Skillet Caramelized Peaches are an ideal summer dessert—peach halves quickly caramelized in butter, brown sugar and cinnamon, then finished with vanilla ice cream and crunchy toasted pecans. Simple, warm and irresistibly comforting.
These peaches cook quickly in a skillet on the stovetop, making them one of the easiest desserts to prepare for a single serving or a crowd. Like baked peaches, they become soft and warm with a light caramel kiss. Serve them topped with rich vanilla bean ice cream or fresh whipped cream for a fast, impressive finish that highlights ripe, juicy peaches.
One of the best finishes for these peaches is a handful of sweet roasted pecans. They add a crisp texture and a deep caramel note that pairs perfectly with the fruit and ice cream. Toasted pecans also make a great topping for ice cream on their own—easy to make and wonderfully flavorful.
How to Make Sweet Cinnamon Toasted Pecans
To make the toasted pecans on the stovetop, melt 3 tablespoons of butter in a skillet. Stir in about 3 tablespoons of brown sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, mixing until the sugar dissolves into the butter.
Add chopped or whole pecans and cook, stirring, until the nuts are fully coated and the butter thickens, about 3 minutes. The pecans will become fragrant and crisp. Remove them from the pan to stop the cooking and reserve any caramelized butter to drizzle over the peaches and ice cream.
If you’ve cooked the peaches in the same pan, you can use the browned butter, sugar and cinnamon left behind—just add a bit more butter if needed to create the pecan coating.
Ingredients Needed for Skillet Caramelized Peaches
- 4 large peaches
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 cup pecan pieces
How to Make Skillet Caramelized Peaches
Start by washing the peaches and slicing them in half. Run a sharp knife from top to bottom around the peach to the stem, then twist the halves to separate them. Remove the pit with your finger or a spoon.
In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon. Press each peach half, cut side down, into the mixture until well coated. Heat a 12-inch skillet or cast iron pan over medium-high heat and add 3 tablespoons of butter. When the butter is melted and bubbly, place the peach halves seasoned side down. Cook for 5–7 minutes, moving them occasionally so they caramelize evenly without burning.
Remove the peaches from the pan when they’re tender and heated through. Add another 2 tablespoons of butter to the skillet and stir until the remaining brown sugar and cinnamon dissolve into the butter. If needed, add more of the sugar-cinnamon mix. Add the pecans and cook, stirring, until they are coated and crisp, about 2–3 minutes. Remove from heat.
Serve each peach half cut side up on a plate or in a bowl. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream, then spoon the toasted pecans and any caramelized butter over the top. Serve warm and enjoy.
Skillet Caramelized Peaches Recipe
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Skillet Caramelized Peaches
Ingredients
- 4 peaches
- 5 tbsp butter
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 cup pecan pieces
Instructions
- Prepare the peaches by washing, slicing in half and removing the pit.
- In a bowl combine the brown sugar and cinnamon. Press each peach half, cut side down, into the mixture until well coated.
- In a 12-inch skillet or cast iron pan over medium heat melt 3 tablespoons of butter.
- Place each peach half, seasoned side down, into the pan. Cook until heated through, about 5–7 minutes, moving them often to prevent burning.
- Remove the peaches and add 2 more tablespoons of butter to the pan. Stir until the remaining brown sugar and cinnamon dissolve into the butter. Add pecans and stir until coated and warm; the butter will thicken and create a crunchy coating. Remove from heat.
- Place a peach cut side up on a plate, top with ice cream or whipped cream, spoon toasted pecans and drizzle pan juices over the top. Serve warm.
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Other Simple Fruit Dessert Recipes:
- WHITE TEXAS SHEET CAKE TOPPED WITH STRAWBERRIES
- PEARS WITH CREAM CHEESE AND PECANS
- STRAWBERRY TRIFLE