Peach Puzzle

By NicoleS

This Peach Puzzle recipe has all the pizzazz of a magic trick, as well as beautiful presentation and all-around good taste. The unusual recipe’s technique includes placing a custard cup upside down in the center of a pie plate. Peeled peaches are arranged around the cup and drizzled with a mixture of brown sugar, butter, and vanilla. Buttery biscuit dough is domed over the peaches, and then the Peach Puzzle goes into the oven. Once cooled, the pie plate is flipped over to reveal tender peaches nestled into the flaky biscuit—and a butterscotch-like sauce in the ramekin.

Ingredients

• Peaches and Syrup:
• 7 medium peaches, peeled (it is important to choose peaches that are neither very ripe not rock-hard—they should give a little when squeezed)
• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 6 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• Dough:
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch pieces and chilled
• 6 tablespoons milk

Preparation

Step 1

1. FOR THE PEACHES AND SYRUP: Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 400°. Place a 6-ounce custard cup or ramekin upside down in the center of a 9-inch pie plate and arrange the peaches around the custard cup in a circle. Combine the brown sugar, water, butter, vanilla, and salt in a medium saucepan and stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves and the butter melts, about 5 minutes. Pour the syrup over the peaches.


2. FOR THE DOUGH: Pulse the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt in a food processor until blended. Add the butter and pulse until the flour mixture is pale yellow and resembles coarse cornmeal. Turn the mixture into a medium bowl.


3. Using a rubber spatula, fold the milk into the flour mixture, pressing the mixture against the sides of the bowl to form the dough. Squeeze the dough together and flatten into a disk. On a lightly floured work surface, roll the dough into a 9-inch circle. Lay the dough directly over the peaches and press and fit the dough so that it fits snugly around the peaches. (The dough will stretch as you fit it around the peaches, but do not attach the dough to the pie plate.) Bake until the top is golden brown, 25-30 minutes. Transfer the pie plate to a rack and let cool for 30 minutes.


4. Place a large rimmed serving plate over the top of the pie plate and quickly invert the puzzle onto the plate. Cut into wedges around each peach and serve, pouring syrup over each portion.