Colorado is known for many things. Our microbrew industry. Our skiing. 300 days of sunshine a year. Being the thinnest state in the U.S. But something we locals covet, and those in the food industry do too, is our Peaches.
On the western slope of the Rocky Mountains in the area of Palisades is our peach growing mecca. The fertile valley is home to most of Colorado’s orchards and wine grape growing. I know Georgia is proud of their peaches and I visited Thorsby Alabama once which sports a peach shaped water tower and a festival but I’m here to say ‘they got nothin’’ on Colorado peaches.
We have just begun to get the first of the season’s peaches from the Western Slope in Boulder. I enjoy a farm CSA share weekly which includes a fruit share from the Western Slope. We’ve been nibbling through gallons of cherries and apricots but as fantastic as those are they pale a bit when peaches arrive on the scene.
I have a cache of vintage seasonal recipes featuring a star fruit or vegetable and it’s always exciting when the opportunity aligns for some kitchen experimentation. The recipe I picked for my first peaches really speaks to the breakfast food ruts I find myself in as well as my culinary ADHD when entertaining as soon as my guests arrive.
I know breakfast is the most important meal of the day but I’m not a cereal or carb lover and often don’t have time to make an elaborate protein-based meal. When I saw this oven baked pancake topped with sautéed peaches I heard the angels singing on high (probably because they have observed what a hot mess I become if making brunch and trying to chit chat at the same time).
This is a very simple and completely delicious dish. Four ingredients are combined to make a pancake that bakes to a light texture and golden brown finish in the oven. It has a billowy quality unlike a standard pancake. When the pancake is removed it is topped with separately sautéed peaches or nectarines making it beautiful to behold, delicious to consume and easy beyond belief.
GOLDEN OVEN-BAKED PANCAKE TOPPED WITH SAUTEED PEACHES
Now that you are hooked I will confess, when I pulled the pancake out of the oven I thought it had a medical condition. It puffs way up in various spots, in my case enough to touch the oven grate shelf above. I couldn’t fathom how on earth peaches would be evenly distributed over its bulbous landscape. Out of the oven, within minutes the pancake relaxed into its final light form.
I sautéed a mix of white and yellow peaches. Use what you love. This really is a perfect brunch dish as it takes little of your time but is unexpected and seasonal.
Serves: 6 main servings; 8 side servings
Ingredients:
· 1 cup half and half
· ½ cup all purpose flour (regular or gluten free)
· ¼ cup granulated sugar
· 8 eggs
· 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
· 5 cups peaches, peeled, pitted and thickly cut into wedges
· 3 tablespoon light brown sugar, packed
· 1 tablespoon lemon juice
· ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
· 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg (grind it fresh is possible; it’s a completely different flavor)
· 5 cups peaches, peeled, pitted and thickly cut into wedges
· Confectioner’s sugar for dusting (optional)
1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Grease a 13” by 9” by 2” baking dish (or similarly wide and shallow 3 quart capacity baking dish) with unsalted butter.
2. In a large bowl whisk together the half-and-half, flour and granulated sugar until fully blended.
3. Add eggs to the mixture above, one at a time, whisking to fully blend before adding the next egg.
4. Pour mixture into the prepared baking pan and bake for 15 minutes until puffed and golden brown.
5. While pancake is baking, in a large frying pan melt the butter. Add the brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon and nutmeg stirring until brown sugar has melted. Add peaches and gently stir to coat and cook stirring frequently until peaches are hot and glazed.
6. After removing pancake from the oven, dust with powdered sugar (if desired) and top with the sautéed peaches. Garnish with a light sprinkling of freshly grated nutmeg. Serve immediately.
(Recipe adapted from Sunset Magazine 1973 – M. F., Carmichael, CA)
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Now this is gourmet and such a delicious way to start out the day! NICE ONE!
Thank you Claudia! I loved the sound of it but when I made it seeing how quick, simple and delicious it was I was really excited. It was devoured in my house as well!
omg- my kind of recipe! That's about all I have time for these days. And I agree, NOTHING tastes better than a Colorado peach….except perhaps the ones that are growing on the trees in my backyard! Thanks for an inspiring breakfast visual this morning!
So glad you liked it Jennifer! I agree on the recipe simplicity. It offers a different type of dish with little effort. I too have backyard peaches weighing down our branches. It's always a thrill to pick our own and we don't get them annually. Does your tree produce every year?
I didn't actually know that Colorado was such a great peach producer! We have good local peaches here in Missouri, but I want to try some of yours sometime. Nice recipe – I've eaten something similar, although I've never made anything like this. And a great recipe for company. Thank you.
You are so welcome and I thought the same: perfect for company. Anything that is fast, delicious and seasonal is great by me. This is absolutely not a fussy recipe but has a very special outcome. You should make a trip to our fair state in the summer to both orchard and wine taste. Everything is grown in the same small area so it's a perfect spot to stock up on gorgeous fruit and award winning wine!
It's like a German apple pancake, but better! I adore peaches but never knew that Colorado grew them. The NC mountains create a pretty darn good version as well. I need to find some for this dish. It looks amazing.
I have to imagine every state thinks their peaches rock. And they probably do! Not sure what makes our peaches so good but clearly the soil in the area where they are grown has something going on. I feel sure if you like peaches you'll love this. And it's so quick!
This looks amazing and I just picked up a bunch of peaches from our local farmer's market. YUM!
I definitely have some peaches that can be freed up for this breakfast!
I am drooling right now. I mean my goodness Toni, this is just gorgeous. I adore peaches. I just cannot get enough of them during the season. I wish I was driving through your neck of the woods on our road trip this summer. I'd be banging on your door, standing there with a spoon and a giant bowl.
Such a wonderful dish. And since it has pancake on its name, it rings a breakfast possibility for me. I love Colorado peaches too. Definitely worth visiting the Palisade peach festival which is in a few weeks. A must try, this dish is.
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That looks incredible! We've got an abundance of peaches right now and I know where I want to use them!!
These sound amazing Toni. I can't imagine what it's like to have peaches as good as that. As far as I know we don't grow peaches over here and if we did I'd be extremely lucky to get my hands on them! I like how you thought your pancake was bulbous. This would be the best breakfast ever.
Yummy! That look slike one satisfying breakfast!
Mmmmm….what a delicious idea for my favorite summer fruit! This would make a magnificent breakfast!!! Congrats on your Top 9, Toni!
I just noticed that you are on #1 spot for Top 9, Toni… Congratulations! Loved reading your post, and gazing through your lovely photos with the yummy baked pancake, topped with the amazing peaches! Love the rustic look on the tray, and the server, as well!
No wonder your state is the skinniest…just look at all the gorgeous mountains you have in Colorado! Winter skiing, and summer hiking…all these things that we don't have here, in S. Florida, other than the ocean and the beautiful beaches!
What a great idea for brunch! Can't wait to impress my husband with this =)
Oh wow! I have never seen an ovenbaked pancake recipe or pic before. It looks perrrrfect. I never make pancakes, as they're are something I can't seem to get right. But… this- I will make! And the peaches look divine. Kudos to YOU Toni.
Thank the good lord for peach season! It's my favorite time of the year. This recipe is lovely (and so simple!). I love it. And I love that you used two variations of peaches. It's lovely.
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