Frozen Peaches and Cream Is My New Heatwave Obsession

For me, the official start of summer is always marked by my first taste of the perfect fruit of the season. That first bite of a super sweet and floral watermelon, the first savory heirloom tomato, and of course, a perfectly juicy peach. Summer is all about embracing and celebrating the flavor of produce exactly as it is without adding a frills just for the sake of it. My approach to desserts takes a similar approach, finding ways to celebrate the flavors of produce with very little extra. And since we’ve experienced quite the heatwave already, I’m all about sweet treats the don’t require turning on the oven. Enter, shaved frozen peaches with cream.

I’m a huge fan of the shaved frozen fruit trend, and have enjoyed trying so many varieties over the season. Shaved watermelon with just a pinch of salt and chili, shaved honeydew with a squeeze of honey, and these shaved peaches with vanilla cardamom cream are maybe my newest obsession. Think all the joy of a peach cobbler without the effort.

Here’s What You’ll Need for Frozen Shaved Peaches and Cream

The ingredient list here is simple and short, so use it as a starting point and substitute with your own additions.

• Peaches. Choose whatever variety you love during the season.
• Heavy whipping cream. The base of our dessert.
• Cardamom. Fresh ground is the only way.
• Vanilla bean powder. Or vanilla extract if you prefer.
• Salt. Make sure you use a generous pinch here.
• Powdered sugar. Just a bit to bring everything together.
• Biscuits. Think shortbread, almond cookies, biscotti, or any other version you prefer.

How to Make This Frozen Dessert

Obviously this is a simple dessert, but a few strategies will achieve the best results:

• Freeze your fruit overnight. You want to ensure that your fruit is completely frozen solid to get those light and fluffy shavings.
• Don’t over whip the cream. I like to keep the whipped cream to almost a similar texture to slightly melted ice cream. If you get the peaks a little too stiff, just add an extra splash of cream to the mixing bowl and fold in to soften.
• Fresh fruit brings it all together. Yes we’re using frozen peaches, but adding fresh peaches adds extra sweetness and texture that pairs beautifully with the frozen shavings as well.
• Use any crunchy toppings you prefer. While I like crushed biscuits to add a crunchy texture, you can also use any chopped nuts you have, add some chopped white chocolate, or granola if you like.
• Add a swirl of yogurt. If you want to go for more of a breakfast vibe, either add a big dollop of yogurt to the cream or substitute entirely with yogurt as the base.

Other Desserts We Love for Simple Hosting

These shaved peaches are so great for serving a crowd. Not only can you prepare a big batch of the cream ahead of time and let people help themselves, if you just freeze enough peaches for everyone, they can also have fun grating their own peaches over their bowl and adding their own toppings.

If you’re looking for more inspiration for easy dinner party desserts, here are a few more I’ve been loving this season:

Make Ahead No Bake Ricotta Honey Cheesecake Bars

Summer Fruit Salad with Crushed Meringue

Raspberry Tiramisu

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