Grilled peaches with mascarpone cream and bourbon salted caramel is a 10-minute summer dessert recipe that impresses every time. Read on for lots of tips, FAQs and more.
(Love peaches? Make peach clafoutis and peach caprese salad!)
We’ve been grilling everything from chili corn on the cob to aloha burgers and we’ve been grilling lots of fruit too.
Grilled peaches in particular taste delightful… grilling makes them sweeter, juicier, with a hint of smokiness from the grill.
Then we top it with mascarpone cream, bourbon salted caramel sauce and crunchy almonds. Get ready for something wonderful!
Why you’ll love grilled peaches with mascarpone cheese
- Quick and easy. This recipe takes no time at all and a hit every time.
- Grilled peaches. Grilling peaches makes them that much more delicious! They get sweeter, juicier and softer.
- Customizable. Skip the bourbon, drizzle honey or maple syrup, add more toppings, use other stone fruits. The ways to make this recipe your own are endless!
How to make mascarpone and peaches
Making peaches with mascarpone cream is very easy.
Ingredients
You can find the full ingredient list at the bottom of this page. A few things to note:
- Peaches — you want ripe but still firm peaches. Nectarines will work too.
- Heavy cream — heavy cream has at least 36% milk fat content. In a pinch, you can use whipping cream with 30-35% milk fat content but know that your cream is going to be softer.
- Mascarpone cheese — you can usually find mascarpone in the deli section of your supermarket. Buy full fat mascarpone for best results. If it’s not available, you can use cream cheese but note that it’s a little bit more tangy.
- Salted caramel sauce — I make my own salted caramel sauce so I can add the bourbon while it’s cooking. If you’d like to use store-bought salted caramel sauce, you’ll need to skip the alcohol.
- Bourbon — use bourbon you enjoy drinking! Whiskey works too. Or you can omit the alcohol altogether if you like.
- Almonds — you can substitute with your favorite nuts like pecans, walnuts or pistachios.
Tools
If you don’t have or don’t want to use your outdoor grill, you can use a grill pan or a cast-iron skillet on your stovetop on medium-high heat.
You can also use your oven — preheat to 400F and place peaches skin side down on a baking pan.
Step-by-step photos
I use this recipe for salted caramel sauce. Add the bourbon together with the vanilla and remove from heat. Allow to cool before using.
Whip heavy cream, mascarpone cheese and vanilla extract…
… until you reach medium-stiff peaks. Chill until you’re ready to use.
Brush the cut side of the peaches with olive oil.
Grill cut side down on medium high heat for about 5 minutes or until tender. Carefully remove and set aside.
Dollop a generous amount of mascarpone cream on top of each grilled peach.
Drizzle with bourbon salted caramel sauce and sprinkle with chopped almonds.
Serve immediately.
(Make some spicy peach margaritas while you’re at it!)
Expert tips
Super easy, right? Here are more tips for perfect grilled peach mascarpone dessert every time.
Vanilla mascarpone cream
- It’s important to whip your mixture to medium-stiff peaks so they stay firm and stable. Careful not to over-do it though or your cream will break.
- It’s best to prepare your mascarpone cream just before serving so it’s freshly whipped and cool.
- Is it starting to soften under the summer heat? Just pop it back in the fridge for a few minutes then whip again.
(Love mascarpone? Make some egg-free tiramisu, no-bake white chocolate raspberry tart with mascarpone or mascarpone swirl brownies!)
Bourbon salted caramel sauce
- I use this 15-minute recipe for salted caramel sauce and add the bourbon with the vanilla. If you’re using store-bought sauce, you’ll need to skip the bourbon.
- You can make salted caramel sauce up to 2 days in advance. It will actually keep for about month but will most likely crystallize. If it does, just pop in the microwave for a few seconds and stir until smooth.
Grilling the peaches
- Make sure to use ripe but still firm peaches. Unripe peaches will be hard to pit and won’t soften as much in the grill. On the other hand, peaches that are too soft will get mushy.
- To avoid the peaches sticking on your grill, brush some oil (we use olive oil) on the cut side and make sure your grill is hot enough before putting them on. A clean grill helps, too.
- Only grill the cut side. They will most likely fall apart if you turn them over to grill the flesh side.
- Don’t move them around while on the grill for those nice grill marks.
- To avoid burning, don’t leave them on the grill. Watch them because they will cook quickly. Carefully lift one after about 5 minutes on high heat to check how much longer they need to go.
Recipe variations
- The best substitute for peaches is nectarines but you can also use other stone fruits like plums or apricots. The flavor profile will change but will still be delicious!
- Instead of salted caramel sauce, try dulce de leche, honey or maple syrup.
- Can’t find mascarpone? Cream cheese will work in a pinch. Vanilla ice cream will be amazing too!
- Instead of almonds, you can use other nuts, dried fruits, ground cinnamon and more.
Recipe FAQs
Mascarpone, also called Italian cream cheese, is a creamy, velvety smooth, luxuriously spreadable cheese made from cow’s milk.
It has a slightly sweet flavor and almost buttery consistency. This is due to its high milk fat or butterfat content — up to 75%.
Compared to cream cheese, mascarpone tastes richer, is creamier and has a higher milk fat content.
But if you have trouble finding mascarpone, cream cheese will work in a pinch. Just expect a slightly tangy taste that cream cheese is known for.
There are a few ways to tell if a peach is ripe:
Color. Depending on the kind of peaches you have, you’re looking for a nice shade of yellow orange or reddish orange. Avoid any that look pale or have lots of green on them.
Feel. Gently press on a it. If it gives easily, it’s ripe. If it doesn’t, it needs a few more days. For this recipe though, you don’t want a peach that’s overly soft.
Smell. You would know a peach is ready by its smell! If it’s fragrant and smells like a peach, you’re good to go. If you don’t smell anything, it’s not ready.
Instead of grilling, you can do the following:
Stovetop. Heat a grill pan or cast-iron skillet on medium-high heat. Then follow the recipe as usual.
Oven. Preheat your oven to 400F. Prep a baking pan with parchment paper. Oil the cut side of the peaches and place skin side down on your pan. Bake for 5-10 minutes or until soft.
Grilled peaches are best enjoyed immediately. If you have leftover peaches, you can put them in a covered container in the fridge.
You can enjoy them cold or cut them up and use them in salads, with ice cream, on pancakes, and more!
More summer dessert recipes
Make these summer recipes with the best summer fruits:
If you enjoy peaches and cream, you will love grilled peaches and mascarpone.
Grilled peaches are sweeter and juicier, the mascarpone topping is richer and so luxurious, and the bourbon salted caramel makes this dessert extra special.
All the components go so well together but the peaches remain the star of the show.
So the next time you’re out grilling, add some peaches on the grill. You’ll love it!
Enjoy!
Did you make grilled peaches and mascarpone? I’d love to hear all about it!Leave a comment or a star rating below. You can also tag me on Instagram or Facebook. I’d love to see your creations!
You can also find me on Pinterest and YouTube.
Grilled Peaches with Mascarpone and Bourbon Salted Caramel
Ingredients
For the Grilled Peaches:
- 4 large ripe peaches halved and pitted
- olive oil
For the Vanilla Mascarpone Cream:
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup mascarpone cheese
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
For the Bourbon Salted Caramel Sauce:
- salted caramel sauce store-bought, or see notes for link to homemade recipe
- 1-2 tsp bourbon depends on how much you like bourbon!
Assembly:
- ¼ cup almonds roughly chopped
Instructions
For the Grilled Peaches:
- Brush the cut side of the peaches with olive oil.4 large ripe peaches, olive oil
- Grill cut side down on medium high heat for about 5 minutes or until tender (see notes).
- Carefully remove and set aside.
For the Vanilla Mascarpone Cream:
- Whip heavy cream, mascarpone cheese and vanilla extract until you reach medium stiff peaks.½ cup heavy cream, ½ cup mascarpone cheese, ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Chill until you're ready to use (see notes).
For the Bourbon Salted Caramel Sauce:
- Follow this recipe for salted caramel sauce. Add the bourbon together with the vanilla and remove from heat.salted caramel sauce, 1-2 tsp bourbon
- Allow to cool before using (see notes).
Assembly:
- Dollop a generous amount of mascarpone cream on top of each grilled peach.
- Drizzle with bourbon salted caramel sauce and sprinkle with chopped almonds.¼ cup almonds
- Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Here’s my recipe for homemade salted caramel sauce. If using store-bought sauce, skip the bourbon.
- We like our grilled peaches tender but still firm. You can grill them for longer if you want them softer.
- It’s best to prepare your mascarpone cream just before you serve your peaches so it’s freshly whipped and cool.
- On the other hand, bourbon salted caramel sauce can be prepared from two days up to a month ahead of time. Just store in an air-tight container. Do not refrigerate. If it hardens, microwave for 10 seconds and give it a quick stir.
- Instead of grilling, you can also do this recipe on your stovetop or oven, check the FAQs for more info.
- See post for more tips and step-by-step photos.
Nutrition
Nutritional information are estimates only.
Meg
This was delicious thank you Jolina! Skipped the bourbon but still tasted amazing.
Jolina
Awesome! Glad you liked it Meg! 🙂
Lee
I love peaches, but have never prepared them this way. Combining the peaches with all that you mentioned – sounds delicious!!
Emily
This looks so delicious! Grilled peaches are one of my favorite summer desserts!
Sharon
Grilled peaches are already so enticing but that bourbon caramel sauce?! I am in LOVE. I am so excited we keep grilling through October so I have tons of time to make these 🙂
Sandy N Vyjay
Grilled peaches sound really tempting, need to try them out. Recently had the pleasure of eating peaches straight off the tree, absolutely loved it.
Jolina
Peaches off the tree?? I’m jealous! That sounds like the perfect way to enjoy peaches 🙂
Juventia
This looks incredible!! I love how you used salted caramel sauce to balance the sweetness of peach and mascarpone cream. Sounds like a very delicious dessert to have during summer 🙂
Jolina
Thanks! It’s fast becoming one of our favourite snacks/desserts 🙂 So good, hope you get to try it!
Ginger
These are really really delicious looking! I think it’s cool that you can make your dessert on the barbecue as you make your dinner. This sounds delicious I’m going to have to try it
Jolina
Right?? It’s 2 delicious things in 1 go 🙂 Enjoy!
Vicki
I would have never thought to top them with caramel. Sounds so good!
Jolina
That bourbon salted caramel sauce is everything! When we ran out of peaches we drizzled the extra sauce on basically everything lol.
Leah
These sound amazing! Grilled peaches are the best, and I love all the things you have put with it! I am drooling!
Lauren
I LOVE peaches and I have never grilled them! This looks amazing! Pinned for later 🙂
Kita Bryant
I am obsessed with peaches. I live in Georgia so we have them out our ears. I’m ok with that because you can make stuff like THIS with them!
Jolina
Ok I’m moving there! Lol! I love peaches, there’s so many things you can do with them.
Carrie
These look absolutely amazing. I love grilled peaches but I have never put mascarpone cheese or cream on them! I wish I could fine mascarpone here I would definitely be giving these a try.