These grilled peaches with vanilla ice cream are the ultimate easy summer dessert—sweet, smoky, and ready in minutes.
If you’re looking for a quick and easy dessert that screams summer, grilled peaches with vanilla ice cream is it. This dish is the perfect balance of warm, caramelized fruit and cool, creamy ice cream, all with just a handful of ingredients. Grilling the peaches brings out their natural sweetness, adds a subtle smoky flavor, and gives them those beautiful charred edges that make every bite taste a little indulgent.
I love this recipe because it’s simple enough for a weeknight treat but feels elevated enough to serve to guests after a cookout. All you need are ripe (but still firm) peaches, a little melted butter, and your favorite vanilla ice cream. For a flavor boost, I like to brush the peaches with a mix of butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon before grilling. The sugar helps caramelize the fruit, while the cinnamon adds a hint of warmth. You can even spike the butter with a splash of bourbon or whiskey if you’re feeling fancy.
Once the peaches are grilled and slightly softened, I let them cool for a minute before topping them with scoops of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of honey or balsamic glaze. The result is sweet, smoky, creamy, and totally irresistible. Serve this at your next cookout or after a weeknight dinner on the patio, either way, it’s a hit.
Grilled Peaches with Vanilla Ice Cream
Ingredients
- 6 ripe but firm peaches, halved and pitted
- 4 tbsp melted butter
- 1 tbsp brown sugar, optional
- Pinch of cinnamon
- Pinch of nutmeg
- Vanilla ice cream, for serving
- Caramel, for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat your grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.
- Brush the cut sides of each peach half with melted butter. Sprinkle with brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Place peaches cut-side down on the grill and cook for 3–5 minutes, until grill marks appear and peaches are slightly softened.
- Remove from grill and let cool for 1–2 minutes.
- Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel.
Notes
- Use just-ripe peaches that are still slightly firm—overripe peaches can fall apart on the grill.
- Brush the grill or grill pan with a little oil to prevent sticking and get those perfect char marks.
- For extra flavor, mix a splash of bourbon or vanilla extract into the melted butter before brushing it on the peaches.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
