Description
These elegant Peach Cookies combine a spiced, buttery dough with a lush, home-cooked peach filling and a toasted cinnamon streusel. Capturing the fragrant essence of a sun-ripened orchard, they offer a sophisticated textural contrast between the soft cookie base and the crunchy crumble topping.
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh ripe peaches, finely diced
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed and divided
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, divided
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, divided
- 1 cup salted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, simmer diced peaches, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg for 6 minutes until tender. Stir in a cornstarch and water slurry, cook for 1 minute to thicken, then stir in vanilla and refrigerate until cold.
- Cream softened butter with sugars until light and fluffy, then beat in the eggs and vanilla. Gradually mix in the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices before chilling the dough for 30 minutes.
- Portion the dough into 55-gram balls using a large scoop and refrigerate in an airtight container for 3 to 24 hours to develop flavor and prevent spreading.
- For the streusel, combine melted butter, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon; spread on a lined pan and bake at 350°F for 12-14 minutes until golden, then cool and crumble.
- Roll the chilled dough balls in a cinnamon-sugar coating, bake at 350°F for 11-13 minutes, and immediately press a small indent into the center of each warm cookie.
- Once cookies are cool, spoon the chilled peach filling into the centers, sprinkle with the cinnamon crumble, and drizzle with a glaze made of powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk.
Notes
For the most professional appearance, use a round cutter to gently ‘scoot’ the cookies into perfect circles immediately after removing them from the oven. To ensure the streusel remains crisp, wait to add it until just before serving, and always ensure your peach filling has completely cooled to a jam-like consistency to prevent the cookie base from softening prematurely. If you prefer a more intense aromatic profile, try toasting your dry spices in a pan for 30 seconds before adding them to the dough.
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 35 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American