Peach Bars: The Perfect Blend of Sweet, Buttery, and Fruity

When peaches are in season, there’s no better way to showcase them than with a tray of homemade peach bars. These irresistible squares feature a buttery shortbread crust, a sweet and juicy peach filling, and a crumbly streusel topping that’s baked to golden perfection.

Whether you’re heading to a summer potluck, craving something fruity, or just want an easy dessert that screams sunshine, peach bars are your answer.

Before we get baking, let’s talk about what makes this treat so special, and how you can make the most of this fruity delight.

Why Peach Bars Are the Perfect Summer Dessert

There’s something magical about biting into warm peach bars fresh out of the oven. They combine the nostalgia of homemade pie with the ease of a tray bake.

Besides their incredible taste, they’re also:

• Great for using up seasonal produce
• Simple to customize (gluten-free, vegan, nutty, or spiced)
• Perfect for making ahead and freezing
• Delicious warm or chilled

Looking for more peach-packed ideas? Try our peach coffee cake recipe for a brunch-perfect twist or our easy peach crisp recipe that’s baked with a golden topping in just one pan.

Key Ingredients in Peach Bars

Here’s what you’ll typically need to whip up a batch of classic peach bars:

• All-purpose flour – For both the base and topping
• Cold unsalted butter – Creates that crumbly, melt-in-your-mouth texture
• Granulated sugar – Sweetens the crust and filling
• Baking powder & salt – Add lift and balance
• Fresh peaches – The star! You can substitute with frozen or canned peaches in a pinch
• Lemon juice – Brightens the flavor
• Ground cinnamon & nutmeg – Optional but add warmth
• Vanilla extract – For a deeper, bakery-style flavor

Want to take it further? You can learn what enhances the flavor of peaches and turn even average fruit into a star ingredient.

Step-by-Step: Classic Peach Bars Recipe

Here’s a quick walkthrough for making foolproof peach bars from scratch.

Crust & Topping:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ⅔ cup granulated sugar
• ½ tsp baking powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¾ cup cold unsalted butter, cubed

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
3. Add butter and use a pastry cutter or fork to blend into coarse crumbs.
4. Press 2/3 of the mixture into the pan to form the shortbread base. Reserve the rest for the topping.

Peach Filling:

• 3–4 cups chopped fresh peaches
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp flour (for thickening)
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp nutmeg (optional)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Mix all filling ingredients in a large bowl until coated.
2. Spread the mixture evenly over the crust.
3. Sprinkle remaining crumb topping over the peaches.
4. Bake for 50–55 minutes until golden and bubbling.
5. Cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing.

If you love breakfast-style treats, these bars pair beautifully with our peach muffins recipe or can even follow this peach breakfast guide for morning-ready flavor.

Storage & Freezing Instructions

• Room temp: Up to 2 days in an airtight container
• Fridge: 4–5 days
• Freezer: Wrap individual bars tightly and freeze up to 3 months
• Reheat: Warm in microwave or oven for 10 minutes at 300°F

Tips for the Best Peach Bars

• Use cold butter for a crisp and tender crust
• Don’t stress if the filling looks watery, it thickens while baking
• For chunkier topping, gently squeeze crumble into clumps before sprinkling
• Let bars cool completely before slicing to prevent falling apart
• Use parchment paper as a sling for easy removal from the pan

Variations & Substitutions

Want to make your peach bars even more interesting? Try these fun twists:

• Add berries – Mix in blueberries or raspberries
• Nuts – Top with chopped pecans or walnuts for crunch
• Gluten-free – Use GF flour blend
• Vegan – Swap in vegan butter
• Oats – Add ½ cup to topping for a rustic crumble texture
• Spices – Try ginger, cloves, or allspice for fall vibes
• Honey-sweetened – Replace sugar with ½ cup honey and add extra flour to compensate for moisture

Need more peach dessert ideas? Our best homemade peach pie is a must-try classic for pie lovers.

What to Serve with Peach Bars

These bars shine on their own, but they pair beautifully with:

• A scoop of vanilla ice cream
• Fresh whipped cream
• Iced peach tea or sweet wine
• Greek yogurt for a lighter brunch option

When to Serve Peach Bars

They’re versatile enough for almost any occasion:

• Picnics and BBQs
• Potlucks
• Brunch tables
• Holiday dessert trays
• Casual snacking

Need inspiration for batch-friendly treats? Try these zucchini brownies or chocolate zucchini bread, perfect for baking alongside peach bars.

FAQ: People Also Ask

Troubleshooting Peach Bars

• Dry crust? Use more butter next time
• Soggy filling? Add a bit more flour or drain fruit better
• Topping too pale? Bake a few extra minutes or broil briefly
• Falling apart? Cool completely before slicing and use parchment for lifting

Final Thoughts

Peach bars are everything we love about homemade baking, simple ingredients, big flavor, and plenty of room to make them your own.

Whether you’re baking for your family or a big crowd, these fruity squares are bound to become a summer favorite.

So next time you have fresh peaches on hand (or even a can in the pantry), skip the pie and whip up a batch of these golden, gooey peach bars. You won’t regret it!

Peach Bars: The Perfect Blend of Sweet, Buttery, and Fruity

---

• Author: MERIEM
• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 16 bars

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

A delicious summer dessert featuring a buttery shortbread crust, juicy peach filling, and crumbly topping. Perfect for gatherings or a sweet snack.

---

Ingredients

For the Crust and Topping
2 cups all-purpose flour
⅔ cup granulated sugar
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes

For the Filling
3 cups fresh peaches, peeled and chopped (or canned peaches, well-drained)
⅔ cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon flour
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

---

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper.

In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt for the crust. Add cold butter and cut it in until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Press ⅔ of the mixture into the prepared pan to form a crust. Reserve the remaining for the topping.

In a separate bowl, mix peaches, sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt, lemon juice, and vanilla until well combined.

Spread the peach filling evenly over the crust. Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture over the top.

Bake for 50–55 minutes until golden brown and the filling is bubbling.

 

Let cool completely before slicing into bars.

Notes

You can use frozen peaches, just thaw and drain them first. For more texture, add chopped nuts like pecans to the crumb topping. These bars can be served warm, room temperature, or cold.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 50 minutes
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 bar
• Calories: 214
• Sugar: 20g
• Sodium: 92mg
• Fat: 9g
• Saturated Fat: 5g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3g
• Trans Fat: 0.3g
• Carbohydrates: 32g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 2g
• Cholesterol: 23mg

Keywords: peach bars, peach dessert bars, peach crumble bars, summer peach recipes