A summer peach dessert combining crumb bars and peach cobbler into juicy Peach Crumb Bars - made healthier with whole wheat flour, coconut oil and Greek yogurt.
We brought an abundance of wonderful, ripe peaches from our recent trip to the Okanagan, BC and I couldn’t wait to bake them into something sweet.
I wanted to share these awesome peach crumb bars recipe with you yesterday already. But… my camera was on strike. Or maybe it was my laptop. Either way, I couldn't get the pictures of the peach bars from the camera onto my laptop. I even tried on my husbands computer, but the same error message occurred... So strange. Anyway, here we are now and that's what matters.
I Found a Way to Upload Photos and Finish the Post For You!
As such, my (somewhat pathetic point and shoot) camera uses a miniSD, so I couldn't just put it into my laptops card reader. I had almost given up on this post and my camera - a new one is on the way already (yay!) but more on that in another post.
Well, this great recipe was saved by the Dollar Store. While not even looking for it, we found a USB multi card reader for a few bucks. This cheapo piece of plastic will probably not last very long, but it was good enough to transfer a few pictures.
You cannot imagine my joy. Because... Well, this recipe is really awesome and you really shouldn't miss out on this. But I also know that none of you would make these, if I posted it without pictures. A fact of the visionary world we live in these days. I want to give you the best chance to understand and to enjoy the recipe.
The Recipe
Back to the Peach Crumble Bars. There is a juicy peach filling in the center (this could probably be made with frozen peaches, thawed and drained as well). The bottom crust and crumbs on top are the same thing, so you only have to whip up one batch.
And it is made healthier too, by using part whole wheat flour, coconut oil and there even is Greek yogurt in here. To add a little more crunch and sparkle to the crumb topping, I sprinkled coarse sugar on just before baking.
Ingredients
- Peaches, diced
- Orange juice
- Orange zest
- Sugar, white
- Sugar, brown
- Cornstarch
- Cinnamon
- Ginger, ground
- Flour, all-purpose
- Flour, whole wheat
- Baking powder
- Sea salt
- Coconut oil or cold butter, cut into pieces
- Egg
- Greek yogurt or sour cream
- Vanilla, extract
- Turbinado sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven, line baking pan with parchment.
- Pit and dice peaches, toss with orange juice and zest.
- Combine white sugar, brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, and ginger. Sprinkle over peaches, toss to coat.
- Whisk together flours, baking powder, and salt.
- Cut in cold coconut oil or butter until crumbly.
- Combine egg, Greek yogurt, and vanilla. Stir into flour mix.
- Add remaining sugars, stir to combine.
- Press ⅔ of mixture into baking dish.
- Spread peaches over bottom layer.
- Sprinkle remaining dough (crumb mix) over peaches, sprinkle with coarse sugar.
- Bake until golden brown. Serve warm with scoop of vanilla ice cream or cool and cut into bars.
Random Questions
Peach pairs exceptionally well with flavors such as vanilla, cinnamon, almond, and even ginger. These combinations can enhance the natural sweetness and aroma of the peaches, creating a delightful and well-balanced flavor profile.
Herbs such as basil and thyme can complement the sweetness of peaches beautifully. The aromatic and slightly savory notes of these herbs can create an intriguing contrast that highlights the peach's natural taste.
To enhance the flavor of peaches, consider grilling or roasting them to bring out their natural sweetness. Additionally, adding a touch of honey, a sprinkle of cinnamon, or a splash of lemon juice can elevate the taste and add complexity to the overall flavor profile.
The number of peaches needed to make 4 cups can vary depending on the size and ripeness of the peaches. On average, it takes approximately 6 to 8 medium-sized peaches to yield 4 cups of sliced peaches. Adjust the quantity accordingly based on the size and juiciness of the peaches you have.
Other Peach Recipes
Recipe
Healthier Whole Wheat Peach Crumb Bars
Ingredients
- 2 ½ c peaches diced; about 4 small peaches
- 1 tablespoon orange juice freshly squeezed
- ½ teaspoon orange zest
- ½ c white sugar divided
- 6 tablespoon brown sugar divided
- 1 ¾ tablespoon cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ginger ground
- 1 c all-purpose flour
- ½ c whole wheat flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 4 tablespoon solid coconut oil or 6 tablespoon cold butter, cut into pieces
- 1 small egg
- ⅛ c greek yogurt or sour cream
- ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar for sprinkling.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 F. Line a 8x8 inch baking dish with parchment paper, allowing for overhang on the sides.
- Pit and dice peaches, you could also peel them if preferred. Toss peaches with orange juice and orange zest. In a small bowl combine ¼ cup white sugar, 2 tablespoon brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon and ginger. Sprinkle over peach mixture and toss until evenly coated; set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl whisk together flours, baking powder and salt. Using a fork or pastry cutter cut in cold coconut oil (or butter) until mixture looks like crumbs. In a small bowl combine egg, Greek yogurt and vanilla. Stir into flour mix until well incorporated. Add remaining ½ cup white and 4 tablespoon brown sugar and stir to combine.
- Firmly press ⅔ of the mixture into prepared baking dish. Toss peaches one more time and spread over bottom crumb layer. Sprinkle remaining crumb mix over peaches and sprinkle with coarse white or turbinado sugar.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes until golden brown. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or cool and cut into bars. My family prefers these peach bars fresh and still warm from the oven.
Notes
Pin this Whole Wheat Peach Crumb Bars Recipe for later?
If it were up to me, I would always to top these bars with a scoop of freshly churned vanilla ice cream. Wondering how to churn fresh ice cream at home? Check out my buying guide for the best ice cream makers here.
Other Recipes
Do you like baking with fruit as much as I do? Here are some of my other 'fruity' dessert recipes:
Recipe adapted from CookingClassy.
Jacquee
So pleased you were able to get the images from your camera - would have been a shame to not share these! All the fruits seem so much better this year - must be the extra rain. To your question - I am not a huge fan of cooked fruit, with the exception of blueberries, but it sure looks amazing! 🙂
Regina
Oh yeah, I sure was glad to save the pictures. Now that you say it, I have some other bars that involve blueberries in the works. I bet you would love that!