July is the perfect time for summer peaches. I found some fantastic Jersey peaches near Ocean City, NJ, for $1 a pound (not something you can find on the island of Manhattan) and since you need several pounds of peaches for this pie, it was a great find.
The subtle sweet flavor of summer peaches are a great canvas for a pie. I like to keep my peach pie relatively straight forward, as peach juice can easily be overpowered by stronger flavors (save your cinnamon for fall!).
I recently made this pie with an almond crumb topping. I would also be great as a traditional double crust pie. Enjoy!
Summer Peach Pie
Yields one 9-inch pie
Ingredients
One double crust dough recipe, or single crust (if using optional crumb topping recipe below), recipe here
3 pounds ripe local peaches (approximately 10), halved, pitted, and cut into 1/2-inch slices
2 tablespoons light-brown sugar
3 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
To pre-bake the pie crust
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Roll out ½ of a double crust pie dough recipe and pre-bake with pie weights for 20 minutes, as directed here. Set aside to cool. Keep oven preheated to 425 while you assemble the pie.
To assemble the pie
Combine the sugar, flour and nutmeg in a small bowl. Sprinkle the dry ingredients over the sliced peaches and gently toss until combine and peaches are coated. Pour the peaches into the prepared pie shell, mounding slightly in the center. Sprinkle the crumb topping over the peaches (recipe below) or roll out the second half of the pie dough, lay over the peaches, vent, brush with egg wash (one egg, beaten with a pinch of salt) and sprinkle with sugar.
Place the pie on foil lined baking sheet and place on a rack in the lower third of the oven. Cover the crust of the pie with foil to prevent it from burning while cooking.
Bake the pie at 425 degrees for 20 minutes, then turn the heat down to 375 degrees and bake for an additional 40- 50 minutes or until the pie is golden brown all over and the filling is bubbling over.
Cool the pie completely at room temperature and store, uncovered (to keep the topping crisp!) at room temperature. Enjoy within 48 hours, or refrigerate for a longer shelf life. Serve it with your favorite ice cream, or this recipe for Sour ice cream.
Crumb topping (optional)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons butter, chilled and cut in pieces
1/2 cup slivered almonds (or other chopped nut of choice)
Combine the flour with the sugar and salt. Add the cold butter and mix with your fingertips, gently crushing the bits of butter until they are broken into smaller pebbles and the mixture resembles a streusel. Gently toss in the nuts. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Very interesting that you did not take the skins off the peaches or maybe I just didn’t catch that in the directions. It looks yummy. We’re not quite to local peaches here yet, soon….
Good catch! I like keeping the skins on to help maintain the integrity of the slices, but I know a lot of people prefer to remove them!