Butter-Baked Peaches with Vanilla Almond Crumble

By á-2421

Designed to be cooked independently of the fruit, the topping is a bit like a guilty-pleasure granola and is terrific over uncooked fruit and yogurt too. It is easily doubled but be sure to use 2 large baking sheets when cooking instead of crowding everything on one.

Ingredients

• VANILLA ALMOND TOPPING
• 1/4 cup ground almonds
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 2/3 cup rolled oats
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 5 Tbsp cold, unsalted butter, diced
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped almonds
• 1 Tbsp honey
• BUTTER-BAKED PEACHES
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 4 peeled peaches or unpeeled nectarines, halved and pitted
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 cinnamon stick, 4 inches long
• Half and Half cream for drizzling (optional)

Preparation

Step 1

Prepare the topping no more than 3 days ahead of time. To being, preheat oven to 300 F.

In a large bowl, combine the ground almonds and vanilla; work the mixture with your fingers until vanilla is evenly distributed. Stir in flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, oats and salt. Add butter, stir and once again use your fingers, work butter to evenly distribute (mixture should form clumps). Add almonds, drizzle honey over, and stir to combine.

Turn mixture out onto a large parchment-lined baking sheet; break large clumps apart with your fingers, leaving small clumps intact, and spread evenly in a shallow layer (do not compact). Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden and crisp. Cool and place in airtight container.

For peaches, heat oven to 350 F. Combine the butter and brown sugar in a small bowl or cup. Arrange peaches in a medium baking dish, cut side up; add water and distribute small dollops of butter evenly over and around peaches. Tuck in cinnamon stick, cover pan with foil and bake in oven until sauce has thickened and peaches are tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

Divide peaches and sauce between 4 bowls, top each with a generous portion of the topping and drizzle with half and half if desired. (A little ice cream or even whipped cream could also be used if desired.)