pretty safe to say I love anything with peaches.

There are many peach dessert recipes out there, and you can find one or two in just about every cookbook, online or on food websites.  I’ve made several from various sources over the years, but none have turned out quite as well in such short time.

Fresh peaches are plentiful everywhere in the summer, but you don’t have to wait until summer to bake a delicious peach dessert.  Frozen they come pre-sliced, and when tucked under a crust you just can’t beat that sweet delicate flavor.

Yesterday I had a peachy idea.  After I planned and cooked a dinner for guests, I still needed a dessert.  I had spent a good part of the day on the entrée, and didn’t want to devote more time on yet another dish.  I remembered an extra pie crust and a bag of frozen peaches in my freezer.  I made something up and called it Peach Dessert.

I managed the baking time just right so as our guests arrived it came out of the oven, and its freshly-baked fragrance filled the house.  When dessert time rolled around, I served it in glass dishes, topped it with a little whipped cream, and it quickly disappeared—a couple of small seconds but no leftovers.

The basic recipe is very simple.  You can even substitute other fruits or a combination.  Apples, berries or pineapple chunks all hold up well baked under a crust.  Keep a few basic ingredients in your freezer and you can usually come up with something in short order.

Bake one tonight and surprise the dessert lovers in your family.  Then let me know how they enjoyed that first bite.

Peach Dessert

1 16oz package frozen peach slices (or 1lb. fresh)

1 pie crust recipe (or store-bought frozen) 

2 T flour

2 T granulated sugar (or Splenda)

2 T brown sugar

1/8 t salt

¼ t cinnamon

¼ t almond extract

2 T unsalted butter

1 T granulated sugar for sprinkling on top

Preheat oven to 400º

Lightly butter or spray an 8” or 9” glass baking dish.  In a small bowl combine the flour, sugars, extract and spices and blend well.

Pour the thawed peach slices into a bowl, sprinkle the flour mixture over the top, and toss well to coat the fruit.  Pour the peaches into the prepared pie dish and dot with the butter.

Gently unfold the pie crust over the top tucking the edges under.   Cut a few small slits on top to allow any steam to escape, and sprinkle the sugar over the top.

Place the dish on a metal baking sheet and bake on the middle shelf of your oven.  Bake 35 – 40 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.  Serve warm or at room temperature—preferably with whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream.

Enjoy and have a sunny day!

©Pauline Boren 2010