Grilled Peaches with Vanilla Ice Cream Recipe

This delectable Grilled Peaches with Vanilla Ice Cream dessert transforms ordinary peaches into a spectacular treat with minimal effort. The heat from the grill caramelizes the natural sugars in the peaches, creating a smoky-sweet flavor that pairs perfectly with cool, creamy vanilla ice cream. It’s the ideal summer dessert when peaches are at their peak sweetness!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Incredibly Simple: Just four ingredients and less than 15 minutes from start to finish – it doesn’t get easier than this!
• Perfect Balance: The warm, caramelized peaches against cold, melting ice cream creates a magical temperature and texture contrast.
• Impressive Presentation: Looks like a fancy restaurant dessert but requires almost no culinary skill to make.
• Celebrates Seasonal Fruit: Makes the most of summer’s juiciest peaches when they’re at their prime.

this Recipe

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Peaches: Choose ripe but firm peaches that give slightly when pressed. They should smell fragrant and sweet. Overly soft peaches will fall apart on the grill.
• Olive Oil: A light coating prevents sticking and helps achieve those beautiful grill marks. The subtle flavor works wonderfully with the sweet peaches.
• Brown Sugar: Enhances the natural sweetness of the peaches and creates a delicious caramelized finish when sprinkled over the warm fruit.
• Vanilla Ice Cream: The cool, creamy counterpart to the warm peaches. Use good-quality ice cream for the best flavor experience.

Variations

Sweet Additions

Try drizzling with honey or maple syrup instead of brown sugar, or add a sprinkle of cinnamon or cardamom for a warming spice note.

Boozy Twist

For adult gatherings, add a splash of bourbon, amaretto, or rum to the peaches before or after grilling.

Different Toppings

Swap vanilla ice cream for mascarpone, Greek yogurt, or coconut whipped cream. Add toasted nuts or a crumble topping for extra texture.

Beyond Peaches

This technique works beautifully with nectarines, plums, apricots, or pineapple slices too!

How to Make Grilled Peaches with Vanilla Ice Cream

Step 1: Prepare the Grill

Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium heat. It’s crucial to have the grill hot before adding the peaches to prevent sticking and achieve those beautiful grill marks.

Step 2: Prepare the Peaches

Halve the peaches and remove the pits. Brush each half with olive oil, making sure to coat the cut surfaces well.

Step 3: Grill the Peaches

Place the peach halves cut-side down on the hot grill. Let them cook undisturbed for 3-4 minutes until distinct grill marks appear. Flip them carefully and grill for another 3 minutes on the skin side until the peaches become tender but still hold their shape.

Step 4: Serve and Garnish

Transfer the grilled peaches to serving plates, cut-side up. While still warm, sprinkle each half with brown sugar, allowing it to melt slightly into the hot fruit. Top each peach half with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream and serve immediately.

Pro Tips for Making the Recipe

• Choose the Right Peach: Select peaches that are ripe but still firm. Too soft and they’ll fall apart; too hard and they won’t develop that wonderful sweet flavor.
• Oil the Grill: Besides oiling the peaches, make sure your grill grates are well-oiled to prevent sticking.
• Don’t Move Them: Once placed on the grill, resist the urge to constantly move or check the peaches. Let them sit undisturbed to develop those beautiful grill marks.
• Watch Closely: Peaches can go from perfectly grilled to overcooked quickly. Stay attentive during the grilling process.

How to Serve

Perfect Pairings

Serve these grilled peaches as a light summer dessert after a barbecue meal. They pair wonderfully with grilled meats like chicken or pork.

Elegant Presentation

For dinner parties, serve each peach half in a small bowl to catch the melting ice cream. Garnish with a mint leaf or a light dusting of cinnamon for extra flair.

Family Style

For casual gatherings, arrange all the grilled peaches on a large platter and let everyone add their own ice cream and toppings.

Make Ahead and Storage

Preparing in Advance

You can grill the peaches up to 2 hours ahead of time and keep them at room temperature. Reheat briefly on the grill or in the microwave before serving with ice cream.

Storing Leftovers

While best enjoyed fresh, leftover grilled peaches can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days. They’re delicious cold for breakfast with yogurt!

Freezing

Grilled peaches can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator and warm briefly before serving. They won’t be quite as firm as fresh but still delicious.

FAQs

Can I make this recipe without a grill?
Absolutely! A grill pan on the stovetop works perfectly. In a pinch, you can even broil the peaches in your oven for 2-3 minutes per side, watching carefully to prevent burning.

How do I know when peaches are ripe enough for grilling?
The perfect peach for grilling should yield slightly to gentle pressure but not be mushy. It should smell sweet and fruity at the stem end. If your peaches are too firm, let them ripen at room temperature for 1-2 days.

Can I use canned peaches for this recipe?
Fresh peaches definitely give the best results for this recipe. Canned peaches are often too soft to hold up on the grill and lack the fresh flavor that makes this dessert special.

How can I make this dessert healthier?
Skip the brown sugar and rely on the natural sweetness of very ripe peaches. Replace the ice cream with Greek yogurt or a smaller scoop of frozen yogurt. The grilled peaches themselves are quite healthy!

Final Thoughts

This Grilled Peaches with Vanilla Ice Cream recipe transforms simple ingredients into an extraordinary dessert with minimal effort. When summer peaches are at their peak, there’s really no better way to showcase their natural sweetness than with this quick grilling method. The contrast of warm, caramelized fruit against cold, creamy ice cream creates a dessert experience that feels indulgent while celebrating the season’s best produce. Give it a try next time you fire up the grill – I promise your dessert will steal the show!

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