Soft, sweet and filled with fresh peaches and brown sugar, Peach Dessert Bars are a tasty summer treat for the whole family!
We love peach season! We look forward to it every summer. I like to use fresh peaches in Peach Dessert Bars, a tried-and-true recipe that my family asks for often. Topped with a sweet vanilla glaze, they just can’t be beat.
This recipe makes 24 bars and is delicious served with vanilla ice cream. You’ll need about 6 small or 4 large fresh peaches to make the filling. Be sure to use cling-free peaches, as the pits can be removed easily and that reduces your prep time.
I make Peach Dessert Bars for summer picnics, cookouts and family get-togethers. They travel well and can be made ahead of time. The vanilla glaze can be drizzled over the bars just before serving to add the perfect finishing touch.
More of the Best Peach Desserts
- Tennessee Peach Pudding
- Peach Pecan Crisp
- Peach and Rhubarb Slab Pie
- Frozen Peach Pie
- Peach Cobbler
- Peach and Blueberry Galette
Fresh, ripe peaches make the best summer desserts because they are juicy and sweet. You can also use them to make jelly and jam, like Ginger Peach Jam or freeze them and make a refreshing smoothie, like this Frozen Peach Smoothie.
Peach Dessert Bars Recipe
Key Ingredients:
Fresh Peaches– They are truly the star of the show in this summertime dessert. Peaches range in size, so you will need 4 large or 6 small peaches for this recipe, or about 4 cups of sliced peaches. Remove the pits and slice the peaches, then add them to brown sugar and cornstarch to make the peach filling.
Dough– All-purpose flour and granulated sugar are added to softened butter, vanilla, salt and room temperature eggs to form the dough.
Glaze– Add milk and vanilla to the confectioners’ sugar to make a sweet glaze that gets drizzled over the cooled dessert bars.
How to make Peach Dessert Bars
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 15×10-inch baking dish or sheet pan (with a rim) with cooking spray and set aside. Slice the peaches and squeeze lemon juice over them to preserve their color.
- In a medium saucepan over low heat, add the brown sugar and stir in the cornstarch to combine. Add the fresh peaches to the saucepan and stir to coat with sugar mixture. Cook on low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
- Add the softened butter, granulated sugar and salt to a large mixing bowl and cream together with an electric hand mixer until fluffy. Add the room temperature eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla. Gradually add all-purpose flour and beat until combined..
- Evenly spread two-thirds of the dough onto the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Use a slotted spoon to spread peach filling over the dough. Use a tablespoon to drop dollops of remaining dough evenly over the peach filling.
- Bake the dessert bars for 40-45 minutes, until firm and golden brown. Cool the bars completely.
- In a small bowl, whisk confectioners’ sugar, vanilla and milk until well combined. Drizzle glaze over the dessert bars. Cut into 24 dessert bars.
Peach Dessert Bars are yummy on their own, but my family loves them served with cold vanilla ice cream for the coolest summer dessert! Store any leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
Tips for making the best Fresh Peach Bars
- Using ripe, cling-free peaches will allow you to remove the pits from the peaches more easily. This saves time when making the peach filling. And there is no need to peel the peaches, as most of the skins will separate from the peaches when they are heated to make the filling. They can easily be removed and discarded, if desired.
- Squeeze 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice over the peach slices to make sure they retain their bright color during cooking and baking.
- Oven temperatures can vary, so make sure not to overcook these dessert bars. Check on them during the last 10 minutes of baking and remove them from the oven when they are golden brown on the top and firm. Allow the bars to cool in the pan over a wire rack until completely cool.
- Make the glaze in a small bowl and allow it to sit at room temperature for 5 minutes. This allows it to thicken slightly, makes it easier to drizzle and provides the finishing touch for these delicious dessert bars. If you are taking these desserts bars to a gathering, put the glaze in a resealable container and add it to the bars just before serving.
Peach Dessert Bars are easy to make and taste like summer, fresh and inviting! Make a batch today to share with your friends and family.
More of the Best Summer Desserts
- Strawberry Pretzel Pie
- Lemon Lush
- Cherry Cobbler
- S’mores Cookie Cups
- Blackberry Cobbler
- Chocolate Eclair Cake
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Peach Dessert Bars
Ingredients
For the Filling:
- 4 cups peaches, sliced (about 6 small peaches)
- lemon juice, optional
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
For the Dough:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (2 sticks)
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
For the Glaze:
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 15×10-inch baking dish or sheet pan (with a rim) with cooking spray and set aside. Slice the peaches and squeeze lemon juice over them to preserve their color.
- In a medium saucepan over low heat, add the brown sugar and stir in the cornstarch to combine. Add the fresh peaches to the saucepan and stir to coat with sugar mixture. Cook on low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
- Add the softened butter, granulated sugar and salt to a large mixing bowl and cream together with an electric hand mixer until fluffy. Add the room temperature eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla. Gradually add all-purpose flour and beat until combined..
- Evenly spread two-thirds of the dough onto the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Use a slotted spoon to spread peach filling over the dough. Use a tablespoon to drop dollops of remaining dough evenly over the peach filling.
- Bake the dessert bars for 40-45 minutes, until firm and golden brown. Cool the bars completely.
- In a small bowl, whisk confectioners’ sugar, vanilla and milk until well combined. Drizzle glaze over the dessert bars. Cut into 24 dessert bars.
Equipment
- 1 15×10-inch baking dish
- 1 electric hand mixer
- 1 medium sauce pan
- 1 large mixing bowl
