10 North Carolina Peach Desserts That Feel Like Summer
Summer in North Carolina brings peaches so juicy they drip before the first bite. As the Southern sun blazes, locals whip up desserts turning those golden gems into spoonfuls of pure sunshine.
Grandma’s time-tested cobbler and bold new twists alike serve up a front-porch kind of comfort in every bite. Just don’t blame us if you start talking with a drawl and dreaming of peach pie for breakfast.
10. Fresh Peach Cobbler
Nothing screams summer like bubbling peach cobbler straight from the oven! Sliced NC peaches swimming in their own juices beneath a golden, buttery crust.
The secret? A splash of lemon juice to brighten those fruit flavors. When that warm cobbler meets cold vanilla ice cream – pure magic happens!
9. Peach Cobbler Cheesecake Bars
Why choose between cobbler and cheesecake when you can have both? These brilliant bars layer velvety cheesecake with cinnamon-spiced peach filling and crumbly streusel topping.
Cut into portable squares, they’re picnic perfection! Though they look fancy, even kitchen newbies can nail this recipe.
8. Peach Crisp with Granola
Health nuts, rejoice! This lighter dessert option swaps traditional buttery topping for crunchy granola mixed with local honey. Underneath waits a treasure of cinnamon-kissed peaches.
How amazing that something this delicious can almost count as breakfast? Bonus points for using whole grain granola from Asheville’s farmers market!
7. Peach Upside-Down Cake
Flip expectations with this showstopper! Caramelized peach slices create a stunning crown when this buttery cake gets turned over.
Where traditional pineapple versions zig, this peachy version zags. The caramel gets infused with bourbon – a nod to Carolina moonshine heritage that’ll make your taste buds dance!
6. Peaches & Cream Shortcake
Forget strawberries – peaches were born for shortcake! Flaky, buttery biscuits split and stuffed with macerated peach slices and clouds of whipped cream.
Southern grandmas have perfected this treat for generations. The biscuit recipe? Often guarded more carefully than family secrets!
5. Peach Melba
Fancy without the fuss! Poached peach halves lounging atop vanilla ice cream, drizzled with raspberry sauce – it’s like summer wore its Sunday best.
Though created for opera singer Nellie Melba, Carolina peach farmers have claimed this elegant dessert as their own. The secret weapon? Using perfectly ripe peaches that barely need cooking!
4. Peaches and Cream (Southern Style)
Sometimes simplicity wins the blue ribbon! Fresh sliced peaches swimming in heavy cream with just a sprinkle of sugar.
On sweltering afternoons, grandmothers all around the state offer this in jelly jars. Flavor explosions are created by the contrast between sun-warmed peaches and chilled cream – something sophisticated sweets can only imagine!
3. Skillet Peaches with Maple Pecans
Cast iron magic happens when peaches meet heat! Sizzling slices caramelize in butter while maple-glazed pecans add crunch factor.
How can something so simple taste like heaven? Carolina chefs serve this with a scoop of buttermilk ice cream for the ultimate sweet-tangy combo that’ll make your eyes roll back!
2. Fresh Peach Frozen Yogurt
Beat the Carolina humidity with this cool customer! Tangy yogurt meets sweet peaches in a lighter alternative to ice cream that doesn’t skimp on flavor.
Local dairies provide the creamy base while farmers’ market peaches bring sunshine. Though fancy ice cream machines work great, resourceful locals use food processors for equally delicious results!
1. Bourbon Peach Cookie Ice Cream
Two Roosters’ legendary creation combines three Carolina favorites – peaches, bourbon, and cookies! Chunks of booze-soaked fruit and cookie pieces swirl through creamy perfection.
The Raleigh-based creamery causes lines out the door when this flavor drops. Though technically store-bought, ambitious home cooks attempt copycat versions that become family legends!