Grilled Peaches with Brown Sugar Bourbon Sauce

Grilled Peaches with Brown Sugar Bourbon Sauce, a summery grilled fruit dessert with peaches drizzled in Kentucky bourbon brown sugar sauce.

grilled peaches on a wood table with brown sugar bourbon sauce

Love peaches? Try them grilled! Grilling peaches is a delicious way to enjoy the sweet (and fuzzy) fruits we all look forward to each summer. Drizzled with a sauce made of brown sugar and bourbon, this recipe is a nod to the tasty flavors of the American South.

👉 Ready to learn how to make grilled peaches? Let’s do it!


🍑 Ingredients

  • Peaches: You’ll need 2 medium ripe peaches for this recipe. Grilling them releases new and complex flavors that you will not be able to get enough of.
  • Oil: Use a little oil to brush over the peaches before grilling.
  • Ice cream: Optionally, peaches can be topped with a scoop of ice cream when they’re ready to serve. Vanilla ice cream pairs really well, but you can use any flavor that you like.
  • For the sauce: Butter, brown sugar, and bourbon – the flavor match made in heaven that you will drizzle over the peaches after grilling. Bourbon has notes of vanilla, oak, and caramel flavors that do not overpower the peaches.
  • Recommended tools: small saucepan, grill
peaches, bourbon, brown sugar, butter, and oil on a white table
Ingredients: peaches, bourbon, brown sugar, butter, oil

🥣 How to make (step-by-step photos)

1️⃣ Step One: Get the grill ready + prepare the peaches

First, heat the grill to medium or medium-high. This temperature prevents the peaches from sticking to the grill and produces the coveted grill marks on the soft side of the fruit.

Cut the peaches down the middle, remove the pits, and brush lightly with oil to prevent sticking.

sliced peaches on a wood cutting board

2️⃣ Step Two: Grill the peaches

Next, lay the peaches facedown on the grill and let cook for 3-5 minutes.

After grilling soft-side down, flip peaches skin-side down and move to a higher grill rack that is not on direct heat (if available) and cook for another 3-5 minutes. While this is not crucial, it does allow the rest of the peach to soften more evenly throughout.

👉 Grilled fruit tip: Refrain from moving the peaches while grilling. To make the nice grill marks, you should leave the fruit on the grill for at least 3 minutes.

grilled peach halves on a barbecue grill

3️⃣ Step Three: Make the sauce

While the peaches are cooking on the grill, make the brown sugar bourbon reduction sauce.

Bring butter, brown sugar, and bourbon to a simmer in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir occasionally and simmer for about 5 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.

This sauce is light enough that it doesn’t mask the peaches while also lending a new level of flavor.

a suacepan with brown sugar bourbon sauce

4️⃣ Step Four: Serve!

Place two peach halves on a plate. Top each peach half with 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream (optional) and then drizzle with the brown sugar bourbon sauce. Enjoy!


❓ Recipe questions + quick tips

What liquor goes with grilled peaches?

We love pairing grilled peaches with liquor-based sauces that do not overpower their flavor. Bourbon works great, as its warm flavors complement the sweetness of the peaches. You could also try them with rum or amaretto.

Should peaches be ripe to grill?

Peaches should be just ripe enough if you’re going to grill them. You don’t want them too be too ripe, as the sugar they contain will burn quickly and they will be too tender to take the heat. On the other hand, you don’t want them to be underripe, either, because they won’t have the flavor that you’re looking for.

Does grilling peaches make them sweeter?

Grilling peaches intensifies the flavor of the natural sugars in peaches, which results in a sweet, slightly carmelized taste. This is what makes them perfect for dessert on a summer evening!

grilled peach halves on a table with drizzled sauce

💡 Ideas for serving

Our favorite way to enjoy grilled peaches is as a dessert. If you’re looking for other ways to enjoy them, here are a few ideas:

  • Add to your breakfast: You can add grilled peaches to breakfast classics like oatmeal, pancakes, and even yogurt. They’re a great way to add a summer-themed seasonal kick to your morning routine!
  • Enjoy as a snack: Have a grilled peach as an afternoon pick-me-up. Pair it with a handful of nuts and seeds or granola to make it more balanced!

🧊 How to store

We love how easy it is to store this tasty fruit dessert! You can make grilled peaches ahead and store them using these tips:

  1. Refrigerator storage: Store grilled peaches in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within 3-4 days. Store the sauce separately, and drizzle it over the peaches when ready to serve.
  2. Freezer storage (if applicable): We do not recommend keeping grilled peaches in the freezer.
grilled peaches on a wood table

👉 More fruity dessert recipes

Want more fruit-filled dessert recipes? We’ve got you covered:

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Grilled Peaches with Brown Sugar Bourbon Sauce

4.60 stars (5 ratings)
Grilled Peaches with Brown Sugar Bourbon Sauce, a summery grilled fruit dessert with Georgia peaches drizzled in Kentucky bourbon brown sugar sauce.
grilled peach halves on a table with drizzled sauce
Servings: 2 servings
Author: Kristina Todini, RDN
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients 

Grilled Peaches

  • 2 medium peaches
  • 1 teaspoon oil
  • Optional 2 scoops ice cream 1 per serving

Brown Sugar Bourbon Sauce

  • ¼ cup bourbon
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon butter

Instructions

  • Get the grill ready. Start by heating the grill to medium or medium-high.
  • Prepare the peaches. Cut peaches in half and remove pits. Lightly brush the soft side with oil.
  • Grill the peaches. Lay peaches face down on the grill and let cook for 3-5 minutes. Optional: then move peaches skin-side down to a higher rack and let cook another 3-5 minutes to allow them to soften throughout.
  • Make the sauce. While peaches are cooking, bring butter, brown sugar, and bourbon to a simmer in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir occasionally and simmer for about 5 minutes, or until sauce thickens.
  • Serve. Place two peach halves on a plate, top with 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzle with brown sugar bourbon sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 183kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 2gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 0.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 31mgPotassium: 240mgFiber: 2gSugar: 22gVitamin A: 501IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 22mgIron: 1mg

Notes

  • Leftovers and storage: Store grilled peaches in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy within 3-4 days. Store the sauce separately, and drizzle it over the peaches when ready to serve.
  • Nutrition notes: Nutrition information is an estimate. Nutrition was calculated without optional ice cream.
Course Desserts + Sweets
Cuisine American
Keyword grilled peaches, grilled peaches bourbon sauce

UPDATE: This recipe was originally published in 2017 and was update with new photos and instructions in June 2022.

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