Grilled Peaches with Vanilla Ice Cream
Nothing says summer quite like grilled peaches topped with vanilla ice cream and a sprinkle of brown sugar. I’ll show you how to easily grill ripe peaches for a simple dessert that always impresses!
When the weather is warm I love any excuse to cook outside. Most people just use their grill for proteins like chicken and steak (try my Balsamic Peach Chicken Kabobs), but if you’re not making desserts there then you’re missing out!
Let’s chat about one of my favorite summer desserts, Grilled Peaches with Vanilla Ice Cream.
Grilling fruit makes it 10x more delicious and sweeter (I completely made up that statistic and still stand by it). The peaches soften on the grill and caramelize. They’re perfectly tender and sweet after grilling but they’re even better with a little brown sugar and vanilla ice cream.
I love to serve this dessert when entertaining guests because you can quickly make the peaches to order with very little effort. Yet they add to the whole cookout experience and feel special.
Ingredients for Grilled Peaches
- Ripe peaches: Choose fresh ripe peaches for the sweetest dessert.
- Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil helps us caramelize our peaches on the grill. You can also use butter if you prefer.
- Brown sugar: A sprinkle of brown sugar is all it takes to bring out the sweetness of the peaches. You can opt for a drizzle of honey instead.
- Vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt: Top these finished peaches with a scoop of your favorite vanilla ice cream.
What Peaches are Best to Grill
Use any peaches you like. I’ve found that it’s easiest to remove the pits from freestone peaches so I like to use those. Clingstone peaches will also work but you’ll want to be careful removing the pits since they’re a little trickier.
The best peaches for grilling will be ripe with a little firmness (so they don’t turn to mush immediately when cooked).
Should you leave the skin on the peaches when grilling?
Leave the skin on. It helps hold the peach together as it softens on the grill.
How to Make Grilled Peaches Dairy Free and Vegan
Yes! Simply use a non-dairy or vegan ice cream and this yummy dessert will be dairy free and vegan.
More Fun Toppings for Grilled Peaches
I love brown sugar and vanilla ice cream on grilled peaches but there are other ways to top this sweet treat too. Here are my suggestions:
- Honey
- Maple Syrup
- Whipped cream
- Caramel sauce
- Chopped Sticky Candied Pecans
- Paleo Maple Cinnamon Granola
What to do with Leftover Grilled Peaches
Grilled peaches are best served warm so serve and enjoy right away. If by some miracle you have leftovers simply store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can reheat them in the microwave or on the stovetop and serve with brown sugar and ice cream at a later time.
If you’d like to incorporate these grilled peaches in another dish I recommend using them on top of oatmeal or in a salad. Try using them in my Healthy Peach Steel Cut Oats or add them to my Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad. These peaches also incredible sliced on served on top of grilled or sautéed chicken. My Ultimate Marinated Grilled Chicken is a great option.
How to Make Grilled Peaches without a Grill
You absolutely can make grilled peaches even if you don’t own a grill (or just prefer to cook indoors). Follow all the directions in the recipe card but use a cast iron grill pan on the stovetop instead. You can grill chicken, steak, vegetables, anything at all on this handy kitchen tool so you’ll love having it.
Grilled Peaches with Vanilla Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 4 ripe peaches, halved and pitted
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, extra virgin, can use an oil spray if you prefer
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- vanilla ice cream for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the grill (or grill pan if you're making this on the stovetop) to medium heat. The grill should be hot before adding the peaches to prevent the fruit from sticking to the grill grates.
- Brush the peach halves with olive oil (or use an oil spray).
- Place the peach halves on the hot grill or grill pan. Grill for 3 to 4 minutes, until you see grill marks. Flip and grill on opposite side for another 3 minutes, until peaches are tender.
- Remove from the grill or grill pan. Serve peaches cut side up. Sprinkle brown sugar on the peaches and top each half with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
