This easy Peach Bars recipe features a tender, buttery base that’s flavored with almond and topped with sweet, juicy peaches. Finished with a drizzle of sweet almond glaze, this is a favorite summer treat!
I have a love-hate relationship with August. On one hand I hate that summer is coming to an end. And on the other hand, I love all the awesome, beautiful fresh produce that peaks during this month – I wait all year long for sweet, juicy peaches! My favorite way to enjoy them is super simple, all on their own. But I also like to bake with peaches, and this easy Peach Bars recipe is a family favorite. We love the soft, almond-flavored bar that’s layered with summertime’s sweetest peaches!
Why We Love These Peach Bars
The first time I made this bars recipe many years ago, our two daughters fell head over heels for it. The soft, tender bars and juicy fresh peaches won their little hearts! This easy peach dessert is a twist on a favorite childhood treat of mine, my mom’s cherry square bars. Here’s why we love it:
- When you don’t feel like making pie… Make peach bars! My mom’s peach pie is my favorite pie in the whole world, and this easy bars recipe definitely gives off that same vibe – but the bars are much quicker and easier to make!
- Highlights the best of the season. I think it’s difficult to find sweet, juicy peaches outside of August; I just never have any luck! So it’s fun to have recipes that let us indulge in their short season of perfection. Other favorites include peach bread and super easy peach cake.
- A crowd-pleaser. These bars are a great option for summer potlucks, picnics, and backyard bbq’s. You can even serve them straight from the pan, as an easy handheld dessert!
IngredientS Needed
Gather up these ingredients – let’s make this easy peach dessert! First you’ll make the base of the bars, then you’ll make the fresh peach filling and almond glaze. Scroll down to the printable recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredient amounts.
BARS
- Butter – Soften unsalted butter to room temperature so it mixes easily.
- Sugar – Granulated sugar sweetens the base of the bars.
- Eggs – This helps to bind the bars together, plus offers rich flavor and texture.
- Vanilla – Pure vanilla extract adds delicious flavor.
- Almond extract – Peaches and almond flavoring are so very lovely together. I add almond extract to the bars for a sweet, nutty note.
- Flour – Be sure to use the spoon & level method when measuring the all-purpose flour.
- Salt – A little bit of salt contrasts with the sweetness and heightens all the flavors.
PEACH FILLING
- Peaches – You’ll need about 5 cups of sliced fresh peaches for the filling. Make sure they’re sweet and juicy.
- Brown sugar – You can use light or dark brown sugar to accent the natural sweetness of the fruit.
- Spices – Ground cinnamon and a pinch of cardamom add delicious warm flavor and beautiful scent.
ALMOND GLAZE
- Powdered sugar – This provides the sweet base for the glaze.
- Cream – I use heavy cream to create the drizzly glaze, but half & half or whole milk will also work.
- Almond extract – For an extra hint of almond flavor.
Choosing Perfect Peaches
The perfect peach is deeply yellow and feels just slightly soft when you give it a gentle squeeze. Avoid peaches that are overly mushy or have visible bruising (you can use any over-ripe peaches for a batch of peach freezer jam). In addition, a perfectly ripe peach will smell sweet and peachy
I prefer to use ripe, fresh peaches for all my peach recipes to take advantage of peach season, but you can use frozen peaches if needed. Buy a bag of sliced peaches and add them to the filling in place of the fresh peaches. There’s no need to defrost the peaches, but do note that you may need to add a few more minutes of baking time if you use frozen peaches.
How to Make Peach Bars
Here’s a look at how to make this recipe. Find the detailed instructions in the recipe card lower down.
- Prepare. Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a 13” x 18″ rimmed sheet pan.
- Cream butter & sugar. In the bowl of an electric mixer cream together the butter and sugar.
- Beat in eggs. Beat in the eggs one at a time.
- Add remaining ingredients. Beat in the vanilla and almond extracts, flour, and salt.
- Spread dough in pan. Spread ¾ of the dough into the prepared pan.
- Mix peach filling. Fold together the peaches, brown sugar, cinnamon, and cardamom.
- Add peach filling. Spread the peach filling evenly over the dough.
- Dollop & bake. Drop the remaining ¼ of the dough over the peach layer in cobbler-like dollops, then bake for about 35 minutes.
- Mix the glaze. Stir together powdered sugar, cream, and almond extract.
- Add glaze. Drizzle the glaze over the cooled bars, then cut and serve.
Tips & Variation Ideas
Make this easy peach bar recipe as written, or play around with the spices and a few other additions. Or, use it as a base to incorporate other juicy seasonal fruit!
- Use BEST peaches. This is my #1 tip. If you don’t have sweet, juicy peaches, don’t even bother making this recipe. Blunt, I know. But it’s simply not worth your time otherwise!
- Don’t over bake. For bars that are perfectly moist and tender, be sure to not bake too long, which can make the bars dry.
- Other spices. Another lovely flavor that complements peaches is ginger. Try adding some ground ginger along with the cinnamon and cardamom.
- Use other stone fruit. You can substitute 5 cups of sliced yellow peaches with white peaches, yellow peaches, or nectarines. Plums are also lovely. Just make sure that whatever you use, that it’s sweet and juicy.
- Add almonds. If you like to include nuts, play up the almond flavor in these peach bars by sprinkling 1/2 cup of sliced almonds over the dough dollops at the end, right before you put the pan in the oven.
Storing Your Bars
These sweet peach bars keep very well, and you can freeze some for another time. Here are the best ways to store any leftover bars:
- Counter – Cover the bars tightly with a lid or foil, or move them to another airtight container. Store on the counter for up to 4 days.
- Fridge – Place the bars in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 6 days.
- Freezer – Cut the cooled bars into squares and place them in an airtight, freezer-safe container, with parchment paper in between layers, and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
More Peach Recipes
Peach Bars
Ingredients
Bars:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, at softened room temperature
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon pure almond extract
- 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon Morton kosher salt
Peach filling:
- 5 cups peeled and thinly-sliced, fresh ripe & juicy peaches (from about 4 to 5 large peaches)
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 pinch cardamom
Almond glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons cream
- ½ teaspoon pure almond extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a 13'' x 18" rimmed sheet pan with nonstick baking spray and set aside.
Bars:
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugar until smooth and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add eggs, one at a time, incorporating well after each addition.
- Add vanilla and almond extracts, and mix just to combine.
- Slowly add flour and salt, and mix until just incorporated.
- Spread ¾ of the bars dough into prepared pan in an even layer.
Peach filling:
- In a medium bowl, fold together the peaches, brown sugar, cinnamon, and cardamom.
- Add peach filling over the bars dough in an even layer.
- Using a teaspoon, drop the remaining ¼ of the bars dough over the peach layer, for a cobbler-like appearance.
- Bake for about 35 minutes, or until the edges start to turn golden brown.
Almond glaze:
- Stir together powdered sugar, cream, and almond extract until completely smooth. To thicken, add a little bit of powdered sugar. To thin, add a little bit of water. Drizzle glaze over the bars while the bars are still just slightly warm.
- Allow bars and glaze to cool completely. Then cut into squares and serve.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
This post was originally published in 2013, then updated in 2024.
Oh my goodness, I want to dive head first into one of the pictures you posted and never come out! I think we all agree, peaches are just one of the best fruits the summer has to offer. Headed to the market tomorrow and they are at the top of my list. Thanks Bremda and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Can summer never end?!? Oh I loved these bars and peaches!! So gorgeous and so delicious! I love that glaze on top too!
That looks absolutely delicious. I think I’ll try these with apples this Fall.
You are so right – apples would be lovely, too!
An absolutely lovely and perfect way to use my favorite summer fruit. Yum!
Thank you so much, Lana! :)
Brilliant! I’ve been making the cherry bars for years (Mom’s recipe) and never once thought of peaches. I cannot wait to give this a try. Thanks so much!!
Beautiful squares, I love the almond glaze!
I definitely want to try these!! Love this idea.
I just make these yesterday! How random =) They are delicious.
Sorry Brenda, I called you Robyn. I love your recipe. Have a wonderful weekend! I apologize.
No worries, Liz! ;)
Ummm! That looks great! Peaches are not quite ripe around here yet, so they are still costly. I love fresh peaches when they just at at their prime! Last year we picked some really good peaches. I hope to get to do that soon. Thanks for sharing your recipe!
My folks are bringing me a whole box of fresh peaches this weekend and I must make these!
I love peaches!! Your recipes looks so yummy!
Thanks Robyn – Love this recipe. Have a great weekend!
You had me at peach …
These look so good! Can’t wait to try them!
I’m sure everyone would agree that is one tray of beautiful happiness!
Peaches are the best. Always and forever one of my very favorite fruits! I never really thought of having them with almonds before, but it just sounds so amazing!
These look so yummy Brenda! I know I would like them even more than the cherry bars.
These look awesome! I’m a sucker for anything peach too, sweet or savory!
I’m in a peach-loving state of mind myself!!! This looks delicious!!! Thanks for sharing!!!