Grilled Peaches Recipe

Grilled Peaches are made with just 5 ingredients: coconut oil, cinnamon, nutmeg, and almond extract. They are juicy, sweet, and easy to prepare, making them the perfect summer side dish or dessert. 

If you have never had grilled peaches before, you are in for a treat. Even people who say they do not like peaches have tried these and loved them! They are sweet and juicy with a caramelized outside coated with a honey cinnamon almond glaze. Whether eating them plain, adding them to a meal, or topping them with ice cream, these peaches are more delicious than you imagine. 

You can make these yummy peaches in minutes with just a handful of ingredients. You only need peaches, coconut oil, honey, almond extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg. I discovered this recipe at a friend’s barbecue years ago and fell in love with it. But as a professional chef and food blogger I had to add my own spin on it by adding the honey glaze after cooking it, which I think makes it even more incredible.

I love peaches because they blend well with both sweet and savory dishes. You can have them with ice cream or chop them and put them in salsa. They also go great with pork chops. I found all sorts of uses for them, and I am sure you will, too. And they are so easy to make. If you are out on the deck making burgers and hotdogs for the kids, toss some of these on the grill as a fun dessert.

When I make these grilled peaches, I often do it indoors on a grill pan. If the weather is cold or rainy, I will not put on a coat and grab an umbrella to grill dinner outside. There is nothing wrong with using a grill pan or the broiler occasionally. And then I can also make my grilled pork skewers to go with them, for an easy yet fancy meal.

Why you will love this recipe

• It only takes a few minutes: In less than 10 minutes, you can have these delicious grilled peaches ready to serve.
• Your kids will love them: Even if they say they dislike peaches, they taste like candy.
• They are healthy: With no added sugar, you will not feel guilty giving these to the kids or eating them yourself.
• You can make them for less than a buck: Each one costs just a few coins, so you can make a bunch.

What you’ll need to make grilled peaches

Special items:

• Grill – I prefer a gas grill, but you can use a charcoal grill.
• Grill pan – if you are making the recipe indoors.
• Sharp knife – For cutting the peaches in half.
• Tongs – To handle the peaches on the grill.

Ingredients needed:

• Peaches: You want to use ripe peaches that are still firm. Try a farmer’s market for the freshest fruit.
• Coconut oil: It is best to use virgin coconut oil in its solid form, but you can also use refined oil in liquid form. 
• Honey: Organic clover honey is preferred but you can also use avocado or buckwheat honey.
• Spices: We use nutmeg and cinnamon in our recipe. 
• Almond extract: You can also substitute this with vanilla or peach extract.

How to make the best grilled peaches from scratch?

1. Get ready: First, start the outdoor grill to medium or preheat a grill pan indoors to medium heat. 
2. Prepare the peaches: Next, rinse the peaches and cut them in half. Afterward, remove the pits and rinse out the core.
3. Coating: After that, slather each of the peaches with coconut oil.
4. Cook: Next, grill cut side for three to five minutes or until you can see the dark grill grates marks on them. Turn them halfway through to get the cross-hatched char marks. Although grill marks do not affect the taste, it makes them look more appealing.
5. Make the honey mixture: In addition, mix the cinnamon, almond extract, nutmeg, and honey in a small dish.
6. Apply the honey mixture: Lastly, spread a coating of the honey mixture over the peaches while they are still warm. 
7. Serve: They are deliciously served with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream on top. Also, sprinkle on a pinch of chopped mint (optional).

Expert tip

Selecting the best peaches for grilling

The color of the peaches is the first thing to look at. They should have bright, vibrant golden-red skin with a yellow tone toward the stem. For grilling, you want a less ripe peach, so you should look for paler yellow skin at the top. However, ripe peach is also suitable for grilling. Skip the ones with green hues, dark bruises, flattened areas, or dents. Also, peaches with wrinkled skin are usually chilled after harvesting and may be dried out.

The peaches should smell the way you want your peach to taste: sweet and fragrant. If it smells like nothing, it will taste bland. If it smells too sweet, it may be overripe. You do not want an overripe peach for grilling because it will get mushy immediately. Now, squeeze it. It should be firm with a little bit of give. Since you are grilling them, you do want them to be firm.

You should also consider when you plan to use them. If you do not need them for several days, you want firm and yellow peaches, not wholly ripened. When you are ready to use them, they will ripen up just enough to be perfect for grilling. And if not, grilling them will make them soft, sweet, and juicy anyway.

Recipe variations:

• Other oils: You could use a different oil such as olive oil, avocado oil, or grapeseed oil.
• No honey: If you are allergic to honey, use pure maple syrup.
• Spicy peaches: Add a few drops of sriracha sauce to your glaze for spicy grilled peaches.
• Different extract: Vanilla extract would also be delicious instead of almond extract. My kids love it when I use cinnamon extract.
• Sweeter peaches: Add granulated sugar or even better sprinkle some brown sugar on the flesh before grilling.
• Savory peaches: For savory instead of sweet peaches, skip the glaze and use your favorite barbecue sauce, teriyaki, or a bit of sweet and sour sauce for a twist.
• Jam: You can brush them with peach jam to the top for an even peachier flavor.

Serving suggestions:

I like to top my grilled peaches with mint and basil. Here are some other ideas that my family likes.

• There are many kinds of toppings you can add like graham cracker crumbles, chopped nuts, or butterscotch chips.
• Turn them into a grilled peach smoothie. Mix Greek yogurt, milk, honey, and ice cubes in a high-speed blender.
• Grilled peaches make a great topping or side dish for burgers and loaded hot dogs at the family barbecue.
• I slice these and add them to a peanut butter sandwich for a snack. The kids love it!
• Top these grilled peaches with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for a refreshing dessert.
• Serve them with some homemade mascarpone and a drizzle of honey.
• Serve these delicious grilled peaches on top of any pork dish. They are perfect with my juicy garlic lime pork tenderloin.
• You could also cut these into quarters and top peach martinis or margaritas with them.
• Make them part of a Caprese salad.
• Use them as a topping for cakes and cupcakes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does grilling peaches ripen them?

One of the best things about grilling peaches is that the heat of the grill tenderizes the flesh of the fruit, helping to soften it and bring out the natural sugars. This makes hard, bitter, unripe peaches sweet and juicy, perfect for biting into or topping with ice cream. The sugar makes them instantly caramelized, too, so it is almost like eating peach candy. The kids love it, and they do not even realize they are eating fruit!

What is the best way to cut peaches for grilling?

First, wash and dry your peaches. Then, hold the peach vertically with the stem upwards and use a sharp paring knife to insert it until you reach the pit. Now, roll the peach around the blade of the knife while keeping the tip touching the pit the whole time. Once you reach the beginning, remove the knife, take the peach in the palms of your hands, and twist to separate the two halves. The pit should pop right out with your fingers.

How can I ripen my peaches quickly?

There are several ways to ripen peaches fast. The quickest is to put them in a paper bag with the stem side down in a single layer with an apple or a banana. Fold the bag closed and set it on the counter for several hours; they should be ripe by the end of the day. Another way to ripen them quickly is to put them in a shallow bowl in the sunlight. Keep an eye on them so they do not get too hot, and start to bake and get mushy.

How do I grill my peaches indoors?

If the weather is bad or you want to stay inside, you can always grill your peaches indoors. There are a few ways to do this. First, you can use a grill pan on the stovetop. Large skillets with grates allow the food to cook just like they were on the grill. Just grease it and cook your peach for three to five minutes. You could also cook them under the broiler in your broiling pan.

How to store leftovers:

• Refrigerate: Put leftover grilled peaches in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.   
• Freezing: You can freeze your peaches in a freezer bag for one month, but they will be mushy when thawed.

More recipes on the grill:

Recipe tips:

• Store your peaches at room temperature. Keep them stem-side down in a single layer to avoid bruising. If they start to get overripe, toss them in the crisper drawer in your fridge.
• Instead of using an outdoor grill, you can cook them indoors on a grill pan or broiler.
• To ripen your peaches quickly, put them in a paper bag.
• Choose peaches that are firm for grilling.
• If you do not like the peel, you can peel them after grilling. But I would not peel them beforehand, or they may get mushy.