Baked Peaches with Vanilla Ice Cream and Walnut Crunch
This ripe peach almost caught me off guard – so juicy and sweet that I had to halve it right away, drizzle it with Manuka honey and slide it into the oven. Baked peaches with vanilla ice cream and walnut crunch are the recipe for exactly that moment: when late summer hands you its last ripe fruit, but you are already craving a warm dessert from the oven. Peach season runs from July to September, and the fruit is at its most aromatic just before the season ends – perfect for this transition. After 20 minutes in the oven (or 12 to 15 minutes in the air fryer), the peach is butter-soft, warm and almost melting. Add cold vanilla ice cream, crunchy walnuts and a pinch of coconut, and you have a dessert that leaves you feeling really good afterwards.
Ingredients for Baked Peaches with Vanilla Ice Cream and Walnut Crunch
serves 2
• 1 ripe peach
• 2 tbsp desiccated coconut
• 2 scoops vanilla ice cream
• 30 g (¼ cup) walnuts
How to Make Baked Peaches with Vanilla Ice Cream and Walnut Crunch
1. Wash the peach, cut it in half and remove the stone.
2. Drizzle the cut sides with the Manuka honey.
3. Place the peach halves cut side up on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for about 20 minutes, until soft and slightly mushy.
Air fryer peaches are even quicker: at 180°C (350°F), 12 to 15 minutes are usually enough for the peaches to turn soft and lightly caramelised.
Prefer the grill? On a hot grill, the peach halves need just 4 to 5 minutes cut side down until they are soft with lovely charred notes.
4. Take the peaches out of the oven and let them cool for a few minutes until just warm.
5. Roughly crush the walnuts into coarse crumbs.
6. Arrange the peach halves on a plate and top each with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
7. Sprinkle the walnut crunch and desiccated coconut over the ice cream and peaches and serve immediately.
Résumé
Baked peaches with vanilla ice cream and walnut crunch are exactly the recipe for the moment late summer turns into autumn. The warm, slightly mushy peach meets cold, slowly melting vanilla ice cream, plus the crunch of walnuts and a little coconut trip to the Caribbean – relaxed to make and seriously good. As a flexitarian recipe, this dessert doesn't need any meat reduction to win you over: it is naturally plant-forward and all about enjoyment without a guilty conscience. Why do you feel so good afterwards? Because a ripe fruit, a little honey and a bit of crunch are all it takes to feel satisfied – no additives, no complicated steps.
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Flexi Tips
No walnuts at hand? Almonds or pecans make a great crunchy topping too.
Why Manuka honey instead of regular honey? It brings a more intense, slightly spicy flavour that contrasts the sweetness of the peach instead of just amplifying it.
Short on time? In the air fryer, the peaches are ready in just 12 to 15 minutes – ideal for a quick weeknight dessert.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long do you bake peaches in the oven?
A: At 180°C (350°F), halved peaches need about 20 minutes in the oven until they are soft and slightly mushy. Very ripe peaches can be ready a few minutes earlier, firmer ones may need up to 25 minutes.
Q: Can I make these peaches in the air fryer?
A: Yes – air fryer peaches take 12 to 15 minutes at 180°C (350°F). Place the halves cut side up in the basket (lined with parchment if you like) so the honey caramelises instead of dripping off.
Q: Can I grill the peaches instead of baking them?
A: Absolutely. On a hot grill, halved peaches cut side down need just 4 to 5 minutes until soft – a quick alternative to the oven or air fryer, perfect for a summer barbecue.
Q: Can this dessert be made vegan?
A: Yes – use a plant-based vanilla ice cream made from oat or coconut milk and swap the honey for maple syrup or agave syrup. Everything else is already plant-based.
Q: What is the difference between Manuka honey and regular honey?
A: Manuka honey comes from the New Zealand manuka bush and has a stronger, slightly earthy flavour than classic blossom honey, along with a naturally high methylglyoxal content.
Q: Can I use other nuts instead of walnuts?
A: Sure – almonds, pecans or hazelnuts work just as well as a crunchy topping. Just make sure they are roughly chopped, not too fine.
Q: Can you eat baked peaches cold?
A: They taste best warm, straight after baking, but chilled from the fridge they are still a sweet treat the next day.
What You Need
We partner with Artgerecht because their Manuka honey brings exactly the depth this recipe needs – bold, slightly spicy, never just sweet. Use the code FLEXITARIANS10 for 10% off your order.
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