These Air Fryer Peaches are a favorite quick summer dessert when I don’t want to heat up the oven. In about 15 minutes the peaches become warm and jammy beneath a buttery, cinnamon-brown-sugar topping, with tender, juicy centers that beg for a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of yogurt, or a sprinkle of granola. They’re incredibly simple to make and showcase fresh peaches at their best.
The Easiest Peach Season Treat
My air fryer gets a lot of use during peach season. These air fried peaches are delightfully straightforward: ripe fruit is softened and caramelized, while a light brown sugar and butter topping enhances the peaches’ natural flavor rather than masking it. For best results, choose peaches that smell sweet and give slightly to gentle pressure, yet remain firm enough to hold their shape while cooking.
The recipe below makes enough for two servings, but it’s easy to double or triple and cook in batches. I often serve them with vanilla Greek yogurt and granola or toasted pecans for texture. They’re also excellent with ice cream for dessert or simply enjoyed warm for breakfast or a snack. If you don’t have an air fryer, there’s a short oven method in the notes.
Helpful Tips & Variations
- Pick ripe but firm peaches. Look for fruit that smells sweet near the stem and yields slightly when pressed. Very firm peaches may not soften enough; overly soft or bruised peaches can fall apart during cooking.
- Leave the skin on or peel as you prefer. The skin helps peach halves hold together as they soften. If you or your family dislike peach skin, you can peel them first, but peeled peaches will be more delicate.
- Use softened butter and spread it evenly. Soft butter mixes smoothly with brown sugar and cinnamon and spreads across the cut surface for even caramelization.
- Watch for tenderness and caramelization. The peaches are ready when a fork slips into the thickest part and the topping is glossy, bubbly, and lightly darkened. Remove them before the sugar becomes too dark or the fruit loses its shape.
- Adjust batch sizes to fit your air fryer. This recipe serves two; larger quantities can be cooked in multiple batches depending on your air fryer capacity.
Air Fryer Peaches
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 medium ripe peaches, halved and pitted
- 2 Tbsp butter, room temperature
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp vanilla
- Pinch of salt
- Granola or chopped toasted pecans, for topping
- Vanilla Greek yogurt or ice cream, for serving
Instructions
- Wash and dry the peaches. Slice each peach in half along the natural seam and remove the pits.
- Line the air fryer basket with a paper liner or parchment and arrange the peach halves cut-side down in a single layer.
- Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 5 minutes to soften the cut sides.
- While the peaches cook, combine the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and a pinch of salt in a small bowl until smooth.
- Flip the peaches cut-side up and spread the butter mixture evenly over each half.
- Air fry at 350°F for another 7–10 minutes, checking at 7 minutes, until the peaches are tender and the topping is glossy and slightly caramelized.
- Transfer warm peaches to plates or bowls, top with granola or toasted pecans, and serve with vanilla Greek yogurt or ice cream.
Notes
Best fruit: Use fresh, ripe peaches that aren’t rock hard. Both yellow and white peaches work well; nectarines are a good alternative.
Oven instructions: If you prefer the oven, place the peach halves in a parchment-lined baking dish and bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 30 minutes, until tender and caramelized.
Nutrition
Calories: 213 kcal |
Carbohydrates: 27 g |
Protein: 2 g |
Fat: 12 g
Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary based on the exact ingredients and portion sizes you use.
How to Make Air Fryer Peaches Step by Step
Gather your ingredients: peaches, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, salt, and any toppings you like.
Prepare the peaches: Wash and dry 2 medium ripe peaches. Slice along the natural seam, twist the halves apart, and remove the pits. Keep the halves intact so they cook evenly.
Soften in the air fryer: Place a paper liner in the air fryer basket and arrange the peach halves cut-side down. Air fry at 350°F for 5 minutes. The cut sides should look slightly softened but still firm enough to flip.
Make the cinnamon butter: Stir 2 Tbsp softened butter, 2 Tbsp brown sugar, ½ tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp vanilla, and a pinch of salt until smooth.
Flip and top: Turn the peach halves cut-side up and spread the butter mixture evenly from edge to edge. Return to the air fryer and cook at 350°F for 7–10 more minutes, checking at 7 minutes. The peaches are done when the topping bubbles and the fruit is tender.
Finish and serve: Transfer the peaches to plates or bowls, top with granola or chopped toasted pecans, and serve with vanilla Greek yogurt or a scoop of ice cream. Enjoy warm.
Serving Suggestions
Two peach halves count as one serving. My favorite pairing is vanilla Greek yogurt and crunchy granola, but chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds are all great choices. For a sweeter dessert, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt. A drizzle of caramel or a spoonful of whipped cream makes the peaches extra indulgent. For breakfast, spoon warm peaches and their juices over oatmeal or top pancakes for a fruity twist.
Storing Leftovers
If you have leftovers, let the peaches cool completely, then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2–3 days.
Reheating
Reheat briefly in the air fryer at 325°F for a few minutes or warm in the microwave until heated through. They’re also delicious served cold.
Freezing
Freezing isn’t recommended for this preparation; thawed peaches will be much softer and lose their caramelized texture.
More Easy Peach Desserts
- Mini Peach Pies — small hand pies filled with jammy cinnamon peaches.
- Peach Cobbler Cheesecake Bars — layers of shortbread, cheesecake, cinnamon peaches, and crumble.
- Blackberry-Peach Crisp — juicy fruit under a buttery oat topping.
- Peach Dump Cake — a simple warm dessert served with vanilla ice cream.
I hope you love this easy, delicious recipe. If you try it, please leave a rating or note about what you liked and any tweaks you made.