PEACHES IN SYRUP RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch cake or pie pan. Line the bottom of the pan with a round of parchment paper and butter that as well.
• Pit the peaches and cut into slices about 1/2-inch thick. Arrange the slices in a pattern on the bottom of the pie pan.
• Combine 1/2 cup/100 grams of the sugar with 1/4 cup/60 milliliters of water in a saucepan or skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until the mixture turns amber, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat immediately and pour this caramel evenly over the peaches in the pie pan.
• In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and nutmeg, and set aside.
• In another medium bowl, beat together the butter and remaining 3/4 cup/150 grams sugar until light. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time. Stir in the flour mixture. Spread the batter evenly over the peaches and caramel.
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until top is golden brown and cake is set. Remove from the oven and set on a cooling rack. Run a knife around the sides, place a platter on top and invert the cake onto the platter. If any of the peach slices stick to the pan, lift them off carefully and replace them on top of the cake. Serve the cake warm or cooled to room temperature, with crème fraîche on the side.

Steps:

• 1. Even though this recipe is dead easy, the results are so delicious it’s worthy of any occasion. The combination of hot juicy peaches in their own gorgeous syrup with soft yet crisp little scone-like dumplings is just amazing. You can assemble this, bake it ahead of time, then bring it back to life when you’re ready to serve it by adding a splash of water and warming it up in the oven. Best served hot, with a few spoonfuls of vanilla ice cream melting over the top.
  2. Preheat your oven to full whack. In an earthenware cooking dish (approx. 25cm in diameter), toss your peaches gently with the vanilla seeds, lime zest, brown sugar, orange zest and juice and grated ginger. Put the dish into the oven and immediately turn the temperature down to 190°C/375°F/gas 5. Cook for about 10 to 15 minutes, until the peaches have softened slightly – the time it takes will depend on their ripeness.
  3. Meanwhile, mix your cobbler topping. If you’re using a food processor, whiz up your pine nuts, then tip in your flour, sugar and sea salt. Cut your butter up into cubes, add to the processor and pulse until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Tip this mixture into a bowl. If working by hand, pop your pine nuts into a sandwich bag and bash them up with a rolling pin. Tip them into a bowl with the flour, sugar and a pinch of salt, then use a box grater to grate in your chilled butter. Using your fingertips, gently rub the butter into the mix until it starts to resemble fine breadcrumbs. At this point add 2 tablespoons of water to bring everything together, and when you have a firm dough put it to one side.
  4. Remove your dish of peaches from the oven and pour in half a glass of water. Gently mix in and scrape around the edges to make sure nothing is catching, then use a tablespoon to dollop 6 big spoonfuls of dough on top of the peaches. Return the dish to the oven for around 20 minutes. When it’s bubbling, golden on top and nearly perfect, get your ice cream out of the freezer.
  5. Make sure your gang are ready at the table and ready to eat. Dust your cobbler with icing sugar, if using, then spoon a few scoops of ice cream on top and give it a minute to let the ice cream marble into the beautiful peach syrup. Take it to the table and don’t expect much to come back!