15 Must-Try Peach Dishes from Around the Country

Of all the great things summer has to offer, fresh peaches are high on the list. Don’t let the season pass you by without sampling some of the best peach-centric dishes in America. Need another reason to check some of these off your list? August also happens to be National Peach Month.

1. PEACH PIE

Peach pie may not hold the same icon status as apple or cherry, but that doesn’t mean it’s not an American classic. Bakeries in regions across the country serve up the dish during peak season. At one Cambridge, Massachusetts-based pie shop, the summer months signal the return of their peach blackberry pie with walnut crumb topping.

2. PEACH COBBLER

When asked to name a peach dish, this is the one that comes to most people’s minds. Peach cobbler is the ultimate comfort food. It’s also a staple at many barbeque joints in the South. For the real deal, make sure you’re getting a hand-rolled pastry crust and a scoop of ice cream on top.

3. PEACH CUPCAKE

In the world of trendy, over-the-top cupcakes, a peach-flavored pastry is fairly tame.  A California-based cup-cakery has found a way to make theirs stand out by borrowing inspiration from a classic cocktail. The Fuzzy Navel cupcake is made with peach and orange buttercream frosting, dolloped on top of a peach and orange cupcake with a little bit of vodka baked into it.

4. PEACH ICE CREAM

One of the most refreshing ways to enjoy peaches is in a scoop of ice cream. In Boston, a local chain ensures that the peaches that go into their ice cream are extra decadent by marinating them in brown sugar after cutting them by hand.

5. PEACH-GLAZED CHICKEN WINGS

While they’re most commonly used in desserts, sweet peaches can enhance savory dishes as well.  A classic compliment to the sweet fruit is a spicy hot pepper. At one Midwestern chicken wing chain, peaches and habanero peppers join forces to create one of the most distinctive sauces on their menu.

6.  PEACH TOAST

A dish doesn’t have to be complicated to taste delicious.  After roasting fresh peaches in the oven, a crusty slice of toast makes the perfect vehicle for those rich, caramelized flavors.  The roasted peach toast served at one Atlanta, Georgia restaurant plays up the savory-sweet element with sheep’s milk Brebis cheese and a drizzle of honey.

7. PEACH CAKE

Peach cake is ubiquitous in Baltimore. The signature Charm City dessert traditionally consists of glazed peach quarters on top of a sweet yeast dough cake. While most baked goods are best eaten homemade, an authentic Baltimore peach cake is one that’s bought from a local bakery or grocery store.

8. PEACH PIZZA

If you’re looking to expand your pizza horizons, seek out a pie that includes peaches as the main ingredient.  An Italian restaurant in New York’s Hudson Valley balances the sweet taste of the peach jam on their pizza with salty and savory ingredients. Diced prosciutto, fresh basil, and salted pistachios all come together in one harmonious bite.

9. PEACH DONUT

Peach donuts are a wholesome alternative to your typical frosted and sprinkled fare. A donut stand in the Los Angles area specializes in donuts stuffed with the freshest fruits available at any given time of year. Their peach donut—typically served for just a few weeks in mid-summer—is widely considered the favorite among customers.

10. PEACH FRENCH TOAST

Peaches are as well-suited for breakfast as they are for dessert. One popular morning dish where peaches shine is French toast.  A restaurant in Charleston, South Carolina stuffs the peaches inside their bread before cooking it and tops its with peach cider syrup.

11. PEACH BURGER

One place many diners wouldn’t expect to see peaches is on top of a burger patty. That hasn’t stopped some chefs from exploring the ingredient’s more unconventional applications. A burger joint in Atlanta has found a way to transform the fruit into an unforgettable condiment. Their peach burger served with peach chutney, arugula, and goat cheese is a seasonal specialty.

12. FRIED PEACHES

Most foods are better deep-fried, and peaches are no exception. A crispy, fried version of the fresh fruit can be found in Arizona. A restaurant there lightly dredges peach slices in a cinnamon sugar batter and serves it with a scoop of ice cream for dessert.

13.  PEACH MILKSHAKE

Milkshakes are an American favorite for a reason. The drinkable treat comes in a variety different flavors, including peach. The fruity variety is so popular that it can even be found on the menus of national chain restaurants at certain times of year.

14.  PEACH SALAD

If heavy pastries aren’t your thing, peaches can also be used to add flair to lighter dishes. A burnt peach salad at an Italian restaurant in Pensacola features peach halves stuffed with goat cheese and honey.

15. PEACH GALETTE

Peaches are a familiar ingredient in southern cooking, but they make perfect sense as the star of this traditional French dessert. Galettes are tasty, classy, and the perfect way to showcase the fresh, seasonal fruit.  At one restaurant on California’s Catalina Island, they bake theirs with blueberries and peaches and serve it with—what else—vanilla ice cream.