Summer

Peaches with Cardamom Streusel & Honey-Vanilla Cream

August  4, 2010
0
0 Ratings
  • Serves 4 to 6
Author Notes

I headed up to Ellsworth Hill Orchard in Litchfield, Connecticut this last week to do some summer fruit picking and came across these beautiful, juicy Flaming Fury peaches. I got completely carried away out in the orchard and was a bit obsessed with finding the perfect peach (to my husband’s dismay in the insanely sweaty heat). All I could think about was pairing sweet peaches with cardamom for a super easy summer dessert. Baking the peaches really brings out the sweetness, and cardamom, in place of traditional cinnamon, creates a delicious, crunchy streusel to layer on top. It does not get any easier than mixing a few ingredients in a bowl, spooning the crumbly mixture on top of halved peaches, and throwing it all in the oven. I serve this dish with whipped honey-vanilla cream, which balances out the residual tartness in the peaches. A lovely way to indulge in summer’s fruit. Enjoy!
aliyaleekong

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Ingredients
  • Baked Peaches & Cardamom Streusel:
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 tablespoons butter, room temperature (but not completely soft) and cut into pieces
  • 4 peaches
  • Honey-Vanilla Cream
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • ½ vanilla bean, scraped OR 1 ½ tsps of vanilla extract
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 400° F.
  2. In a bowl, mix together brown sugar, flour, cardamom and salt. Cut in butter using your fingers or a pastry scraper until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  3. Halve peaches on the vertical, remove pits, and scrape off any rough bits. I do this at the last second, so that the peaches don’t turn brown. Also, I leave the skin on as a preference – you can remove the skin if you like.
  4. Arrange peaches in a buttered baking dish. Top with streusel topping and bake for 25 minutes. Remove and let cool briefly.
  5. Whip the heavy cream by hand or by using a hand or stand mixture. Before it is fully whipped, add in the vanilla and honey, so that it becomes evenly distributed (but not over whipped!).
  6. Serve peaches warm with a side of the honey-vanilla cream.

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6 Reviews

Jennifer A. January 29, 2011
This looks wonderful! I am saving in my recipe box now.
aliyaleekong January 30, 2011
Thanks, Jennifer Ann. Such an easy recipe and definitely on the healthy side :).
limonlemon September 26, 2010
Delicious, delicious, delicious!
aliyaleekong September 27, 2010
Thanks!
aliyaleekong September 2, 2010
Thanks, ChezSuzanne. Let me know how it goes!
TheWimpyVegetarian September 2, 2010
This looks fabulous!! I'm making this over the weekend!