Heavenly Summer Peach Bars Recipe

Introduction

These heavenly summer peach bars combine a buttery, crumbly crust with juicy, spiced peach filling and a chewy oat topping. Perfect for showcasing fresh peaches, they offer a delightful balance of sweetness and warmth in every bite.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 4 cups fresh peaches, peeled and sliced
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger (optional)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang to lift the bars out easily once cooled.
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Add the cold, cubed butter, and use a pastry blender or your fingertips to cut it into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces.
3. Step 3: Remove 1 ½ cups of the crumb mixture and set aside for the topping. Press the remaining mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust. Bake for 12 minutes to par-bake.
4. Step 4: While the crust bakes, gently toss the sliced peaches with cornstarch, sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, and optional ginger in a separate bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes to release juices and meld flavors.
5. Step 5: Remove the crust from the oven. Spread the peach mixture evenly over the warm crust, including all the juices. Stir the reserved crumb mixture together with rolled oats, then sprinkle it evenly over the peaches.
6. Step 6: Return the pan to the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, until the oat topping is golden brown and peach filling bubbles at the edges.
7. Step 7: Cool the bars completely on a wire rack before using the parchment handles to lift them from the pan. Cut into 12 bars for serving.

Tips & Variations

• Use very ripe peaches for the best natural sweetness and juiciness.
• For a gluten-free option, substitute the flour with a gluten-free blend.
• Add a handful of chopped nuts to the oat topping for extra texture and flavor.
• If peaches are out of season, frozen peaches (thawed and drained) can be used, but expect a softer filling.

Storage

Store the peach bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. They can also be frozen for up to 2 months—wrap tightly and thaw overnight in the fridge before serving. Reheat briefly in a warm oven if desired.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make these bars ahead of time?

Yes, these peach bars can be prepared and baked a day in advance. Just store them in the refrigerator and bring to room temperature before serving for the best texture.

What can I use instead of cornstarch?

You can replace cornstarch with an equal amount of arrowroot powder or tapioca starch as a thickener for the peach filling.

Heavenly Summer Peach Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 117 reviews

• Author: Lila
• Total Time: 1 hour 2 minutes
• Yield: 12 servings 1x

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Description

These Heavenly Summer Peach Bars feature a buttery, crumbly oat crust layered with a juicy, spiced fresh peach filling. Perfectly sweetened with a hint of cinnamon and lemon, these bars bake up golden with a chewy oat topping, delivering a delightful blend of textures and flavors that capture the essence of summer in every bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

For the Crust and Topping

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• 1 cup rolled oats

For the Peach Filling

• 4 cups fresh peaches, peeled and sliced
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger (optional)

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Instructions

1. Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhanging on the sides to act as handles for easy removal of the bars after baking.
2. Make the Crumb Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Add the cold, cubed butter. Using a pastry blender or fingertips, cut the butter into the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces remaining.
3. Set Aside Topping and Bake Crust: Remove 1 ½ cups of the crumb mixture for the topping. Press the remaining mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form the crust. Bake the crust for 12 minutes to par-bake.
4. Prepare Peach Filling: While crust bakes, gently toss sliced peaches with cornstarch, granulated sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, and optional ginger. Let sit for about 5 minutes to allow juice release and flavor melding.
5. Assemble Bars: Remove the crust from the oven and spread the peach filling evenly over it, including all the juices. Stir the reserved crumb mixture with rolled oats, then sprinkle evenly over the peaches.
6. Bake Bars: Return the pan to the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes until the oat topping is golden brown and the peach filling is bubbling around the edges.
7. Cool and Slice: Cool the bars completely on a wire rack to allow the filling to set for clean slicing. Use the parchment paper handles to lift the bars from the pan and cut into 12 servings.

Notes

• Make sure to use cold butter for the crumb mixture to achieve a tender, crumbly texture.
• Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing to prevent them from falling apart.
• Peel peaches for a smoother texture, but unpeeled can be used for added fiber and rustic appeal.
• Optional ground ginger adds a subtle warmth, but can be omitted if you prefer.
• You can substitute rolled oats with quick oats for a slightly different texture in the topping.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 47 minutes
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: peach bars, summer dessert, peach crumble bars, fresh peach recipes, fruit bars, baked fruit dessert, oat crumble topping