A cobbler topping is somewhere between a crumble, scone and dumpling. Cook in a wide, shallow baking dish rather than something narrow and deep to make sure your ‘cobbles’ cook through but stay light and fluffy.

Look for fruit that is smooth with soft, velvety skin and a bright complexion and avoid hard or wrinkled peaches with blemishes or green tinges. A ripe peach will yield gently to palm pressure, suggesting a state of being, as William Morris so expressively put it, 'pinch-ripe'. Do not store peaches in the fridge, which can cause their flesh to turn floury or mealy.

Fresh peaches are second to none, and are perfect eaten as they are (with the obligatory peach juices running down faces and arms!), though extra decadence can be added with lashings of freshly whipped cream or a drizzle of honey to enhance their sweetness. Caramelising the flesh on a hot griddle will add an extra dimension, and poaching the fruit in wine is also a worthy way of serving it. Purée the fruit and use in a classic Italian Bellini recipe for a summery cocktail, or chill into an icy sorbet. Tarts, pies and crumbles will all put peaches to good use.

More peach recipes

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More peach recipes

Peach pudding

Peach posset

Anari, nectarine and pistachio pancake

Peach melba overnight oats

Glazed French peach tart

Honey grilled peaches and mozzarella salad

Harissa lamb with peach, feta and mint salad

Rolled pavlova with peaches and blackberries

Cardamom peaches, burrata and saffron dressing

Peach, raspberry and apple cobbler

Roasted peach and burrata salad

Greek pulled duck burger with apple and peach slaw

Grilled radicchio and peach salad with goats' cheese

Baked oats

Air fryer peach turnovers

White peach, hazelnut and ruby chocolate crostata

Waffles with smoked bacon and caramelised peach

Easy peach ice lollies

Peach melba French toast with custard cream and raspberry purée

Peach cobbler

Mesquite chicken with grilled peach salad

Charred peach Eton mess

Grilled peach, burrata and basil salad with Dijon dressing

Churros with peaches and custard

Buyer's guide

Preparation

Other stone fruit

Apricot

Cherry

Damsons

Greengages

Nectarine

Plum

Prune

Sloe

Other summer fruit

Blackcurrant

Cherry

Gooseberry

Loganberry

Mixed berries

Raspberry

Redcurrant

Strawberry

Whitecurrant

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