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Grilled peaches transform a humble summer fruit into a spectacular dessert with minimal effort. This dessert combines the natural sweetness of caramelized peaches with warm cinnamon butter, crunchy cookie crumbles, and cool vanilla ice cream.
The Perfect Ingredients
- Ripe Peaches: Yield slightly to gentle pressure but still hold their shape for grilling.
- Melted Butter: Creates a rich base that helps the cinnamon and sugar adhere to the fruit.
- Ground Cinnamon: Adds warming spice that complements the natural sweetness of peaches.
- Brown Sugar: Caramelizes beautifully on the grill, creating deeper flavor than white sugar.
- Flaked Sea Salt: Enhances all the sweet flavors and adds pleasant textural contrast.
- Biscoff Cookies: Provide caramelized spice notes that pair perfectly with stone fruits.
- Toasted Pecans: Contribute essential nutty crunch and complement the cookie flavors.
- Vanilla Ice Cream: Offers the perfect creamy counterpoint to the warm fruit.
Crafting Cookie Crumble
- Crushing the Cookies:
- Place Biscoff cookies in a sealable plastic bag and gently crush them with a rolling pin until you have a mixture of fine crumbs and small chunks.
- Mixing with Pecans:
- Transfer crumbs to a bowl, add chopped toasted pecans, and stir in melted butter until moistened.
- Chilling for Texture:
- Refrigerate while preparing the peaches to allow the mixture to firm up slightly.
Perfect Peach Grilling
- Preheat the Grill:
- Heat your grill or grill pan to medium-high (375°F to 400°F).
- Prepare Cinnamon Butter:
- Mix melted butter with cinnamon and brown sugar until dissolved.
- Halve the Peaches:
- Slice peaches in half along the natural seam and remove the pits.
- Grilling Process:
- Place peach halves cut-side down on the grill, cook for 2 minutes, rotate 90 degrees, and cook another 1-2 minutes.
- Brushing with Cinnamon Butter:
- Remove peaches from grill and immediately brush cut surfaces with cinnamon butter.
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Dessert Assembly
Place two warm peach halves on a serving plate. Sprinkle the chilled cookie crumble over the peaches, then add a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Finish with a light sprinkle of flaked sea salt.
Delicious Variations
Try nectarines or plums instead of peaches for a twist. Experiment with gingersnaps instead of Biscoff cookies for extra spice. Swap pecans for almonds or walnuts for a different nutty crunch.
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Grilled peaches have become a summer staple in my home. Whether served casually or as part of an elegant gathering, this dessert always delivers a perfect balance of warm caramelized fruit, crunchy toppings, and creamy indulgence.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → How do I know if my peaches are the right ripeness for grilling?
- The perfect peaches for grilling should be ripe but still firm. When gently squeezed, they should yield slightly but not be mushy. You want peaches that hold their shape on the grill while still being juicy and flavorful. If your peaches are too firm, place them in a paper bag for 1-2 days to ripen. If they're too soft, they'll fall apart on the grill, but can still be used in a different dessert like a peach crisp or smoothie. Yellow peaches typically work better than white varieties for grilling due to their higher sugar content, which caramelizes beautifully.
- → Can I make this dessert without an outdoor grill?
- Absolutely! While an outdoor grill adds a subtle smokiness, there are several alternatives that work great. An indoor grill pan on your stovetop will produce similar grill marks and caramelization. You can also use a cast-iron skillet on high heat with a small amount of butter. In a pinch, you can even broil the peach halves in your oven for 4-5 minutes—just watch them carefully to prevent burning. The key with any method is high heat to quickly caramelize the sugars without making the peaches too soft.
- → What can I substitute for speculoos cookies in the crumble?
- If you can't find speculoos cookies like Biscoff, there are several excellent alternatives. Graham crackers create a similar texture with a honey-cinnamon flavor. Gingersnaps add a spicy kick that pairs wonderfully with peaches. Shortbread cookies offer a buttery, less spiced option. Even plain digestive biscuits work well. Whatever cookie you choose, make sure it's crisp rather than chewy, as this creates the best crumble texture. For a gluten-free option, try gluten-free graham crackers or crisp vanilla cookies with a pinch of cinnamon added to the crumble.
- → Can I prepare any components of this dessert ahead of time?
- Yes, this dessert works well with some advance preparation. The cookie crumble can be made up to 3 days ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The cinnamon-butter mixture can be prepared a day in advance and gently reheated before using. You can even slice the peaches in half and remove the pits a few hours before grilling—just brush them with a little lemon juice to prevent browning and keep them at room temperature (not refrigerated) for the best flavor. Grill the peaches just before serving for the optimal warm/cold contrast with the ice cream.
- → Why do my peaches stick to the grill?
- Peaches sticking to the grill is a common issue with a few simple solutions. First, make sure your grill or grill pan is properly preheated before adding the peaches—a hot surface helps prevent sticking. Second, ensure you're using enough cooking spray on the cut surfaces of the fruit. For an outdoor grill, you can also lightly oil the grates with a paper towel dipped in vegetable oil. Finally, resist the urge to move or flip the peaches too early; they'll release more easily from the grill once they've developed a proper sear, usually after about 2 minutes.
- → What other fruits can I use with this same preparation method?
- This grilling method and cookie crumble topping works beautifully with many stone fruits and some firmer fruits. Nectarines can be substituted directly for peaches with identical results. Plums and apricots work well but need less grilling time (about 2 minutes) due to their smaller size. Pineapple slices are excellent and can grill for 3-4 minutes per side. Firm but ripe pears are delicious when grilled for about 3 minutes per side. Halved figs grill quickly (1-2 minutes) and offer a sophisticated flavor. Avoid very soft fruits like berries, which won't hold up on the grill.