This recipe has been one of my signatures for years and is always my go-to whenever I can get my hands on some fresh peaches. Caramelized peaches are a nontraditional dessert that is good for any time of year, and with fresh, whipped mascarpone cheese and bright mint, regular fruit is transformed into a sophisticated and refreshing dessert that will impress friends and family.
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
2 peaches, sliced
6-8 oz mascarpone cheese (this can also be substituted for ricotta or crème fraîche)
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1-2 tablespoons butter
Splash of vanilla extract
Fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped
Directions
1. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Once melted, sprinkle sugar evenly over the pan.
2. When the butter and sugar are warm, place peaches cut side down into the skillet. Let cook, flipping occasionally, until golden brown and caramelized.
3. While your peaches are cooking, put the mascarpone, sugar and vanilla into a bowl. Whip with an electric mixer (or whisk vigorously, although this will take much longer and the sugar may not dissolve completely) for about 5-10 minutes, depending on how stiff you would like your cream.
4. Place a spoonful of the mascarpone on a plate and spread it in a swoosh over the bottom of the plate.
5. Add your caramelized peaches on top of the mascarpone.
6. Garnish with mint.
Note: Keep an eye on the peaches to test how soft they are. You don’t want the peaches to get mushy, but you should be able to easily pierce them with a fork. You also want to make sure that the caramelization doesn’t burn.
By Ally Cefalu, A&E Editor