Classic Peach Pie Recipe (2024)

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The pure, sweet flavor of ripe peaches sing in this iconic dessert—perfect on its own or even better served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

By

Lauren Weisenthal

Classic Peach Pie Recipe (1)

Lauren Weisenthal

Lauren Weisenthal was the author of the Pie of the Week and Sweet Technique columns for Serious Eats. From 2017–2021, she ran a restaurant called The Nightingale in Vinalhaven, Maine.

Learn about Serious Eats'Editorial Process

Updated October 22, 2023

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Classic Peach Pie Recipe (2)

Why It Works

  • Peeling the peaches (an optional step) results in a pie filling with the best flavor and texture.
  • Tossing the sliced peaches with cornstarch (or tapioca starch) thickens the juices exuded by the fruit as it bakes.
  • Thoroughly chilling the pie dough before and after filling and assembly keeps the crust crisp and not overly greasy.
  • Sprinkling sugar over the pie before baking lightly caramelizes the top crust.

Local peaches are truly perfection—they're juicy, sweet, and amazingly fragrant. Few things beat the taste of a perfect sun-ripened peach, with the possible exception of buttery peach pie, especially when served with ice cream.

When selecting peaches for pie, choose those with darker-hued skin and bright yellow-orange flesh. These peaches are generically known as "yellow peaches", and Reliance and Sweet Scarlet are the most well-known varieties. They have the best balance of acidity and sweetness for pie, as opposed to "white peach" varieties which tend to skew more sweet and mellow (these are great raw, a little too sweet for baking). For the perfect pie filling, be sure to buy peaches at the peak of ripeness; the skin should easily bruise with the lightest amount of pressure.

Classic Peach Pie Recipe (3)

Many bakers prefer to remove the skins from peaches when using them for pie filling, as some find the skin's texture unpleasant and are put off by its slightly bitter flavor. If you plan to remove the skins, it is imperative that the peaches be completely ripe—if they are not, the skins will not come off easily. (See the notes section below for specific instructions.)

What are you waiting for? Grab some peaches and let's make pie! Serve it up at a late summer barbecue or afternoon picnic.

August 2011

Recipe Details

Classic Peach Pie Recipe

Prep10 mins

Cook45 mins

Active30 mins

Chilling Time20 mins

Total75 mins

Serves8to 10 servings

Ingredients

  • One recipe easy pie dough, one half shaped and chilled in a pie plate, the other rolled out flat and chilled on a floured sheet pan

  • 4 pounds fresh, ripe yellow peaches, (peeled, if desired; see note), pitted, and cut into 1/8ths

  • 1/2 cup sugar, plus more for sprinkling on top

  • 1/4 cupcornstarch or small-grain instant tapioca

  • Zest of 1 lime

  • Egg wash (1 large egg and 1 large pinch of salt, beaten)

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, combine peach slices, sugar, cornstarch or tapioca, and lime zest. Toss the mixture until the peaches are evenly coated, then pour into the prepared, chilled pie shell.

  2. Cover the fruit with the prepared, chilled top crust, shape as desired. Chill the shaped pie for at least 20 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).

  3. Brush the top of the chilled pie with egg wash just before baking. Sprinkle with sugar and bake for 15 minutes, rotating the pie halfway through. After 15 minutes, lower the oven temperature to 375°F (190°C) and continue baking for 30 to 40 minutes, rotating again halfway through. Bake until the top is golden brown the the filling is bubbling all over.

Special Equipment

9-inch pie plate

Notes

To remove peach skins, bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and set up a large bowl of cold water and ice next to the stove. Using tongs, add the peaches to the boiling water three or four at a time and allow them to boil for 30-40 seconds, fully submerged. Then, lift the peaches out of the hot water and plunge them into the ice water bath. Allow them to sit completely submerged in the ice water for 1 minute. Once the peaches are cool, the skins will rub right off the peach flesh, and they're ready for baking.

Read More

  • Freeform Peach Pie (Galette)
  • Classic Biscuit-Topped Peach Cobbler
  • Rustic Apricot-Peach Crostata
  • Peach Melba
  • Pies
  • Baking
  • Peach
  • Summer Desserts
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
416Calories
16g Fat
67g Carbs
5g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8to 10
Amount per serving
Calories416
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 16g20%
Saturated Fat 5g26%
Cholesterol 19mg6%
Sodium 245mg11%
Total Carbohydrate 67g24%
Dietary Fiber 4g15%
Total Sugars 34g
Protein 5g
Vitamin C 12mg61%
Calcium 23mg2%
Iron 2mg9%
Potassium 402mg9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Classic Peach Pie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you have to peel peaches for a peach pie? ›

For perfect pie filling, be sure to buy peaches at the peak of ripeness; the skin should easily bruise with the lightest amount of pressure. Many bakers prefer to remove the skins from peaches when using them for pie filling, as some find the skin's texture unpleasant and are put off by its slightly bitter flavor.

What is peach pie filling made of? ›

Place peaches in a large bowl, sprinkle with lemon juice, and mix gently. Mix together sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a separate bowl. Pour over peaches and mix until combined. Pour into pie crust and dot with butter.

What kind of peaches are best for pie? ›

Two popular varieties for pies are the Sun Haven Peach, since it resists browning and its wonderfully "peachy" flavor shines through even when cooked and Intrepid Peach, which has high marks in flavor and texture when baked – on top of coming from a hardy and disease-resistant tree.

What's the difference between a peach pie and a peach cobbler? ›

The biggest difference between a cobbler and a pie is the placement of the dough. Pies have, at a minimum, a bottom crust with the fruit placed on top, while a cobbler has the fruit on the bottom and a dolloped dough on top instead.

What is the best thickener for peach pie? ›

We like tapioca in blueberry, cherry or peach pies. Arrowroot, unlike cornstarch, is not broken down by the acid in the fruit you are using so it is a good choice for fruit with a higher content of acidity such as strawberries or blackberries.

How many peaches make 5 cups? ›

About 2 medium peaches = 1 cup sliced peaches. About 4 medium peaches = 1 cup pureed peach. About 3 medium peaches = 1 pound of peaches.

What is funeral pie made of? ›

Vintage Funeral Pie Recipe is an old-fashioned dessert that is made from raisins, spices, and walnuts. It was traditionally made by the Amish, but this sugary pie fits right into a Southern cook's recipe box.

Why is my peach pie so watery? ›

In order for the starch in your pie to set, whether you use flour, cornstarch, tapioca, or arrowroot, you need to let the pie cool completely before cutting it. If you slice it too soon, the starch won't gel and it will be runny.

What is the best thickener for pie filling? ›

Tapioca-it's not just for pudding! This old-school ingredient may be what your great grandmother used to thicken her pies, and it's still great for making a perfect fruit pie with a clear, stable filling. Tapioca is derived from cassava (also known as yuca or manioc), a starchy root native to South America.

What is the tastiest peach? ›

The darling little donut peach, also known as the Saturn peach, is often considered the sweetest peach variety. This heirloom variety looks like a typical peach — that's been smushed! They're soft and tender with less acidity than their yellow-skinned counterparts.

What is the most flavorful peach? ›

Donut peaches are small, squished-looking fruits that some people consider the sweetest of all. They come in white-fleshed varieties that are soft, juicy and super sweet. Other contenders for the sweetest peach are Redhaven, Red Globe, Polly and Elberta varieties.

Are canned or frozen peaches better for baking? ›

If peaches aren't in season and you don't have any frozen peaches on hand, you can use canned peaches for most baked recipes. Keep in mind that canned peaches are cooked (even if they're raw packed), so they'll be softer and more tender compared to the texture of a fresh or frozen peach.

Is cobbler dough the same as pie crust? ›

Cobbler is sometimes described as a kind of fruit pie, but strictly speaking, the two are different. Pies are made from pastry, rather than biscuit batter, and they are fully encased, with a crust at the top and the bottom, while cobblers typically only have a topping.

Is it better to use fresh or canned peaches for cobbler? ›

Fresh peaches are best for cobbler, though you can get away with unsweetened frozen peaches. If using frozen peaches, thaw, chop, and blot them dry before using. Readers have raved about this dessert using frozen, thawed peaches. Canned peaches are not ideal because they're already too soft and mushy.

Can I substitute frozen peaches for fresh in a pie? ›

The next time you make a scrumptious cake, pie, smoothie, or batch of preserves, you can save yourself valuable time and effort by using frozen peaches in place of fresh ones. For most baked goods, it's as easy as tossing them in as-is.

How do you remove the skin from peaches for a pie? ›

Instructions
  1. Boil a pot of water, large enough to submerge several peaches.
  2. Once boiling, reduce heat to simmer. ...
  3. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the peaches from the pot, into a bowl full of ice water to cool.
  4. Once cooled, the peach skin should be very easy to pull away gently with your hands.
Mar 12, 2021

What is the easiest way to peel peaches for a pie? ›

Though using one might work just fine for firm peaches, a ripe, juicy peach won't hold up to the peeler, and you'll likely lose a lot of the tasty flesh in the process. The best way to peel a peach is to actually place it in boiling water for about 30 seconds, then simply remove the loosened skin using your fingertips.

Is it OK to eat the skin on a peach? ›

Peach skin is edible and is the source of much of the antioxidants and fiber found in peaches, but it also may contain more pesticides than the flesh of the fruit. As with any produce, it's a good practice to wash peaches before eating them.

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