When fresh peaches are at their peak, there’s no better way to enjoy them than with a batch of Heavenly Summer Peach Bars. These irresistible dessert bars feature a buttery shortbread crust, a sweet peach filling, and a crumbly streusel topping—baked to golden perfection.
Perfect for potlucks, picnics, or afternoon treats, these peach bars are the ultimate celebration of summer fruit. Best of all? They’re super easy to make with simple pantry ingredients and a few ripe peaches.
⭐ Why You’ll Love These Peach Bars
- ✅ Fresh peach flavor in every bite
- ✅ Buttery, melt-in-your-mouth crust and topping
- ✅ One bowl, easy prep, no mixer required
- ✅ Perfect for sharing or freezing
- ✅ Customizable with other summer fruits
If you love the flavors of peach cobbler but prefer the grab-and-go convenience of a handheld dessert, these bars are exactly what you need.
🍑 Ingredients for Summer Peach Bars
For the Crust and Topping:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
For the Peach Filling:
- 3 cups fresh peaches, peeled and diced (about 3–4 medium peaches)
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prep the Oven and Pan
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal.
2. Make the Crust and Crumble
In a large bowl, mix melted butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt until combined. Add flour and stir until a soft dough forms.
- Press 2/3 of the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan to form an even crust.
- Set the remaining 1/3 of the dough aside for the crumb topping.
3. Prepare the Peach Filling
In another bowl, toss diced peaches with sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, lemon juice, and vanilla. Let it sit for 5 minutes to release the juices.
4. Assemble the Bars
- Spread the peach filling evenly over the crust.
- Crumble the reserved dough over the top. It doesn’t need to cover every inch—those juicy peach pockets peeking through are part of the charm!
5. Bake
Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until the top is golden and the peaches are bubbling.
Let the bars cool completely in the pan before lifting them out and slicing into squares.
🍦 How to Serve Peach Bars
These bars are amazing on their own, but you can take them to the next level by serving them:
- Warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
- Drizzled with simple glaze or honey
- Chilled for a refreshing summer treat
They also make a fantastic make-ahead dessert for barbecues, potlucks, and summer holidays.
📦 Storage Tips
- Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Refrigerator: Stays fresh for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze in layers (with parchment between) for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
🥄 Variations and Add-Ins
- Add berries: Mix in raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries with the peaches.
- Use brown sugar: For a richer, caramel-like flavor in the crumble.
- Spice it up: Add a pinch of nutmeg or cardamom to the filling.
- Make it gluten-free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
❤️ Final Thoughts
These Heavenly Summer Peach Bars are everything you want in a summer dessert: buttery, fruity, comforting, and unbelievably easy to make. They combine the soul of a classic peach cobbler with the ease of a snackable treat.
If you’re looking for a way to showcase juicy summer peaches, this is the recipe to bookmark, share, and come back to every peach season.
