Description
As summer begins to wane and the air hints at the crispness of fall, peaches reach their peak—sun-ripened, deeply fragrant, and impossibly juicy. It’s this fleeting moment in the year that inspired our Healthy Honey Roasted Peaches, a dish that brings warmth and comfort with every bite. I remember my grandmother setting a tray of peaches by the window to ripen just a bit more, the sunlight turning their fuzzy skin golden. She’d slice them into thick halves, drizzle them with honey, and slide them into the oven until the kitchen filled with a syrupy perfume that made your mouth water.
This recipe honors those quiet, golden evenings. Roasting brings out the depth of the peaches’ flavor, caramelizing their edges and intensifying their natural sweetness. Spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, and kissed with honey or maple syrup, these peaches become more than just fruit—they become a celebration of harvest, tradition, and the comforting rhythm of seasonal cooking.
Whether you’re ending a backyard dinner or creating a healthy treat just for yourself, this dish is a beautiful reminder that the best things in life are often the simplest.
Ingredients
3 large ripe peaches, halved and pitted
1/4 cup raw honey or pure maple syrup
Seeds from 1 vanilla bean (or 1 tsp vanilla extract)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Pinch of sea salt
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the Oven
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). You’ll want it fully heated so the peaches cook evenly and caramelize beautifully.
Step 2: Mix the Honey Spice Glaze
In a small bowl, whisk together the raw honey (or maple syrup), vanilla bean seeds, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and a pinch of sea salt. The mixture will be thick and aromatic, like the first breath of fall in a spice shop.
Step 3: Prep the Peaches
Place the peach halves, cut side up, in a baking dish just large enough to hold them snugly. This helps the juices stay close and infuse flavor.
Step 4: Coat with the Glaze
Spoon the honey and spice mixture over each peach half. Let it pool into the hollows where the pits were. As it bakes, it will mingle with the peach juices and form a rich, sticky syrup.
Step 5: Roast Until Tender
Bake for 25–30 minutes, uncovered, until the peaches are soft and golden at the edges. Their natural sugars will begin to caramelize, creating a gorgeous golden hue and a syrupy glaze.
Step 6: Serve with Love
Serve the peaches warm, spooning some of the pan juices over them. Add a dollop of Greek yogurt or whipped coconut cream, and finish with crunchy granola or toasted nuts if you like.
Notes
These peaches are lovely at room temperature, too, and they store well for a couple of days—perfect for meal prepping dessert or adding a sweet note to breakfast.