Fresh Peach Oatmeal Bars with Almond Crumble

These Fresh Peach Oatmeal Bars are so easy to make and are the perfect combination of soft and chewy.

This is one of my favorite desserts to make during peach season.

Peach Crumble Bars are the perfect way to use up extra peaches before they spoil.

Serve them warm, cold, or at room temperature. Top them with ice cream or whipped cream for an easy summer dessert.

Looking for more delicious summer fruit desserts? Try this Peach Creme Brulee, these Plum Oatmeal Bars, these Blueberry Creme Brulees, or these Raspberry Cupcakes.

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Why You Will Love This Recipe
Recipe Ingredients
Substitutions and Variations
Step by Step Directions
Serving Suggestions
Recipe FAQs
Expert Tips
More Dessert Recipes
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Why You Will Love This Recipe

These Peach Oatmeal Bars use the same dough for both the top and bottom crust making them super simple to make.
Fresh juicy peaches and wholesome crisp oats are the perfect combination.
These bars are easily adaptable by swapping in your favorite fresh fruit. Modify the peach mixture by using strawberries, blueberries, apricots, or raspberries instead of peaches.

Recipe Ingredients

There are just a few simple ingredients necessary to make this delicious Baked Oatmeal Peach Bars.

Peach bar ingredients on a white surface.

Old Fashioned Oats: Do not use instant or steel-cut oats. Old-fashioned oats are the perfect size and texture for these bars.

Unsalted Butter: It is important to use cold butter so that your topping is crumbly rather than smooth like cookie dough.

Corn Starch: Cornstarch is used to thicken the plumb juice while the bars bake. It does not need to be dissolved in additional liquid and can be sprinkled over the fruit before adding the final layer.

Fresh Peaches: Choose peaches with golden yellow skin and no tinges of green that feel heavy for their size. The stem cavity of a peach should be yellow and not green.

Ripe fruit should yield to gentle pressure and is intensely fragrant. There have been many times I have been walking through the produce section of the grocery store and have stopped to follow my nose to some delicious peaches.

Peeled or unpeeled the choice is up to you. Leaving the peel on is easier and I don't notice the peel once the peaches are baked.

If you decide to peel the peaches blanching the peaches first will make peeling them easier.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Substitutions and Variations

Peaches: No fresh peaches? You could also substitute peach butter/jam, thawed and drained frozen peaches, or drained canned peaches.

Change the flavor of these peach crumb bars by using different fruits. Try swapping in strawberries, plums, blueberries, nectarines, apricots, or raspberries instead of peaches.

Almonds: Try substituting your favorite nut like walnuts or pecans for the almonds.

Step by Step Directions

Step 1: Line a 9 x 9-inch baking pan with parchment paper allowing the ends to extend over two of the sides, spray with nonstick spray, and set aside. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and position an oven rack at the top of the oven.

Peach bar dry ingredients whisked together in a glass bowl.

Step 2: In a medium bowl, stir together the oats, all-purpose flour, sugar, brown sugar, almonds, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.

Peach bar crust ingredients mixed together in a glass bowl.

Step 3: Add the melted butter and almond extract. Stir until crumbly.

Step 4: Press half of the dough into the bottom of the prepared pan and bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden brown on the edges.

Diced peaches coated with cornstarch in a metal bowl.

Step 5: While the crust is baking, chop four large peaches into 1-inch pieces. In a large bowl coat the peaches with the cornstarch.

Step 6: Layer the sliced peaches in an even layer over the baked crust and sprinkle the remaining crumb topping on top of the peaches.

Bake for 30-40 minutes until the crust is light golden brown.

Cool to room temperature then refrigerate for one hour. Use the parchment paper to lift the bars from the pan and cut them into squares.

Serving Suggestions

Have one of these peach crumb bars for breakfast with a cup of coffee, serve them as an afternoon snack, or amazing after-dinner dessert.

Room temperature. Remove the bars from the refrigerator and set them out for about 30 minutes to come to room temperature.
Cold: If you prefer a firmer texture, serve the bars straight from the refrigerator.
Warm: Warm the peach bars in the microwave for about 10 seconds. Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or freshly made whipped cream.

Recipe FAQs

What is the best way to store fresh peaches?

If your peaches need a few more days to ripen, the best place to store them is on the counter at room temperature. Place them stem-side down in a single layer to avoid bruising.

Once peaches are perfectly ripe they should be stored in the refrigerator. The cold air will dramatically slow down the ripening process. Peaches will usually stay fresh in the refrigerator for five days.

Do you need to peel the peaches?

Peeling the peaches is optional but I prefer the texture of these bars when they are made with peeled peaches.

How do you cut peach bars smoothly?

For neater slices, allow the bars to cool for at least an hour before cutting. This will allow the peach filling to set. Use the parchment paper sling to lift the bars from the baking pan. Use a large serrated knife to easily cut even pieces.

How do you store peach oatmeal bars?

Store peach bars in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to one week.

To Freeze: Cool the peach bars completely and cut them into squares. Place the squares on a wax paper or parchment paper-lined baking sheet and freeze until solid, about 2 hours.

Layer the bars in a storage container separating each layer with sheets of wax paper or parchment paper. Bars can be frozen for up to 3 months.

To Thaw: place in the refrigerator overnight.

Expert Tips

Make the crumb base/topping ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator or freezer. You can also double the recipe and keep extra in your freezer for future use.
No fresh peaches? Substitute a good peach jam in place of the fresh peaches or try using thawed frozen or drained canned peaches.
Baking times for all recipes are only suggestions. The actual baking time will vary depending on your oven. It is helpful to know your oven and worth purchasing an inexpensive oven thermometer. Oven temperatures can vary as much as 50 degrees plus or minus.
Refrigerating the bars for at least an hour before cutting ensures easy clean cuts.
Customize these bars by substituting your favorite stone fruit like plums, nectarines, or apricots for the peaches.

More Dessert Recipes

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