Easy Peach Crisp Recipe

Forget those mealy apples and make this stunning peach crisp recipe for dessert tonight.

It’s buttery, fruity, crunchy, and pretty much to die for.

If you’re in the mood for a warm, cozy summer dessert, then you’ve got to try this simple peach crisp recipe.

It features a layer of sweet peaches that becomes syrupy and almost jammy once baked.

Meanwhile, the oat topping crisps up, creating a golden outer crust that perfectly complements the soft, juicy peaches beneath. 

I don’t know about you, but I’m craving a big bowl of peach crisp right now!

Mom’s Classic Peach Crisp Recipe

Peach crisp is a classic dessert perfect for the summer! 

The combination of sweet, juicy peaches and crumbly oats creates the most mouthwatering summer spoonful.

And it’s not just delicious. It’s also a cinch to make.

The ingredients are pretty basic pantry staples I bet you already have on hand. Plus, the method is super straightforward.

Better yet, it’s best served hot. So you don’t have to wait for it to cool to serve.

Crisp vs. Cobbler

It’s time to set the record straight.

Crisps and cobblers are very much alike in that they’re both made of fruit baked with some kind of topping.

But the key difference lies in the topping.

Cobblers are generally covered with a dough-based topping, such as a biscuit, pastry, or thick cake batter. 

When baked, it looks almost lumpy, like cobblestones – hence the name.

Meanwhile, as the name suggests, crisps are topped with a crumbly, streusel-like mixture that’s crunchy and often contains rolled oats, sugar, and butter.

True to its name, the topping turns golden and crisp after baking.

As for the filling, those are usually the same. You can have apple, blueberry, pear, or cherry crisps and cobblers. And they’re all yummy!

Ingredients

As mentioned, you only need a handful of pantry staples for this. And if you’re anything like me, you always have peaches on hand for baking!

• Peaches – the star of the show! While I prefer using fresh fruit, I’ve also tried canned and frozen peaches with the same delicious result.

• Flour – the base of the crisp topping. It also mixes with the peaches and their juices, creating a thick syrup that coats the fruit. I use all-purpose, but gluten-free is fine too.

• Brown Sugar – here’s my rule for baking: when a recipe calls for combining butter and cinnamon, the sweetener of choice should always be brown sugar. That said, use white sugar if that’s all you have.

• Butter – to create a rich, buttery, and crisp-crumbly oat topping. Use vegan butter if you like, but I suggest freezing and grating it first (see Tips for more).

• Cinnamon – no spice can add warmth and fragrance like cinnamon can! Of course, a mix of warm spices would be nice, too (think nutmeg, cloves, and allspice).

• Salt – salt contrasts and enhances the sweetness of the sugar and peaches, creating a nice pop of flavor.

• Rolled Oats – together with the flour, the oats form the base of the crisp topping. Use rolled oats, not quick oats! They hold their shape better.

How to Make Peach Crisp 

This recipe is seriously a breeze to make. And it’s ready to eat right out of the oven!

1. Prep the peaches.

If using fresh peaches, peel and cut them into 3/4-inch thick slices. 

If using canned peaches, place them in a colander and drain well.

2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

The oven needs to be hot, so the crisp gets nice and golden.

3. Make the oat crisp topping. 

In a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Then cut in the butter with a pastry cutter or knife.

You want to see pea-sized pieces of butter mixed in with the flour and sugar. It’ll be crumbly, not a smooth dough.

Mix in the oats with a spoon and set aside.

4. Assemble the crisp.

Arrange the peaches evenly in a lightly greased baking dish. Top them with oat crisp, pressing it gently into the peaches.

5. Bake until golden.

Bake the crisp uncovered for 30 minutes or until golden brown on top. You should see the fruity syrup bubbling around the edges!

Let the crisp sit for 10 minutes (the jammy peaches are extremely hot).

6. Serve warm, and enjoy!

This peach crisp is great on its own but even greater with vanilla ice cream (and maybe a drizzle of caramel) on top.

Tips for Success

Making and baking peach crisp is incredibly easy. But still, it’s best to read through these tips for guaranteed success!

• If you want it vegan, use vegan butter. Since it’s usually pretty soft, I suggest freezing it in a block, then grating it. Mix the frozen, grated vegan butter into the flour, and you’re good to go!
  • This method works with regular butter too!

• If using fresh peaches, be sure they’re ripe. Make this a day after purchasing the peaches. Peaches sold at farmers markets usually need 1-2 days to fully ripen.

• Save time and leave the skins on. There’s really no need to peel the peaches as the skins will soften during baking. But it’s your choice.
  • For easy peeling, drop the peaches in boiling water. Let them sit for 30 seconds, and then transfer them into a bowl of ice water. The skins will slip right off!

• You can use frozen peaches for this recipe; just be sure to let them thaw out first. Otherwise, the peach crisp will turn out soggy.

• Don’t slice into the crisp right after baking. It needs a bit of time to cool and set, and for the syrup to thicken, as well. You don’t need to wait long – just 10 minutes will do.

How to Pick Peaches for Peach Crisp

You don’t want hard, squishy, or overly ripe peaches for this recipe! Follow these tips to help you get the perfect peaches.

• Pick peaches with an orange-yellow hue.
• Choose fruit with a sweet, peachy scent.
• There shouldn’t be any browning or bruises on the skin.
• Give them a gentle squeeze, and choose peaches with a small amount of give (softness).

How to Ripen Hard Peaches

To ripen peaches faster, pop them in a brown paper bag and leave them at room temperature for about a day. 

If you have a ripe apple or banana, add that too, and it’ll speed up the process.

This works with avocados too!

Peach Crisp Variations

Make this peach crisp your own with fun toppings or mix-ins.

Here are some ideas that won’t let you down:

• More Fruits or Berries – whether it’s ripe mangoes, blueberries, or apples, adding another fruit or berry to the peaches will give this dessert some extra oomph.
• Caramel – drizzle caramel over the top for a sweet and sticky fish.
• Booze – add a splash of bourbon or rum to the fruit.
• Nuts – add finely chopped nuts to the topping.
• Spices – aside from cinnamon, peaches go wonderfully well with ginger, nutmeg, and other fall spices. 
• Single-Serve Peach Crisps – instead of a baking dish, use cupcake tins or ramekins. 

How to Store and Reheat Peach Crisp

Leftover peach crisp will keep well for up to a week, as long as you know how to store it properly.

How to Store Peach Crisp in The Fridge

It’s easy – cover the entire baking dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate. 

Just remember to allow the crisp to cool completely. Otherwise, condensation will occur and form beads of water underneath the plastic wrap.

These droplets will then drip onto the crisp, making it soggy.

How to Reheat Peach Crisp from The Fridge

If stored in the baking dish, pull it out of the fridge about 30 minutes before you plan to reheat it. Then, pop it in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

It should only need 10 minutes or so.

For smaller portions, use the microwave.

Remember: let hot peach crisp cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Or, just serve it chilled! It’ll taste awesome either way.

How to Freeze Peach Crisp

You can definitely freeze peach crisp, although don’t expect the topping to be as crunchy as it was before.

To freeze, double-wrap the dish with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. You can also slice it into smaller portions and double-wrap them individually.

Label the foil wrapping accordingly and freeze. Peach crisp will keep well for up to 6 months.

How to Reheat Frozen Peach Crisp

Reheat the peach crisp straight from the freezer

Just bake it for 15 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then let it stand for 10 minutes, serve and enjoy.

More Peach Recipes You’ll Love

Peach Dump Cake
Patti Labelle’s Peach Cobbler
Tennessee Peach Pudding
Paula Deen’s Peach Cobbler
Peach Cobbler with Cake Mix