Summer is the ideal season for baking with ripe fruit, and these Peach Crumble Bars are a perfect example. They combine a buttery crust, a bright juicy peach filling, and a crunchy crumble on top for a chewy, gooey dessert that celebrates summer peaches.
Living somewhere that feels like an oven most of the year, I get especially excited as temperatures start to cool. Even small changes in weather make baking more enjoyable. That said, if you’re not ready to say goodbye to summer, these bars are a great way to savor the season while it lasts.
These bars are designed to highlight the peaches. I experimented with several versions and landed on a balance that keeps the fruit front and center while surrounding it with a tender, buttery crust and a crisp, slightly crumbly topping.
The Crumble
The crust and the crumble topping come from the same simple, one-bowl mixture—no need to make separate doughs. It uses pantry staples: all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, a pinch of salt, cold unsalted butter cut into cubes, a lightly beaten egg, and a splash of vanilla. The butter is cut into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs; half gets pressed into the pan for the crust and the rest is reserved as the crumble topping.
The Filling
The filling is pure summer peaches. Peel and dice ripe, juicy peaches into bite-size pieces (about five large peaches yields roughly five cups diced). Toss the peaches with granulated sugar, cornstarch to thicken, a bit of lemon juice to brighten the flavor, and a touch of ground cinnamon. The cinnamon enhances the fruit without overpowering it; increase slightly if you prefer a more spiced note.
For easy peach peeling, use the blanching method: bring a pot of water to a boil, lower to a gentle simmer, and carefully place the peaches in the water for about 30 seconds. Remove immediately and plunge them into an ice water bath— the skins should slip off easily. Then dice and mix with the filling ingredients.
These Peach Crumble Bars are wonderfully satisfying—gooey in the middle, slightly chewy along the edges, and packed with bright peach flavor. They’re straightforward to assemble and bake, and they keep well chilled or at room temperature once fully cooled.
Print Recipe
Peach Crumble Bars
Ingredients
For the Crust & Crumble:
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Peach Filling:
- 5 large peaches, peeled and diced into bite-size pieces (about 5 cups’ worth diced peaches)
- 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
- 3 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon (can increase to 1½tsp if you like it more spiced)
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a 9×13-inch light-colored metal baking pan with foil or parchment, leaving the edges to extend over the sides. Spray the liner lightly with cooking spray and set aside.
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Make the crust: In a large bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and flour. Add the cold cubed butter, the lightly beaten egg, and the vanilla extract. Use a pastry cutter or two forks to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs or small pebbles.
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Press half of the crumb mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan, pressing firmly to form a compact crust. Set the pan aside briefly.
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Prepare the filling: In a separate large bowl, combine the diced peaches, granulated sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and cinnamon. Toss until the peaches are evenly coated, then spread the filling in an even layer over the crust. Sprinkle the remaining crumble mixture evenly over the peach layer.
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Bake for 38–45 minutes, until the topping is lightly golden and the filling is bubbling and appears set in the center. Cool completely at room temperature for 1–2 hours before slicing into bars, or refrigerate to speed cooling.
Notes
These fruity, juicy peach bars are simple to make and are likely to become a family favorite. They showcase fresh peaches and a buttery crumble that pairs perfectly with the fruit.
Enjoy, and have a sweet day!
xo, Hayley