Grilled Peaches with Honey and Thyme

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Roasted peaches with a silky honey butter sauce and a sprinkle of thyme for an earthy and herbal note, topped off with melty ice cream and a dash of balsamic vinegar all come together to form a truly sophisticated dessert that you won’t believe is homemade – and super easy. All the flavor of peach cobbler without the hassle.

As a person with a sweet tooth, I get severe nighttime dessert cravings. I am always on the hunt for desserts, but never want to break out the flour and sugar, or wait for the oven to preheat (I might be a little impatient ;).) These honey thyme peaches are perfect for both late night snacking, and a dessert to serve after dinner at a party. It’s the kind of dessert you’d find at an expensive steak house, served in your own home in under 10 minutes.

What do I need to make this?

• A gas or charcoal grill is fine, but if you do not have a grill, or do not feel like dealing with one, then you can use the broiler in your oven. I made mine under the broiler, and they were completely delicious and smooth. Of course you will miss out on the aesthetically pleasing grill marks, but you won’t miss any of the taste.
• Ripe peaches. You can always test a peach for ripeness by giving it a gentle squeeze – perfect peaches should have a bit of a give.
• Honey.
• Butter.
• Black Pepper.
• Olive oil.
• Fresh thyme. You will want the sprigs of fresh thyme for this. The dried stuff won’t be the same.
• Ice cream. My favorite to serve with this is this French Vanilla Ice Cream, but any store bought or homemade ice cream will work. Something with a caramel or brown sugar flavor would be delicious.
• Balsamic Vinegar. I know how it sounds, but trust me. Balsamic vinegar is just the right blend of sweet and sour with a complex flavor that pairs great with desserts and ice cream.

How do I make Grilled Peaches?

First off is preparing your peaches; you want to halve and pit them. Because I’m a big dork and this dessert is so easy, this part is the hardest for me. If you have trouble having peaches perfectly, sliced peaches will work just as well for this recipe.

Now make your honey butter sauce. Melt your butter, then add in honey and black pepper in a small bowl and whisk it all together until smooth.

After your peaches are ready, brush the cut sides of the peach halves with a small amount of olive oil. Broil or grill cut side down until one side is cooked – it took my broiler about 3 minutes, and it should be slightly brown and bubbling. Flip the peaches, then drizzle with the honey butter sauce, then sprinkle with thyme. There should be some sauce leftover.

If you are cooking under a broiler, add some sprigs of thyme to the baking dish for even more thyme flavor. It should cook another 2-3 minutes, then it will be ready to serve. At this point, sprinkle with more pepper, if desired. If you cooked on a grill, there should be some beautiful grill grates, perfect for pictures on social media.

Serve the grilled peaches warm, top with ice cream, and drizzle with balsamic. These are not good for storage – they should really be eaten immediately, and warm. I recommend making some freshly whipped cream and mascarpone for the ultimate blend of flavors.

For another easy dessert, try my Brown Butter Pecan Rice Krispie Treats!