Fresh Peach Crumb Bars with Thyme And Honey Recipe
Sometimes, certain flavors work together, and peaches and thyme are perfect flavor combinations. Add a little honey, lemon, and cardamon to have the perfect dessert bar. So, if you have some sweet summer peaches, try my Fresh Peach Crumb Bars recipe. It won’t be the only time you make this fresh fruit dessert.
What You Need For The Fresh Peach Crumble Bars
- Fresh Peaches: Use 5-6 large ripe peaches, about 5 cups, once peeled and diced.
- White Sugar: Granulated sugar is used in both the crust and the filling.
- Lemon: Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the peaches for acid and freshness.
- Fresh Thyme: Adding fresh thyme leaves to the crust gives the bars an herbaceous flavor. It also combines well with peaches.
- Cardamon: Its a blend of sweet, spicy, black pepper, and aromatic flavors makes it a very versatile spice, and it perfectly complements peaches.
- Honey: Adding sweet honey to the peaches brings a different type of sweetness.
- Almond Extract: It adds flavor to the drizzle on the top of the bars.
- Unsalted Butter
- All-Purpose Flour
- Egg
- Baking Powder
- Cornstarch
- Powdered sugar
Step-By-Step How To Guide
- Step 1: Prep the pan. Use a lightly sprayed or greased 13×9 baking dish. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Step 2: In the bowl of a food processor, combine 1 cup of sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, and thyme leaves. Pulse 1-2 times to combine. Add the cold butter and mix until it reaches a coarse sand texture. Add the egg and pulse until it begins to form a loose dough. This can also be done with a pastry cutter by hand in a large bowl.
- Step 3: Add half of the mixture to the prepared pan and press to form a bottom crust. Setting the remaining crust mixture aside.
- Step 4: Combine the remaining sugar, cornstarch, and cardamon in a large mixing bowl. Add the diced peaches and combine. Drizzle with honey and lemon juice.
- Step 5: Pour the peach filling over the bottom crust. Press small handfuls of the remaining crumble mixture together with your hands and break it over the top of the peaches. You want some peaches to show through the crumb layer on the top. Bake for 50-55 minutes until lightly golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool completely. Place the pan in the refrigerator to chill before icing and cutting the bars.
- Step 6: Make the drizzle by combining the powdered sugar, almond extract, and milk in a small bowl. It should be thick but pourable. Drizzle over the top of the peach bars, and enjoy!
Tips For Success
Tip 1: If you use very juicy peaches, add more cornstarch to the mixture to thicken the excess liquid.
Tip 2: If you want to add some lemon flavor, add some lemon zest to the peach mixture.
Tip 3: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator or even freeze.
Tip 4: This is a very versatile recipe. For a different take, you could try it with other stone fruit, such as nectarines or plums.
Tip 5: Although this recipe is great for eating with your hands, it also works well on a plate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
This delicious dessert is also a very easy recipe. When peach season rolls around, I’m always looking for new peach recipes. So the next time you have a few sweet peaches, this is the perfect way to use them up. Peach crumb bars are the perfect sweet treat.
Fresh Peach Crumb Bars with Thyme And Honey
Ingredients
Crust & Crumble
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, minced
- 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into pieces
- 1 egg, slightly beaten
Peach Filling
- 5 large peaches, peeled and diced, about 5 cups
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamon
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Drizzle/Icing
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 tablespoons milk (using more or less to reach desired consistency)
Instructions
- Prep the pan. Use a lightly sprayed or greased 13×9 baking dish. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In the bowl of a food processor, combine 1 cup of sugar, flour, baking powder, salt, and thyme leaves. Pulse 1-2 times to combine. Add the cold butter and mix until it reaches a coarse sand texture. Add the egg and pulse until it begins to form a loose dough. This can also be done with a pastry cutter by hand in a large bowl.
- Add half of the mixture to the prepared pan and press to form a bottom crust. Setting the remaining crust mixture aside.
- Combine the remaining sugar, cornstarch, and cardamon in a large mixing bowl. Add the diced peaches and combine. Drizzle with honey and lemon juice.
- Pour the peach filling over the bottom crust. Press small handfuls of the remaining crumble mixture together with your hands and break it over the top of the peaches. You want some peaches to show through the crumb layer on the top. Bake for 50-55 minutes until lightly golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool completely. Place the pan in the refrigerator to chill before icing and cutting the bars.
- Make the drizzle by combining the powdered sugar, almond extract, and milk in a small bowl. It should be thick but pourable. Drizzle over the top of the peach bars.
