Fresh Peach Bars Recipe with Crumble Topping

Looking for a fun and delicious dessert? Then you must make these Peach Bars – loaded with fresh peaches and super flavorful, a delicious dessert for the whole family!

One of my favorite things about this time of year is the availability of fresh summertime fruit, and juicy peaches are at the top of that list. I love using up all my fresh peaches in these Peach Bars, topped off with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream, it doesn’t get any better!

Baking a fruit brings out its flavors and aromas and creates an oh-so-amazing texture. These peach pie bars are a flavorful celebration of summer that will have you reaching for more! 

With their buttery crust, crumb topping, and sweet peaches in that gooey filling, fresh peach crumb bars are a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Peaches are delicious on their own, but mixing them with butter, cinnamon, sugar, and lemon zest in a tasty crumble bar makes them a perfect summer dessert.

That crunchy crumble topping adds the absolute perfect texture on top. It’s just perfect!

Reminiscent of peach crisp in bar form, this fresh peach dessert recipe works well for breakfast, dessert, or anything in between. Honestly, they are one of those recipes that are great anytime!

Warning: You may be tempted to take a fork to the pan as soon as they’re done. (Go right ahead! I’m not here to judge.) Because I may or may not have done this on more than one occasion – oopsies. These Peach Bars are just that good!

1. With three different layers, you get three different textures and flavors in each bite.
2. They are super easy to whip up.
3. You can use any peach variety that you prefer, like most peach desserts.

• Unsalted butter
• Granulated sugar
• Egg
• Cinnamon
• Salt
• All-purpose flour
• Peaches
• Lemon zest
• Brown sugar

Pin

1. Grease and line a 9″ x 13” baking dish with parchment paper and set aside. Preheat the oven to 350° F.
2. Blend butter, sugar, and egg in a large bowl with a stand mixer or handheld electric mixer on medium-high until creamy and light, 3 minutes.
3. Add cinnamon, salt, and flour, blending on low until just combined. Do not overmix.
4. Press the bottom crust mixture into the prepared pan. To make this easier, put several large dollops of the mixture in different spots of the pan and push them together with your fingertips. Pat into an even layer.
5. Place in the fridge to chill while we prepare the next steps.
6. In a large bowl, stir the sliced peaches with sugar and lemon zest until combined, set aside.
7. In a medium bowl, mix the flour, brown sugar, butter, and salt on low speed until just combined into small crumbles but still a bit powdery.
8. Toss further with your fingers until slightly larger crumbs form (no larger than a pea).
9. On the chilled base, spread the peach mixture in an even layer.
10. Sprinkle the crumble on top of the peaches as evenly as possible, but do not press down.
11. Bake for 45-50 minutes until golden brown on top and peaches are slightly bubbling along the edges.
12. Cool in pan on a wire rack for at least 20 minutes before removing and cool completely before eating. Cut into bars and enjoy!

WHAT KIND OF PEACHES ARE BEST?

Any kind of peach will work for this recipe; what you use depends on your personal preference.

You could even use nectarines!

Do make sure that whatever you use is ripe so that it will be soft and flavorful.

Even slightly overripe peaches will work, but you may want to adjust the amount of sugar you use since overripe fruit is a bit on the sweet side.

HOW CAN I TELL IF MY PEACHES ARE RIPE?

Ripe peaches should be slightly fragrant and soft to the touch.

Squeeze your peaches gently enough to tell if the flesh will yield, but not firmly enough to bruise it.

If it’s as hard as an apple, then it’s not ripe enough to eat.

If that’s the case and you’d like to speed up the ripening process then. Try placing them in a paper bag for 24 hours; add a banana, if you have one, for extra ripening power.

The bag will trap the gas that the fruit gives off and will ripen it more quickly. 

CAN I USE CANNED PEACHES?

Yes, you can! Just make sure to drain them well.

You can also use frozen sliced peaches, no need to thaw first, however, cooking time may vary.

ANY ADDITIONS?

Absolutely, here are a few ideas:

• White chocolate chips in the crust
• Powdered sugar glaze
• Dusting of powdered sugar
• Serve with whipped cream or ice cream on top
• Caramel drizzle
• Drizzle with white chocolate
• Add almond extract or vanilla extract to the crust and filling for a twist.

ANY SUBSTITUTIONS?

Absolutely! Check out these ideas and let me know what you think.

• Swap out peaches for ripe fruit like nectarines or plums if you can’t find juicy summer peaches at your local farmer’s market.
• Use whole wheat flour in place of all-purpose if you want a heartier bite and extra fiber.
• Switch the softened butter in the crumble with coconut oil for a dairy-free option.
• Instead of lemon zest, add a teaspoon of lemon juice if that’s what you have on hand.
• Swap out the sugar in the dry ingredients with a blend of sugar and honey for a slightly different sweetness.
• If you’re out of peaches but still want an easy peach dessert vibe, try canned diced peaches—just drain any excess moisture first.

These peach crumble bars can be stored covered in the pan with plastic wrap or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 

These can also be frozen. We like to wrap each bar well in plastic before freezing then place in a freezer bag, these will last up to 6 months in the freezer.

Defrost at room temperature.  

Want a fun and delicious recipe to use up your peaches?

Then you need to make these Peach Bars.

One bite of that sweet peach filling and you will fall in love.

If you’ve tried these PEACH BARS let me know in the comments how it turned out! You can follow me over on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK to find some more of our mouthwatering recipes!