Summer desserts should be as relaxed and simple as are the lazy days. Buttermilk Peach Buckle is a one skillet dessert recipe that is a snap to make and everyone will love it. Perfect with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Gluten-free or regular depending on the flour used.
This time of the summer is always so exciting as fresh, ripe peaches begin to roll in. We are fortunate in Colorado as peaches are a star crop of our Rocky Mountain Western Slope. I had the chance while on a trip touring Colorado’s wine country (yes there is such a thing) a few years ago to sample peaches from the same region and to say they melt in your mouth is an understatement. They truly taste like nectar of the gods!
Generally, you don’t find peaches in very high brow desserts. They are conducive to more relaxed, homey recipes such as the Buttermilk Peach Buckle dessert I’m sharing today. The effort is low on this dessert and the return high. It feels like the dessert you’d enjoy from your Grandmother’s table on a Sunday afternoon, doesn’t it?
Using peaches in a cobbler is certainly a summer mainstay however I decided to make a buckle.
What is a Buckle dessert?
A buckle is close to a coffee cake with fruit and it is very common to find it made with blueberries.
The fruit is layered on top of a cake batter then topped with a streusel mixture allowing the cake to envelop the fruit when baking.
The streusel melts, forming a crisp, sugary top crust.
It is oh-so-simple to make and would be as welcome on the breakfast table as it is to end a casual meal.
If you are like me, once you dip your toe into the Americana dessert pond, you’ll find yourself hooked on making them!
These rustic, approachable desserts add a welcoming feel to the end of dinner, begging one to sit and chat for awhile rather than rushing off to complete a To Do list!
And they are so simple to make.
More Easy Dessert Recipes
Some other favorites of mine include:
- Fruit Crumble in mini Mason Jars
- Plum Slump
- Raspberry Pandowdy
- Berry Cobbler with Sour cream biscuits (you can even make cobbler in the slow cooker!)
- Rhubarb Grunt (don’t let the classic name put you off, it’s delicious)
- Spicy Apple Crisp with Cranberries and Walnuts which is fantastic in the fall.
- Peach Crumble
Try these Peach Recipes too!
As for peaches, the recipe opportunities abound!
- Peach Bellini’s (cocktails)
- Olive Oil Ice Cream with Peach Ripple
- Favorite Summer Peach Recipes
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Recipe

Buttermilk Peach Buckle {gluten-free}
Ingredients
- ¼ cup (softened) plus ¼ cup (cold) unsalted Butter
- ¼ cup Shortening (I use organic vegetable shortening)
- ½ cup plus ¼ cup granulated Sugar
- 1 Egg , room temperature
- 1 ¼ cup plus 1/3 cup Flour (gluten-free blend or regular if not gluten-free)
- 1 ½ teaspoon Baking Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 1/3 cup Buttermilk
- 1 ½ cup Peaches , peeled, pitted and sliced into 1/4-inch thick slices
- ½ teaspoon Nutmeg , preferably freshly ground
- ½ teaspoon Chinese Five Spice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 10 inch cast iron skillet or a 9x9 baking pan.
- In the bowl of a standing mixer* cream the ¼ cup butter until soft. Add the shortening and mix to fully combine.
- Add the ½ cup sugar to the butter mixture and beat to combine.
- Add the egg to the mixture and beat to fully combine.
- In a separate mixing bowl combine the 1 ¼ cups flour, baking powder, salt; mix together thoroughly. Slowly pour into the butter mixture while running the mixer on a low speed. The mixture may be a bit dry.
- While the mixer is still running slowly pour in buttermilk and beat until fully combined.
- To make the Streusel: Cut the cold ¼ cup butter into small pieces. Combine ¼ cup sugar, 1/3 cup flour, and the Chinese five spice in the bowl. Using dinner knives or a pastry blender, cut the ingredients together forming a gravely mixture.
- Spoon the batter into the prepared skillet or baking pan. Layer the peach slices on top of the batter to cover it. Sprinkle the fresh nutmeg on top of the peaches. Layer on the streusel.
- Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes until the top is a light golden brown. Allow to sit for five minutes before serving warm!
Notes
Nutrition
This delicious recipe was originally published in August 2013 and has been updated in 2016.
Megan @ MegUnprocessed says
Those seasonings sound good!
Megan @ MegUnprocessed says
That peaches looks delicious โ great photos!
Laura Funk says
This looks wonderful and the many secrets of Colorado like our little wine country. They make this peach wine that is to die for!
Amanda Love says
It looks so good and it’s a great way to enjoy all the fresh peaches that are available this summer! My family would definitely love this, especially when you a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!
Donna says
I’ve never heard of a buckle before. It sounds a lot like a crumble or crisp. I love peaches and can’t wait to give this a try!
Toni Dash says
There is a whole family of what I refer to as Americana desserts: cobbler, buckle, crumble, pandowdy, grunt, slump, crisps are all part of them. They each are a variation of fruit and some sort of streusel topping and dough baked. Each is wonderful in it’s own way and they are all relaxed and easy to make.
Liz Mays says
Yum! I think it would be fun to try some more classic Americana desserts like this. They do sound comforting.
Dawn McAlexander says
You have got me wanting some of that peach buckle. It looks real good right now. You just can’t beat fresh, ripe peaches.
Milena says
Our local farm just started selling fresh peaches! Perfect timing! I can’t wait to try this out!
Val says
This looks super yummy, I love that it is also gluten free. I will have to try to make it!
maria @closetohome says
That looks amazing. I think peaches are available at our pick your own orchards.