The Fruit And Oat Dessert Combo That Never Misses

It's borderline magical how our grandmas never needed any recipe cards. They just knew exactly what to do in the kitchen, which ingredients go together, and how to cook up dishes that would live on as cherished memories. If you were to ask them how to make an easy, comforting dessert reminiscent of summer, they would probably tell you to pair peaches with pecans and oats. 

Like always, they would be right. Here at Tasting Table, we already enjoy these ingredients together in a peach crisp, which never disappoints. With its depth of sweetness, peach is the heart of this dish. Before you even taste it, your senses are hit with a floral aroma, followed by a bright sweetness and riveting hints of tartness. 

Even if fresh peaches aren't available and you've only got the canned ones, there's still no dimming this fruit's shine. Its vibrant flavors go superbly with pecans and their buttery notes. Baked for an hour, this combination gets even better, taking on the comfort of a caramelized warmth. At the base of it all are the oats, soaking everything up and rounding it out with their palatable creaminess. All that's missing left is a scoop of ice cream to complete your plateful of sunshine.

Simple as they might be, peaches, pecans, and oats make quite a versatile combination. Have desserts for breakfast as you soak them overnight with milk or yogurt, chia seeds (optional), and a little bit of sweetener. If you want to highlight the peaches even further, caramelize them beforehand with a bit of cinnamon, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. The pecans, similarly, can be toasted to bring out the mild sweetness. 

And the oats? They're always good enough, but feel free to toss in some granola if you need the dish to be more filling. Cereals, coconut flakes, and cornflakes, on the other hand, can contribute to make an incredible peach parfait. You can even top it off with a scoop of peach ice cream or peach jam.

Down in the South, dessert lovers understand the power of peaches. Who amongst us hasn't drooled over a classic peach cobbler or dreamed of the same peach pie from summers ago? Now, just imagine your favorite Southern desserts with pecans and oats in the mix. On nights that call for something to share over small talk, a peach crumble pie will be golden. A thick crust encompassing the peach and pecan fillings, topped with oatmeal crumbles, and it's a real crowd-pleaser. In a different baking pan, sliced into square, palm-sized pieces, the same combination also makes the most snack-worthy crumble bars. Alternatively, you can easily bake up a batch of muffins and top them off with the crumbles for delightful crunches in every bite.