This homemade Peach Crisp is the ultimate summer dessert—juicy fresh peaches baked under a buttery cinnamon-oat topping. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, and you’ve got a classic treat everyone will love!
Why You’ll Love This Peach Crisp
If you’ve ever wondered how peach crisp differs from peach cobbler, the answer is simple: it’s all about the topping! Cobbler is topped with a soft biscuit-like dough, while crisp has a crumbly streusel-style topping made with oats that turn golden and crunchy in the oven.
Here’s why this recipe is a winner:
- Fresh Peach Flavor: Sweet, juicy peaches bubble in a cinnamon-spiced sauce while the topping bakes into a crisp, buttery crunch.
- Crowd-Pleasing: Perfect for summer gatherings and potlucks, this dessert is loved by kids and adults alike. It doubles easily for a 9×13 pan.
- Simple & Affordable: Uses pantry staples you likely already have on hand. No fancy equipment required—just one bowl and a baking dish!
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Prep in advance and bake when ready. It also travels well if you’re bringing dessert to a party.
Key Ingredients
- Fresh Peaches – Peel for the best texture, though it’s optional. Use ripe but firm peaches for the best results.
- Sugar – White sugar sweetens the filling; swap for brown sugar for a richer, caramel-like flavor.
- Flour & Cornstarch – Help thicken the peach juices into a silky filling.
- Cinnamon – Warm spice in both the peaches and topping. Add a pinch of nutmeg if you like.
- Butter – Softened butter binds the streusel topping.
- Old-Fashioned Oats – Give the topping that signature crunch. Don’t substitute instant or steel-cut oats.
How to Make Peach Crisp
- Prep the Oven & Dish: Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a 9×9-inch baking pan.
- Make the Filling: In a bowl, toss peaches with sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, cornstarch, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and salt. Spread into prepared dish.
- Make the Topping: Using the same bowl, combine brown sugar, remaining ½ cup flour, softened butter, and remaining cinnamon until crumbly. Mix in oats to form a streusel.
- Assemble & Bake: Sprinkle topping evenly over peaches. Bake 20–25 minutes, until golden and bubbly.
- Cool & Serve: Let rest at least 10 minutes so the juices thicken. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Tips for the Best Peach Crisp
- Choose Firm, Ripe Peaches: Overripe peaches can turn mushy when baked.
- Let It Rest: Cooling allows the filling to thicken and prevents a soupy dessert.
- Room-Temperature Butter: Makes the topping easier to mix and creates the best crumbly texture.
Variations
- Berry-Peach Crisp: Replace ⅓ of the peaches with blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries.
- Gluten-Free: Use a gluten-free flour blend and extra cornstarch in place of flour for the filling.
- Caramel Twist: Drizzle caramel sauce over the topping during the last 5 minutes of baking.
- Nutty Crunch: Add chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds to the streusel.
- Frozen Peaches: Thaw and drain before using; texture will be softer but still delicious.
Peach Crisp Recipe
Yield: 6 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20–25 minutes
Rest Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Ingredients
- 8 cups peeled & sliced fresh peaches
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup + 2 tbsp all-purpose flour, divided
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon, divided
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup (1 stick) salted butter, softened
- 1 ¾ cups old-fashioned oats
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Butter a 9×9-inch baking dish.
- In a large bowl, mix peaches, granulated sugar, 2 tbsp flour, cornstarch, 1 tsp cinnamon, and salt. Spread into dish.
- In the same bowl, cream together brown sugar, remaining ½ cup flour, butter, and remaining cinnamon. Stir in oats until crumbly.
- Sprinkle topping evenly over peaches. Bake 20–25 minutes, until topping is golden brown.
- Rest for 10 minutes, then serve warm with vanilla ice cream.