Cozy Cinnamon Sugar Baked Peaches

Warm spiced peaches with cinnamon sugar show off everything awesome about peak-season stone fruit. Super quick to toss together, but tastes like a cozy treat you'd find at your favorite bakery. I love pulling this together whenever I have fresh peaches — folks coming by for dessert or late-morning coffee always get excited.

I threw this together one hectic Saturday for a buddy, and now she texts me every summer when peach season rolls around. The whole place smells amazing once it's in the oven, and everyone starts hovering nearby before it's even out.

Irresistible Ingredients

• Fresh peaches: grab peaches that feel soft with a little squeeze and have a sweet smell for the juiciest dish
• Lemon juice: gives everything a punchy finish and keeps the flavor bright fresh lemon works best
• Pinch of salt: enhances every bit of flavor and keeps things from getting overly sweet
• Brown sugar: adds rich notes that taste a bit like caramel
• Ground cinnamon: brings that classic warmth and makes it smell like a bakery—pick a cinnamon that has a nice aroma
• Granulated sugar: brings out the sweetness and helps make a yummy sauce
• Vanilla extract: amps up the fruit's natural sweetness—pick pure vanilla if you want the very best flavor
• Unsalted butter: gives the topping a rich texture and blends with the spiced sugar

Simple How-To

Let It Rest:

Once out of the oven, give the baked peaches ten minutes to cool a bit—it makes the sauce settle and serving is way easier

Brown the Top:

Take off the foil for the last five minutes so the sides get golden and the sugars start to bubble

Start Baking:

Toss the dish in the center of the oven with foil loosely covering the top—bake for about twenty-five to thirty minutes which makes the peach halves melt into syrupy perfection

Add Your Lemon and Salt:

Finish with a splash of lemon juice and a sprinkle of salt over the peaches for balanced flavor

Sprinkle Cinnamon Sugar:

Generously dust the cinnamon sugar blend on top of each peach, letting the mixture hit every nook and cranny

Pour Butter and Vanilla:

Evenly coat the fruit with melted butter and vanilla extract so everything soaks up the rich flavor and your kitchen fills with a dreamy scent

Mix Your Sugar and Spice:

Stir together both sugars and cinnamon in a small bowl until they look and smell completely combined

Arrange Peaches:

Set your peach halves in a baking dish, cut side up in a single layer, to catch all those tasty juices underneath

Slice the Peaches:

Take a sharp knife to split each peach in half, pull out the pit with your fingers (peeling is optional but makes them extra soft)

Preheat Oven:

Fire up the oven to 375 F or 190 C so it's piping hot when you slide your dish in

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That mix of brown sugar and cinnamon melting all over peaches always takes me back—my grandma's summer kitchen had the best smells wafting from every corner, and her homemade vanilla turned these simple sweets into something you couldn't wait to taste. You could smell dessert coming before anyone sat down.

Storage Made Easy

Pop leftovers into a sealed container and stick them in the fridge—they'll be good for up to three days. Gentle reheating in the oven or microwave brings them right back to life. Freezing works too if you want to stash some away; thaw and warm them up before getting another taste.

What to Swap

If you’re out of brown sugar, just use white sugar instead. Need it dairy-free? Use coconut oil to melt over the peaches. Can’t find good peaches? Go for nectarines or plums—they bake just as nicely with the cinnamon sugar mix.

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Fun Ways to Serve

Spoon these cozy peaches over thick Greek yogurt to kick off your morning, or pair them with vanilla ice cream for a quick peach sundae. Throw on a handful of roasted nuts or granola if you want a crunch for your brunch spread.

Meaning and Traditions

For hundreds of years, people in all sorts of places have enjoyed sweet baked fruit like this. Out West, Mormon communities made baked fruit a tradition to stretch their stash of summer harvests. In my own family, this dish is a sign of Georgia summers—just-picked peaches on the porch and sunshine in every bite.

Recipe FAQs

→ Is it okay to swap in canned peaches?

If you don't have fresh peaches, canned peaches do the trick. Just drain off the syrup first for best results.

→ Any serving ideas for cinnamon peaches?

Top 'em with yogurt, whipped cream, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Granola in the morning works too.

→ When are the baked peaches ready to dig in?

They're done once the peaches go all tender and juicy, and the tops might look a bit caramelized if you bake them uncovered at the end.

→ Can I toss some nuts in before baking?

For sure, a handful of chopped walnuts or pecans brings a tasty crunch to the mix.

→ Do peaches need to be peeled first?

Peeling's up to you. Peeled peaches get softer, but leaving the skin keeps the halves together and softens up during baking.

→ What's the best way to save leftovers?

Stick them in a sealed container in the fridge. They're still tasty cold, or you can warm them up again.