Old-Fashioned Peach Crisp with Oat Topping
Fresh peaches are tossed with spices and sprinkled with a buttery oat topping before being baked until golden brown and bubbly. Make this old-fashioned Peach Crisp with Oat Topping with fresh or frozen peaches and enjoy all summer long!
About This Peach Crisp with Oats
Here in Colorado, we look forward to sinking our teeth into the ultra juicy peaches from Palisade every summer. The hot days and cool nights of the region make for the best peaches, and when we’re not eating them whole we love enjoying them in homemade peach crisp.
This is an old-fashioned peach crisp recipe made with fresh peaches and a buttery oatmeal topping. The ground cinnamon and nutmeg in the filling add a subtle warmth to the recipe without competing with the flavor of the peaches.
A blend of almond and vanilla extracts further enhance the peach flavor and set this simple peach crisp apart from the rest.
We love serving this peach crisp warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. A drizzle of bourbon vanilla caramel sauce wouldn’t go amiss either!
Love fruit crisps? Be sure to try this Oatmeal Apple Crisp or Apple Cranberry Crisp next!
Tools You’ll Need
You’ll need to have the following pieces of kitchen equipment on hand for peeling the peaches and preparing the fruit filling and oat topping.
- Large Pot: Necessary for the blanching process.
- Paring Knife: Makes it easier to remove the peach skins. You can also use the paring knife to slice the peaches.
- Cutting Board: Take care to slice the peaches on a cutting board that hasn’t been cross-contaminated with garlic or onion.
- Large Mixing Bowl: Can be used to make both the ice bath (for blanching and peeling the peaches) and preparing the filling.
- Colander: To drain the blanched peaches after they sit in the ice bath.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons: For measuring the ingredients.
- Food Processor: For preparing the oatmeal crisp topping. If you don’t own one, use a clean mixing bowl and a fork or pastry cutter.
- 9-Inch Baking Dish: For baking the peach crisp.
Peach Crisp Recipe Ingredients
This is a classic peach crisp recipe with oats that uses basic ingredients you likely keep on hand.
For the Peach Filling:
- Granulated Sugar
- Lemon Juice and Zest
- Vanilla Extract
- Almond Extract
- Ground Nutmeg
- Ground Cinnamon
- Cornstarch
- Fresh Peaches
For the Oat Topping:
- Brown Sugar
- All-Purpose Flour
- Ground Cinnamon
- Rolled Oats
- Butter
For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions to make this easy peach crisp with oats, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.
How to Make Oatmeal Peach Crisp
The most time consuming part of this recipe is peeling all the peaches. I suggest blanching the peaches first to soften the skins — you’ll find detailed instructions on how to do so in the recipe card below.
Here’s an overview of the recipe steps:
- Blanch, peel, and slice the peaches.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Fold in the peaches last.
- Transfer the peach mixture to a 9-inch baking dish.
- In a food processor, prepare the oatmeal topping. Use your hands to squeeze and crumble handfuls of the topping over the peach mixture.
- Bake in a preheated oven until the peach filling is bubbling around the edges and the topping is golden brown.
The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe for peach crisp with oats. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.
Topping Ideas
This peach crisp with oat topping is delicious as is, but no one would complain if you topped it with one or more of the following!
- Vanilla ice cream
- Bourbon caramel sauce or rum caramel sauce
- Whipped cream
Recipe Tips
- Use ripe, in-season peaches. You may use any variety of peaches you’d like, just look for ones that are vibrant in color and very fragrant. When you press your thumb into the flesh near the stem, it should have some give.
- Don’t skip the cornstarch! It helps thicken the peach filling and creates a silky syrup from the juices released as the peaches cook.
- Don’t overload the peaches with spices. You’ll notice that there’s just ¼ teaspoon total of cinnamon and nutmeg in this recipe. If you use ripe peaches, they should be super flavorful all on their own and you don’t want to mask them!
- Use rolled oats, not instant. Rolled oats (aka old-fashioned oats) make for a delightfully crisp and chewy topping. Instant oats are already very finely ground and will become borderline powdery if blended in a food processor, resulting in a cakey rather crisp and buttery topping.
Recipe FAQs
Got questions about how to make this peach oat crisp recipe? Here are the answers to a few commonly asked questions. Feel free to leave any other questions in the comments on this post and I’ll respond with answers.
What’s the easiest way to peel peaches?
The easiest way to peel peaches for making peach oatmeal crisp is to blanch them. I know it sounds like more work than using a vegetable peeler or paring knife, but it’s actually WAY easier!
I have a detailed guide on How to Peel Peaches, so check that out for the full instructions and tips for success.
Can this recipe be made with frozen peaches?
Yes, you can make this recipe with frozen peaches. I recommend letting them thaw at room temperature once you combine with the sugar mixture. Once thawed, add to the baking dish, sprinkle with the oat topping, and bake.
Can this recipe be made with canned peaches?
I don’t recommend using canned peaches to make this recipe. Canned peaches are already very soft and sweet, and your peach crisp filling will likely end up being mushy.
Can this recipe be made with different fruits?
Of course! You can also make this recipe using nectarines. Or mix and match fruits to create unique flavor combinations!
You can use up to 3.5 pounds of fruit total. Try one of the following fruit combinations:
- Peach blueberry crisp
- Peach rhubarb crisp
- Peach apple crisp
- Peach blackberry crisp
- Peach raspberry crisp
- Peach cherry crisp
Can this recipe be doubled?
Yes, simply double the ingredients and bake in a 9×13-inch pan.
Can this recipe be made in advance?
Yes! Here’s how:
- Oatmeal topping: Prepare the topping as instructed and store refrigerated in a zip-top bag in the refrigerator or freezer. If stored in the refrigerator, it can be made 2 – 3 days ahead of time. If stored in the freezer, it can be made a month in advance.
- Peach filling: Assemble up to 1 day in advance and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Storage Instructions
Let the oat peach crisp cool to room temperature, then store in an airtight container or cover tightly with plastic wrap. Leftovers will last up to 3 days on your counter or 5 days in the fridge.
You can also freeze the baked peach crisp for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, let thaw in the fridge overnight and then reheat as desired.
Try Making Fresh Peach Crisp at Home!
Next time you’re looking for a simple dessert using fresh peaches, give this peach oatmeal crisp a try!
Did you love the buttery topping and juicy filling? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought.
On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see a photo of your peach crisp with oat topping!
More Easy Peach Desserts:
Try something new for dessert this summer and make these Grilled Peaches with Mascarpone! Grilling peaches is so easy to do and their natural sweetness of the fruit pairs well with whipped mascarpone and fresh raspberry sauce.
This Peach and Mixed Berry Cobbler is topped with homemade sour cream biscuits. This is the ultimate end of summer dessert!
This Peach Cake is the perfect summertime dessert if those warm months have you craving fresh, juicy, sweet peaches.
This Homemade Peach Syrup can be enjoyed atop pancake, waffles, ice cream, and more! It’s so easy to make and is a great way to use up fresh peaches.
Get More Recipes via Email
Did you love this recipe for peach crisp with oats? Sign up to receive Good Life Eats Email Updates and never miss another recipe!
Peach Crisp with Oat Topping
Fresh peaches are tossed with spices and sprinkled with a buttery oat topping before being baked until golden brown and bubbly. Make this old-fashioned Peach Crisp with Oat Topping with fresh or frozen peaches and enjoy all summer long!
Ingredients
For the peaches:
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon almond extract
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 3 ½ pounds peeled and sliced fresh peaches*
For the crisp topping:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 ½ cup rolled oats, divided
- 10 tablespoons cold butter, sliced into tablespoons
For serving:
- Vanilla ice cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisk until combined. Then, stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and almond extract using a small spatula or wooden spoon. Add the peaches and stir gently until they’re coated with the sugar mixture.
- Transfer the peach mixture to a 9-inch baking dish or oval gratin dish. Set aside.
- In a food processor, combine the brown sugar, all-purpose flour, cinnamon and half of the rolled oats. Process until well mixed. Then, add the sliced butter and process for 30 - 45 seconds, or until the crisp topping begins to clump together into pieces. Add the remaining oats and pulse just until combined.
- Remove the topping from the food processor. Using your hands, squeeze and crumble handfuls of topping over the top of the peach mixture.
- Transfer the peach crisp to the preheated oven, placing the dish on the rack one lower than the center most rack, and bake for 50 - 55 minutes. The peach filling should be soft and bubbly and the topping should be golden brown.
- Let cool for 15 - 20 minutes before serving. Serve with vanilla ice cream.
Notes
*I have a full guide on How to Peel Peaches. Be sure to reference it if you need help peeling your peaches!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 426Total Fat: 17gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 135mgCarbohydrates: 65gFiber: 3gSugar: 43gProtein: 5g
GoodLifeEats.com offers recipe nutritional information as a courtesy. This provided information is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although GoodLifeEats.com makes every effort to provide accurate information, these figures are only estimates.
Leave a Comment