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60 Ways to Use a Farmers' Market Haul of Fresh Peaches

By Cooking Light
May 21, 2019
Caitlin Bensel
Fresh peaches won't stay ripe for long—so you'll want to make the most of them. From cobbler to salsa to sangria, here are the best sweet and savory ways to enjoy juicy, summer peaches.
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5 Ways to Use a Farmers' Market Haul of Fresh Peaches

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Grilled Peaches With Vanilla Mascarpone

Antonis Achilleos
View Recipe: Grilled Peaches With Vanilla Mascarpone

Fresh, in-season peaches make this simple dish really sing. The recipe is sweet, but not overly so. If you want to cut back on sugar even further, you could easily omit brushing maple syrup onto the fruit, and it'll still taste quite good. This makes an lovely way to finish a summer meal, or turn these grilled peaches into a hearty breakfast by adding your favorite crunchy granola.

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Pavlova Layer Cake with Raspberries and Peaches

Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Pavlova Layer Cake with Raspberries and Peaches

This show-stopping peach and raspberry pavlova cake is just 158 calories per slice. This classic meringue-based dessert with a crisp outer texture and soft, creamy inside will blow guests away at brunches, showers, and teas. We stay seasonal by topping it with fresh peaches and raspberries, but any assortment of berries and stone fruit would work.  

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Peach-Vanilla Slab Pie

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Peach-Vanilla Slab Pie

The next time you need a dessert for a crowd—backyard barbecue, picnic, block party—think slab pie. You'll need to roll the dough out so that it's very thin; to make this easier, you can roll it out on parchment paper and place the whole thing, including the paper, in the pan.

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Grilled Chicken Thighs With Peach Salad

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Chicken Thighs with Peach Salad

Sweet peaches and tart green tomatoes gain depth from a bit of char on the grill—and they pair beautifully with grilled chicken thighs. Look for peaches that are still slightly firm so they hold up to the heat.

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Peach-Thyme Galette

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Peach-Thyme Galette

Rustic, free-form edges give this dessert a beautiful look. The crust is made with whole-wheat pastry flour, which is finely milled and thus perfect for pastries.

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Chicken and Bulgur Salad With Peaches

Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Chicken and Bulgur Salad With Peaches

A quick-cooking whole grain, bulgur is perfect for time-crunched weeknight cooking. If you can’t find it on the grains aisle, you can substitute quinoa or whole-wheat couscous.

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Day 1 Lunch: Quinoa-Arugula Bowl With Peaches and Avocado

Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Quinoa-Arugula Bowl With Peaches and Avocado

This five-minute salad offers a range of flavors and textures: earthy quinoa, spicy arugula, crunchy walnuts, salty cheese, and sweet peaches drizzled with tangy vinaigrette. It’s also quick to make and easily portable.

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Grilled Peaches With Honey Cream

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Grilled Peaches With Honey Cream

Our Grilled Peaches with Honey Cream are the perfect summer cookout treat. Grilling brings out the sweetness in peaches, and the caramelization created by the fruit on the searing hot grates adds a bittersweet bite you'll never forget. You can use apricots or nectarines instead of peaches if you have those. Garnish with mint, if desired.

RELATED: Try One of These 40+ Sensational Summer Desserts

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Honey-Bourbon Peach Preserves

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Honey-Bourbon Peach Preserves

Bourbon imparts oaky richness to honeyed peaches. Don't be tempted to use a higher-proof whiskey; the flavor will be too "hot."

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BBQ Chicken with Peach and Feta Slaw

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: BBQ Chicken with Peach and Feta Slaw

This summery crunch-tastic slaw is guaranteed to find its way into your recipe rotation for the rest of the season. Using ripe, juicy peaches, it's the perfect sweet-salty side dish for any number of grilled or smoked proteins.

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Chicken and Peach Flatbreads

Kelsey Hansen
View Recipe: Chicken and Peach Flatbreads

Premade pizza crusts are a lifesaver for the busy weeknight cook. Here they provide a filling base for these outside-the-box pizzas. To make your own balsamic glaze, simmer down 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar until thick and syrupy, about 5 minutes.

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Treat Yourself: Thai Peach Punch

Caitlin Bensel
View the Recipe: Thai Peach Punch

This big-batch-friendly cocktail celebrates summer’s juiciest stone fruit and most bountiful herb. Peaches contain two key antioxidants—lutein and zeaxanthin—good for eye health. Lemongrass paste (found near the fresh herbs) imparts aromatic, lemony luster.

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Easy Peach Hand Pies

Greg DuPree
View Recipe: Easy Peach Hand Pies

With just five ingredients, these summer fruit snacks come together in a snap. Store-bought pie dough cuts down on prep work—simply roll it out, add the fillings, seal, then bake. Best of all, one hand pie is just 43 calories. 

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Peach and Celery Salad

Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Peach and Celery Salad

The flavors of peach and celery meld beautifully in this no-cook side. Pistachios amp up the crunch factor.

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Strawberries, Peaches, and Basil with Orange Vinaigrette

Photo: Mary Britton Senseney
View Recipe: Strawberries, Peaches, and Basil with Orange Vinaigrette

Dessert vinaigrettes? It's an idea whose time has come. The warm vinaigrette releases an intoxicating perfume when poured over the fresh fruit. Serve within 20 minutes of preparing for maximum flavor and optimal temperature.

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Peach-Blueberry Crisp

Antonis Achilleos
View Recipe: Peach-Blueberry Crisp

This crisp is summer in a casserole dish! The combination of juicy peaches and sweet-tart blueberries is divine—so much so that you won’t even notice that our version is lower in sugar. Although frozen fruit will suffice in a pinch, we recommend you use the freshest varieties you can find, even if that means substituting another berry and stone fruit.

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Peach Cobbler Ice Cream with Bourbon-Caramel Sauce

Photo: Squire Fox
View Recipe: Peach Cobbler Ice Cream with Bourbon-Caramel Sauce

Here's a delicious ice-cream recipe that doesn't require an ice-cream maker: Just stir the ingredients together, and freeze. Fold the whipped topping in with as few strokes as possible while making sure everything is well blended.

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Pan-Grilled Chicken With Peach Salsa

Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Pan-Grilled Chicken With Peach Salsa

Twenty five minutes is all you need to make this tasty Pan-Grilled Chicken with Peach Salsa recipe. Keep the grill pan going and cook double the chicken, then slice for salads, tacos, sandwiches, or stir-fries during the week. Serve it with Tomato, Herb, and Baby Lettuce Salad.

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Grilled Chicken Thighs With Peach-Lime Salsa

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Grilled Chicken Thighs With Peach-Lime Salsa

We love the combination of sweet peaches and fiery peppers; seed the jalapeño if you prefer a dish with hints of pepper flavor, minus the burn. 

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Tomato and Peach Salad with Almonds

Photo: Brian Woodcock
View Recipe: Tomato and Peach Salad with Almonds

Ripe, meaty tomatoes star in this salad. Layer the peach slices between tomato slices. Choose small herb leaves, and keep them whole.

Also try these variations: Caesar Breadcrumb, Halloumi and Oregano, and Avocado and Onion

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Peaches and Cream Mini Cupcakes

Photo Courtesy of Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Peaches and Cream Mini Cupcakes

Petite and almost too cute to eat, these miniature cupcakes are infused with the sweet flavor of summer's juiciest fruit.

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Pork Tenderloin with Bourbon-Peach Sauce

Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Pork Tenderloin with Bourbon-Peach Sauce

This easy weeknight dinner marries sweet, bourbon-spiked peaches with succulent pork tenderloin for a savory-sweet effect. On the side, we toss together a crunchy cabbage slaw. 

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No-Bake Peach Pie

Photo: Dana Gallagher
View Recipe: No-Bake Peach Pie

A gorgeous pile of syrupy fruit tops a creamy concoction that falls somewhere between decadent cheesecake and billowy chiffon pie. This luscious dessert comes together easily and is the perfect ending to summer supper with friends. Use the softest and juiciest peaches you have, even slightly overripe fruit. For added peach oomph, chop some of the topping and stir it into the filling.

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Peach-Glazed Pork Tenderloin

Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Peach-Glazed Pork Tenderloin

A sweet and savory peach glaze caramelizes on the pork as it cooks to perfection in a grill pan. We cut the tenderloin in half crosswise for easier maneuvering and faster cooking, and we tent the pork with foil to hold in more heat while it's in the pan. You could also use a cast-iron skillet if you don't have a grill pan. Serve with Watermelon-Tomato Salad.

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Peaches and Cream Waffle

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Peaches and Cream Waffle

The freezer aisle of your grocery store is stocked with a hearty selection of whole-grain toaster waffles that have less than 100 calories per serving. That's a low-calorie, grain-rich base for tasty combos that go way beyond butter and syrup.

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Peaches-and-Cream Frozen Pops

Photo: Dana Gallagher
View Recipe: Peaches-and-Cream Frozen Pops

Our version of the Creamsicle is silky, with distinct peachy flavor. It’s a not-too-sweet pop that grown-ups will love but that’s playful enough for all ages.

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Slow Cooker Cardamom Rice Pudding with Fresh Peaches

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Slow Cooker Cardamom Rice Pudding with Fresh Peaches

Let the slow cooker do all the work with this easy, fuss-free pudding recipe that is great for a cold night in bed, or hosting a crowd. We love the slight tartness of ripe, juicy peaches with this fuss-free, no-stir pudding, but a blend of plump summer berries would be equally delicious. Serve it with peach slices and a dash of cinnamon for an elegant, sophisticated presentation.

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Peach and Gorgonzola Chicken Pizza

Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Peach and Gorgonzola Chicken Pizza

Ditch the tomato sauce and give pizza a makeover by topping with fresh peach slices and two types of cheese. A drizzle of tangy balsamic reduction provides the perfect balance to the sweet summer fruit.

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Candied Pancetta Stacks

Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Candied Pancetta Stacks

Here's a fresh take on caprese that invites a meaty, umami burst from pancetta. Serve at an appetizer or dessert (think cheese-and-charcuterie board reinvented) at your next summer soiree for a crowd-pleasing treat.

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Bourbon-Glazed Peaches With Yogurt

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Bourbon-Glazed Peaches With Yogurt

If you have the willpower, keep this recipe in the files until July and August roll around and peaches are at their most delicious. Then, as the fruit hangs on the trees soaking up sunshine during summer's hottest days, all the magic happens. Crisp flesh softens, and sugar levels rise to balance the tart acidity. No question: Peak peach time is worth the wait.

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Blueberry-Peach Cobbler

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Blueberry-Peach Cobbler

Our Blueberry-Peach Cobbler is like a blueberry muffin canoodling with fresh peaches. Be sure to use peaches that aren't superripe for this recipe so they'll hold their shape when cooked. The baking dish will be brimming with fruit and topping, so it's a good idea to place it on a foil-lined baking sheet before putting it in the oven.

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Maple-Peach Milk Shake

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Maple-Peach Milk Shake

Blend maple syrup, peaches, low-fat frozen yogurt, and low-fat milk to make this flavorful milkshake.

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Berry-Peach Cobbler with Sugared Almonds

Photo: Randy Mayor
View Recipe: Berry-Peach Cobbler with Sugared Almonds

A delicious combination of blueberries, blackberries, and peaches yields a sweet, juicy dessert that's the epitome of summer.

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Sparkling Rosemary-Peach Cocktails

Photo: Gentyl & Hyers
View Recipe: Sparkling Rosemary-Peach Cocktails

A heady punch of woodsy rosemary creates an herbaceous riff on the classic Bellini.

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Peach Lemonade

Photo: Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Peach Lemonade

A quick chop, blend, whir, and stir, and fresh, homemade peach lemonade will be chilling in the fridge. Keep this on hand in the hot summer months as a satisfying thirst-quencher. Add a little white bourbon or rum for garden parties.

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Prosciutto, Peach, and Sweet Lettuce Salad

Photo: John Autry
View Recipe: Prosciutto, Peach, and Sweet Lettuce Salad

Serve this light main-course salad with a hunk of crusty baguette and a glass of chilled Riesling, which will stand up to the sweetness of peaches and honey. Choose ripe, juicy peaches, and leave the peel on for more texture. Ricotta salata is a milky, mild, slightly salty cheese that's easy to crumble; you can substitute feta or goat cheese. The crowning glory: a sprinkling of cooling, fresh mint leaves. Salty-sweet-crunchy-creamy: all rolled into one glorious salad.

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