Sweet and smoky Bourbon Glazed Grilled Peaches make an indulgent and mouthwatering dessert. Combine with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of Bourbon Sauce and you have a decadent dessert for a backyard BBQ or a sweet treat to serve with cocktails on the patio.

Peaches

Sweet and juicy peaches in summer are perfect for grilling. Paired with a bourbon sauce on the grill and you have a perfect fruit to accompany a bowl of ice cream. Bourbon-glazed grilled peaches are a summer favourite in our house.

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Summer Peaches

Summer is the perfect time for peaches. In Ontario, peaches are in season from July to September. This is when you find baskets from local farmers in every grocery store. They are readily available at farmers’ markets and roadside stands.

Peaches are usually used to make cobblers and crisps. They are also delicious as a topping for pancakes and waffles, or a bowl of oatmeal. And when they are grilled with a bourbon glaze, they add so much more flavour to your cobblers and crisps.

Picking Peaches

When choosing peaches, they should have smooth skin and a sweet aroma. Peaches should be firm but not hard. Avoid bruised or wrinkled skin.

Local peaches are usually your best bet. They have travelled less, meaning they were probably picked a day or two before hitting the markets.

Store peaches in the fridge in a single layer until ready to use. Before grilling, peaches should be brought to room temperature.

What Bourbon is Best

There are many types of bourbon you can choose to use to make the glaze. Our favourite bourbon for cooking is Maker’s Mark because it is sweeter and warmer than others. Sweeter varieties of bourbon add not only sweetness but enhance the flavour of the peaches.

Other Ingredients for Making Bourbon Glazed Grilled Peaches

The glaze is only three ingredients. Bourbon, brown sugar and butter.

Brown Sugar: There are different colours of brown sugar. Depending on your tastes you can use any brown sugar in this recipe. Light brown sugar will produce a lighter, caramel flavour and light colour. For a deeper colour and richer flavour, use dark brown sugar, which will also add more texture to the sauce.

Butter: This is where I don’t compromise anything. Real butter is used, not margarine. The flavour is just not the same as using margarine. I prefer salted butter for this recipe. Unsalted butter can be used, although the flavour will be different. Salt in the butter enhances the caramel flavour in the sauce.

Gas or Charcoal?

I have used both gas and charcoal for grilling peaches.

When in a hurry, the gas grill is my choice. The sauce is made on the side burner of the grill, making this a recipe completely made outside.

Charcoal is used when I have more time or if it is already lit for another reason. Again I use my gas grill’s side burner for making the sauce, then grill the peaches over the charcoal.

Using charcoal is a great way to add some smoky flavour by adding some wood chips. Wood chips come in a variety of flavours, a couple of our favourites are maple bourbon and Jack Daniels brand. Fruit woods are not recommended if you want the true flavour to be peach.

Uses for Bourbon Glazed Grilled Peaches

One of our favourite ways to serve Bourbon Glazed Grilled Peaches is topped with vanilla ice cream and bourbon sauce leftover from the peaches. I double the recipe for the glaze and store it in the fridge in a Mason jar. Then I reheat a little of the sauce in a saucepan or microwave to top peaches and ice cream.

Grilled peaches are also great in homemade ice cream. I chop the peaches and add them to homemade vanilla ice cream during the last churning.

These peaches can also be added to plain yogurt with some granola for an afternoon snack.