There are few things that taste quite as much like summer as a perfectly ripe peach.

A peach is one of those simple little pleasures that can make an ordinary summer afternoon feel special. There is something wonderfully refreshing about biting into a juicy peach and having the sweet juice run down your chin. They are soft and golden, fragrant and sun-warmed, and somehow seem to capture everything we love about summertime in one delicious fruit.

One of our favorite ways to enjoy peaches as a family is to make an outing of it. If you are fortunate enough to live near an orchard, take the children peach picking! Walking through the rows of trees, searching for the ripest fruit and gently twisting each peach from the branch is a true joy.

And if an orchard isn’t nearby, don’t worry. A Saturday morning trip to the farmers market is just as lovely. Look for baskets of locally grown peaches, talk to the farmers, and let the children help choose a few. Or simply pick up a basket at your local grocery store and bring home the sunshine.

However you find them, peaches are one of those foods that invite us to slow down, gather together, and enjoy the season.

Fun Facts About Peaches

1. Peaches are related to cherries, plums, and apricots.

Peaches belong to the stone-fruit family, which means they have a large pit, or “stone,” in the middle. They are cousins to several other summer favorites, including plums, cherries, nectarines, and apricots.

2. Nectarines are peaches, too!

Nectarines are essentially peaches with a smooth skin instead of the familiar fuzzy skin. They can be yellow or white inside and are every bit as wonderful for summer snacking.

3. Peaches come in different varieties.

Some peaches have yellow flesh while others have white flesh. There are also clingstone and freestone peaches. Freestone peaches are especially handy for cooking because the pit comes away from the fruit more easily.

4. Peaches are a good source of vitamin C.

Peaches provide vitamin C along with fiber and other nutrients. They are a naturally sweet way to add more fruit to your family’s summer meals and snacks.

5. Peaches smell wonderfully fragrant when ripe.

A ripe peach should have a lovely, sweet fragrance. Instead of squeezing it hard, gently smell the peach and look for rich color and a little softness when choosing one that is ready to eat.

6. Peaches don’t have to be eaten plain.

Although there is nothing better than a perfectly ripe peach eaten over the kitchen sink, peaches are also wonderful in salads, oatmeal, smoothies, desserts, salsas, and all sorts of simple family recipes.

Why Children Love Peaches

There is something particularly wonderful about peaches for children.

They are easy for little hands to hold, easy to pack for a picnic, and sweet enough that children feel like they are getting a special treat. Parents love them because they don’t require much preparation. Wash one, slice it, and you have a delicious snack.

And peaches make for wonderful family memories.

Perhaps you visit a peach orchard on a warm Saturday morning and come home with a basket overflowing with fruit. Perhaps your children sit around the kitchen table helping you slice peaches for dessert. Maybe you eat them outside on the porch with sticky fingers and bare feet.

These are the kinds of simple summer moments that children remember.

There is no need for anything elaborate. Sometimes all you need is a basket of peaches, a sunny afternoon, and a little time together.

Simple Peach Recipes

You don’t need complicated recipes to enjoy a beautiful basket of peaches. Here are five simple ideas that are easy enough for children to help make.

1. Simple Peach & Yogurt Parfaits

Ingredients

• 2–3 ripe peaches
• 2 cups plain or vanilla Greek yogurt
• ½ cup granola
• 1–2 tablespoons honey, optional

Instructions

1. Wash and dice the peaches.
2. Spoon some yogurt into the bottom of a glass or small bowl.
3. Add a layer of peaches.
4. Sprinkle with granola.
5. Repeat the layers.
6. Drizzle with a little honey if desired.

Let the children assemble their own parfaits for an easy breakfast or afternoon snack.

2. Easy Peach Salsa

Ingredients

• 2 ripe peaches
• 1 small tomato
• 2 tablespoons finely diced red onion
• 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro, optional
• Juice of ½ lime
• Pinch of salt

Instructions

1. Dice the peaches and tomato into small pieces.
2. Place them in a bowl with the red onion and cilantro.
3. Add the lime juice and a small pinch of salt.
4. Stir gently.
5. Serve with tortilla chips.

This is a wonderful recipe for little kitchen helpers because children can help measure, stir, and taste.

3. Peach Toast

Ingredients

• Whole-grain bread
• Cream cheese or ricotta
• 1–2 ripe peaches
• Honey, optional
• Cinnamon, optional

Instructions

1. Toast the bread.
2. Spread with cream cheese or ricotta.
3. Thinly slice the peaches and arrange them on top.
4. Add a tiny drizzle of honey.
5. Sprinkle with cinnamon if you like.

It makes an especially lovely summer breakfast or afternoon snack.

4. Easy Peach Crisp

Ingredients

For the fruit:

• 5–6 ripe peaches
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

For the topping:

• 1 cup old-fashioned oats
• ½ cup whole-wheat flour
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons melted butter
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Wash, pit, and slice the peaches.
3. Place the peaches in a baking dish and toss with maple syrup, lemon juice, and cinnamon.
4. In a bowl, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter.
5. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the peaches.
6. Bake for about 30–35 minutes, until the peaches are bubbling and the topping is golden.
7. Let it cool slightly before serving.

Serve it warm with a spoonful of plain or vanilla yogurt.

5. Fresh Peach Smoothies

Ingredients

• 2 ripe peaches
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 cup milk of your choice
• ½ cup plain or vanilla yogurt
• A handful of ice
• 1 tablespoon honey, optional

Instructions

1. Wash, pit, and slice the peaches.
2. Add all of the ingredients to a blender.
3. Blend until smooth and creamy.
4. Taste and add a little honey if needed.
5. Pour into glasses and enjoy!

For an extra-summery breakfast, serve the smoothies with a basket of fresh berries and a warm muffin.

Final Thoughts

Peaches are one of the sweetest gifts of summer.

They remind us that some of life’s best pleasures don’t need to be complicated. A warm afternoon at a peach orchard. A basket from the farmers market. Sticky fingers after eating a perfectly ripe peach. Children gathered around the kitchen counter helping make a peach crisp. A cold peach smoothie on a hot day.

These are simple things, but simple things have a way of becoming treasured memories.

So this summer, find yourself some peaches. Visit an orchard if you can. Stop by the farmers market. Pick up a basket at the grocery store. Bring them home, set them on the kitchen counter, and let your family enjoy them together.

Eat one right over the sink. Make a crisp. Stir together some peach salsa. Slice them onto toast. Let the children help.

And most of all, savor this little taste of summer while it lasts!