This peach crisp with frozen peaches turns a bag from the freezer into a warm, bubbling dessert with a buttery oat topping. It skips the peeling and pitting that fresh peaches demand, so you can have it in the oven in about fifteen minutes.
6cupsfrozen sliced peaches - about 900g, thawed and drained
⅓cupgranulated sugar - 67g
1tablespooncornstarch - 8g
1tablespoonfresh lemon juice - 15ml
1teaspoonground cinnamon
¼teaspoonground nutmeg
fine salt - pinch
1teaspoonpure vanilla extract
For the Oat Crumble Topping
1cupold-fashioned rolled oats - 90g
¾cupall-purpose flour - 94g
⅔cuppacked brown sugar - 145g
½teaspoonground cinnamon
¼teaspoonfine salt
½cupcold unsalted butter - 113g, cubed
½cupchopped pecans - 60g
Instructions
Thaw the frozen peaches in a colander set over a bowl at room temperature for about an hour or overnight in the refrigerator. Press gently to release excess liquid, pat dry with paper towels if needed, and discard the collected juice.
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
In a large bowl, combine the drained peaches, granulated sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and vanilla. Toss gently to coat evenly, let sit for 5 minutes, then pour into the prepared baking dish.
In a medium bowl, whisk together oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Cut in the cold butter with a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, then stir in the chopped pecans.
Sprinkle the topping evenly over the peach filling, covering the fruit completely. Do not press down the topping.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until the topping is deep golden and the filling is bubbling around the edges. Tent with foil if the topping browns too quickly.
Cool on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes before serving to allow the filling to set. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Notes
Drain the peaches thoroughly. Extra liquid is the most common cause of a soggy crisp.
Keep the butter cold. Cold butter creates distinct, crisp crumbs instead of melting into a paste.
Do not skip the cornstarch. It thickens the fruit juices into a glossy sauce rather than a thin liquid.
Use a light hand with the topping. Sprinkling it loosely instead of pressing it down helps it crisp up properly.
Let it rest before slicing. Cutting in too soon means the filling will run instead of hold its shape.
Toast the pecans first. A quick five minute toast in a dry pan brings out more of their natural flavor before mixing them into the topping.
Storage: Refrigerate covered for up to 4 days, or freeze baked and cooled for up to 3 months.
Reheating: Warm at 350°F for 15 minutes to re-crisp the topping, or microwave individual portions in 30-second bursts.
Freezing unbaked: Assemble in a freezer-safe dish, wrap tightly, and freeze for up to 2 months. Bake from frozen, adding 15-20 extra minutes.