This Easy Peach Custard Dessert is a slice of summer heaven that’ll transport you straight to a front porch swing on a warm evening. With a buttery cookie crust, juicy peaches, and silky custard topping, this dessert strikes the perfect balance between homey comfort and elegant simplicity. It comes together quickly with minimal hands-on time, making it perfect for both weeknight treats and special occasions when you want to impress without spending hours in the kitchen.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Effortlessly Impressive: The layered presentation looks like you spent all day, but it’s surprisingly simple to assemble.
Time-Efficient: The prep takes just 10 minutes, then the oven does all the heavy lifting!
Crowd-Pleasing: The combination of cookie crust, fresh peaches, and creamy custard appeals to almost everyone – it’s the dessert that disappears first at potlucks.
Versatile: Works beautifully with fresh summer peaches, but can be made year-round with canned peaches when fresh aren’t available.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Crust

Cookie Mix: The Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix creates a shortcut to a perfectly sweet and buttery base – no measuring multiple dry ingredients!
Butter: Adds richness and helps create that tender, crumbly texture we all love in a good dessert crust.
Flour: Just a couple tablespoons help strengthen the crust so it supports all those juicy peaches.
Egg: Acts as the binding agent to hold your crust together.

For the Filling

Peaches: The star of the show! Fresh peaches bring that perfect summer sweetness and juicy texture. Make sure they’re ripe but still firm.
Eggs: These create the structure for your custard, helping it set to that perfect creamy consistency.
Sugar: Balances the natural tartness of the peaches and sweetens the custard.
Heavy Cream: Creates that luxurious, velvety custard texture that makes this dessert special.
Flour: A touch of flour in the custard helps stabilize it during baking.
Salt: Never skip this! It enhances all the other flavors and balances the sweetness.
Vanilla Extract: Adds depth and warmth to the custard.
Cinnamon: Optional but wonderful – adds a subtle warmth that complements peaches beautifully.

Variations

Fruit Swaps

Try substituting other stone fruits like nectarines, plums, or apricots. For a different flavor profile altogether, berries work wonderfully too – try blueberries or strawberries!

Flavor Enhancers

Add a teaspoon of almond extract to the custard for a sophisticated flavor that pairs beautifully with peaches. A sprinkle of nutmeg along with (or instead of) the cinnamon creates a wonderful warm spice note.

Topping Options

Consider adding a streusel topping before baking, or finish with a light dusting of powdered sugar just before serving. For extra decadence, drizzle with a simple vanilla glaze.

Cookie Crust Alternatives

If you don’t have sugar cookie mix, try using shortbread cookie crumbs mixed with melted butter for the base.

How to Make Easy Peach Custard Dessert

Step 1: Prepare the Crust

Preheat your oven to 350°F and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray. In a medium bowl, combine the cookie mix, softened butter, flour, and egg. Mix until you have a crumbly dough consistency – don’t overmix! Press the mixture gently and evenly into the prepared pan to form your crust.

Step 2: Add the Peaches

Spread your diced peaches evenly over the cookie crust. If using fresh peaches, make sure they’re ripe but still firm enough to hold their shape during baking.

Step 3: Prepare the Custard

In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, heavy cream, flour, salt, vanilla extract, and cinnamon (if using). Whisk just until smooth – you don’t want to incorporate too much air. Pour this custard mixture evenly over the peaches.

Step 4: Bake to Perfection

Bake at 350°F for 50-60 minutes, or until the center is just set. You’ll know it’s done when the edges are golden and the middle has just a slight jiggle to it – like gelatin. Don’t overbake or the custard can become grainy.

Step 5: Cool and Serve

Allow the dessert to cool completely to room temperature before serving. This cooling time is crucial for the custard to fully set up properly.

Pro Tips for Making the Recipe

Peach Preparation: If using fresh peaches, you can easily peel them by blanching. Score an X on the bottom, drop them in boiling water for 30 seconds, then into ice water. The skins will slip right off!
Crust Technique: Use the bottom of a measuring cup to press the crust mixture evenly into the pan for a smooth, even layer.
Custard Consistency: For the smoothest custard, make sure your eggs and cream are at room temperature before mixing.
Baking Check: Start checking for doneness at about 45 minutes. The dessert is ready when the edges are set but the center still has a slight wobble – it will continue to set as it cools.
Even Browning: If your oven has hot spots, rotate the pan halfway through baking for more even results.

How to Serve

This peach custard dessert is versatile enough to dress up or down depending on the occasion:

Casual Serving

Serve warm (but not hot) with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a homey, comforting dessert that’s perfect after a family dinner.

Elegant Presentation

Cut into neat squares and plate individually with a dollop of freshly whipped cream, a few fresh peach slices, and a mint sprig for a more sophisticated presentation.

Brunch Star

This dessert can double as a delightful addition to a brunch spread – the custard gives it enough substance to feel satisfying alongside savory dishes.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Store any leftover dessert covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The cookie crust may soften slightly over time, but the flavor actually improves as the custard and peaches meld together.

Freezing

This dessert doesn’t freeze particularly well due to the custard texture and fresh fruit, so it’s best enjoyed within a few days of baking.

Reheating

If you prefer this dessert warm, individual portions can be gently reheated in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds. Be careful not to overheat, as this can cause the custard to break.

FAQs

Can I use canned peaches instead of fresh?
Absolutely! Drain canned peaches thoroughly before using. They’ll provide great flavor, especially when fresh peaches aren’t in season. Choose peaches packed in juice rather than syrup for a less cloying sweetness.

Why did my custard crack on top?
Cracks usually happen when a custard is baked at too high a temperature or for too long. Check your oven temperature with an oven thermometer, and remember that the custard should still have a slight jiggle in the center when you remove it from the oven.

Can I make this dessert a day ahead?
Yes! In fact, making it a day ahead allows the flavors to meld beautifully. Just cover and refrigerate after it has cooled completely, then bring to room temperature before serving for the best texture and flavor.

Is there a way to make this dessert with less sugar?
You can reduce the sugar in the custard to 1/2 cup, especially if your peaches are particularly sweet. You might also consider using a sugar substitute in the crust, though this may affect the texture slightly.

Final Thoughts

This Easy Peach Custard Dessert brings together the best of summer fruit with the comforting embrace of a classic custard. What I love most about it is how it transforms simple ingredients into something truly special without requiring pastry chef skills. Whether you’re enjoying the height of peach season or using canned peaches in the depths of winter, this dessert delivers a slice of sunshine that’s sure to brighten anyone’s day. Give it a try – I think you’ll find it becomes a regular in your dessert rotation!

Easy Peach Custard Dessert Recipe