How To Grill Peaches

Learn step-by-step how to grill peaches! Grilled Peaches are a healthy summer dessert that's so quick and easy to make! Naturally gluten-free and vegan, add cinnamon and brown sugar, and serve them with your favorite dairy-free ice cream or whipped cream! Make them without added sugar for a delicious addition to salads or savory recipes!

If you've ever wondered how to grill peaches or why you even should, this post is for you! Sweet, juicy summer ripe peaches, lightly grilled to perfection until soft and tender. Add some sweet cinnamon and brown sugar, and top with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream. Even keep them plain and simple to slice up and serve over a fresh green salad! Grill them indoors or outdoors; it only takes a few minutes for this simple recipe to come together, ready to be served and devoured!

Healthy Grilled Peaches

Delicious summer fruit, naturally sweet, allergen-free, fragrant, and beautiful! There's nothing not to love about this recipe and after learning my simple easy method for grilling them, you'll be able to use these peaches in sweet or savory meals and dishes. That is if you can stop yourself from eating them straight off the grill! These peaches are 100%...

• Gluten-Free
• Vegan & Vegetarian
• Allergy-free (Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free, Peanut-Free, Wheat-Free, Sesame-Free, Coconut-Free, Corn-Free)
• Low Sugar or Added Sugar-Free
• Kid-Friendly
• Healthy Seasonal Dessert
• Simple Addition to Salads, Bowls, or Grilled Entrees

Why Should Your Grill Peaches?

By grilling fresh summer peaches, the heat from the grill intensifies the sweet fruity flavors and aromas while making them extra juicy, and adds a subtle smokiness to the fruit! It's everything you could ever want in a light fruity summer dessert!

Does Grilling Make Them Sweeter?

By lightly grilling the peaches, the added heat caramelizes the natural sugars, drawing them to the surface, and making your peaches extra sweet without any added sugar!

How Ripe Should They Be?

When you plan on grilling peaches, you want to make sure the peaches aren't too ripe. You want the peaches to be ripe, but still firm so they can stand up to the heat from the grill and not turn to mush. Slightly underripe is better than overripe. There should be a slight give them you press the skin with your thumb. If you sniff the stem end of the peach, it should be aromatic, but not overly fragrant (this means it's too ripe). However, the better the aroma, the better the taste!

The Best Peaches For Grilling

When choosing peaches to grill, you'll want to look for freestone peaches. Freestone means the flesh is easily removed from the pit of the peach. When slicing the peach in half, the pit will pop right out, sometimes it will literally fall out, making them ideal for cooking and baking. They're typically larger in size, best eaten fresh, and the most common ones you'll find at your local grocery stores.

The two other categories of peaches are clingstone, which is smaller than the freestone, juicier, and sweeter, but the pit is much harder to remove. These are best for canning and making jellies/jams. The other type of peach you may find is the semi-cling which is a hybrid between clingstone and freestone. These peaches combine the best features of both; sweet juiciness of the clingstone and easy pit removal and consumption of the freestone.

Does It Matter What Color Of Peach Your Use?

No, you can use yellow or white peaches! Yellow peaches are the most common and can have light yellow flesh or deeper, almost orange, colored flesh. Yellow peaches are sweet and juicy with light acidity. White peaches have a pinker skin and whiteish flesh. White peaches are slightly sweeter than yellow peaches due to their low acidity They're also softer and more delicate, so they don't hold up quite as well to cooking as yellow peaches do.

Suggested Ingredients

• Fresh Peaches: You'll want fresh whole peaches for this recipe. Not too ripe, not too firm. The peaches should have just a slight give when you press them with your thumb. They should smell fruity and fragrant.
• Vegan Butter: A tablespoon of vegan butter is used to make these dessert peaches buttery and delicious.
• Cinnamon: A pinch of cinnamon makes this grilled fruit dessert stand out!
• Brown Sugar: Use sugar-free brown sugar style sweetener (like Swerve) or your favorite light brown sugar.

Other Ingredient Variations

• Olive Oil: Lightly brush the peaches with olive oil before grilling for a mouthwatering savory application.
• Earthy Herbs: Add some herbs like basil, tarragon, mint, thyme, or rosemary with a pinch of salt to make these grilled peaches perfect for a savory salad!
• Use Maple Syrup or Honey: Instead of brown sugar, you can use some maple syrup or honey to make these peaches extra sweet and delicious for a dessert!
• Warming Spices: Ginger, allspice, cinnamon, cardamom, clove, or nutmeg can be used to give your sweet peaches that cozy flavor touch!
• Vanilla Bean: Using scraped vanilla bean or a small amount of vanilla extract to brush the peaches with will make them perfect for a satisfying dessert with whipped cream.
• Zesty Lemon or Lime: Adding a squirt of fresh citrus will bring some tropical flavors to these grilled summer peaches!

How To Cut & Pit Peaches For Grilling

1. Rinse and dry off your fresh peaches before taking a sharp paring knife and slicing the peach through to the pit and in half around the seam.
2. Hold both sides of the sliced peach and lightly twist in opposite directions to separate them. Now take the knife and carefully remove the pit.

If you struggle to pit the peach, run the tip of the knife around the pit and attached flesh. Use your finger or the knife to tease out the pit. You can also cut a small section of peach off to help you wiggle the pit free if needed.

Prepping Peaches For The Grill

With your sliced peaches, use a pastry brush to lightly brush on a thin layer of melted butter or olive oil to the flat, cut side of the peach. You'll be adding or brushing on additional sweeteners, glaze, spices, and herbs after you grill the first side of the peach.

Make Them Oil-Free

You can make grilled peaches without oil or sugar. Make sure your grill grates or indoor grill pan is non-stick or use a light coating of non-stick spray so the peach flesh doesn't get stuck when the natural sugars melt and caramelize to the surface of the hot grill.

How To Grill Peaches

For An Indoor Grill:

Preheat the pan over medium-high heat. Then place the peaches, cut side down, on the grill. Do not move them around. Resist the urge to move them around if you want to end up with beautiful even grill marks.

Grill the cut side for 3-5 minutes, before using tongs to flip them over, and grill the rounded side for another 3-5 minutes until soft and tender. Now brush the grilled cut side of the peaches with any sweeteners, or spices, and sprinkle on the herbs you are using.

For An Outdoor Gas Grill:

Preheat the grill to medium-low heat before adding the peaches cut side down. Do not close the cover of the grill. Grill for 3-5 minutes before flipping them with tongs and following the same process as above to grill the other side and brush the peaches with flavorings.

For A Charcoal Grill:

Heat the charcoal on one side of the grill. Place the peaches cut side down over direct heat (charcoal side) and grill for 4-6 minutes. Use tongs to flip and move the peaches to indirect heat (non-charcoal side) and finish grilling the other side for 4-6 more minutes, brushing the grilled side with flavorings.

How Long Does It Take To Grill Peaches

The amount of time it takes depends on the type of grill you use and the ripeness of your fruit. For indoor grills (electric or stovetop) and outdoor gas grills, the time is relatively the same, about 3-5 minutes per side. Charcoal grills mat take a minute or two longer due to the less intense heat. If your peaches are a little overripe, you will need less time (2-3 minutes per side), if your peaches are slightly unripe, you may need 5-6 minutes per side.

Tips & Tricks For Grilling Peaches

• Should You Peel The Peaches? No! Don't peel the peaches before grilling. The signature fuzzy outer skin protects the delicate fruit and holds everything together when exposed to the heat from the grill.
• Don't try to grill overly ripe, juicy peaches. They will become mushy and fall apart on the grill.
• Don't move the peaches around after you place them on the grill. To achieve even and straight grill marks, they need to be cooked in one place without being disturbed.
• Lightly brushing the cut side of the peach with melted butter or oil before grilling allows you to get nice distinct grill marks.
• Use tongs for no-mess, easy, and safe flipping.

How To Serve Grilled Peaches For Dessert

When serving grilled peaches for dessert, it's best to serve them warm, right off the grill! Add a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, or marshmallow fluff, or add an extra drizzle of liquid sweetener or a balsamic glaze! You can even add some chopped nuts or seeds, even shredded coconut!

Savory Ways To Serve Grilled Peaches

You can serve them warm or cool, with a pinch of salt, drizzle of olive oil, or completely plain and let the natural sweetness and smokiness shine in each juicy bite! Serve them alongside grilled or barbequed meats or veggies, as a topping to a salad or grain bowl, or as a delicious appetizer to your summer potluck or cookout!

How To Store Leftovers

If you have leftovers, you can store them in a closed container in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can then serve them chilled or slice them up for side and salads. You can also reheat them in the microwave in 30-second intervals until warmed through. Served with ice cream or sweet toppings of choice!

More Delicious Summer Fruit Recipes:

• Gluten-Free Peach Cobbler
• Strawberry Crisp
• No-Bake Vegan Key Lime Pie
• Blueberry Rhubarb Crisp
• Blackberry Crumb Bars
• Vegan Ambrosia Salad

Print

If you haven't tried grilling fruit before, this is the summer to try it out! Delicious, sweet, juicy, and might I say, a little fancy too! You and your guests will love this naturally healthy dessert (even more when you add that scoop of ice cream!)

So tell me:

+ Have you grilled peaches or any other fruit before?

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