4peachripe peaches, halved and pittedfreestone if possible
0.25cuplight brown sugarpacked
2tbspunsalted buttercut into small cubes
1tspvanilla extract
1tbspfresh lemon juice
0.5tspground cinnamon
0.125tspkosher salt
0.25tspground nutmegoptional
Instructions
Preparation Steps
Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly butter or spray an 8x8-inch baking dish.
Halve the peaches and remove pits. Arrange halves cut-side up in the baking dish.
Drizzle lemon juice over the peaches and place a small cube of butter in the center of each half.
In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and vanilla until a sandy paste forms. Spoon evenly over the peach centers.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until peaches are tender and the sugar-butter syrup is bubbly.
Optional: Broil for 1 to 2 minutes to lightly caramelize the tops. Watch closely to prevent burning.
Serve warm, spooning pan juices over the peaches. Add vanilla ice cream or whipped cream if desired.
Notes
Choose peaches that are ripe but still slightly firm so they hold their shape. For a maple twist, swap the brown sugar for 0.25 cup pure maple syrup and reduce bake time by 2 minutes.