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Peach and Pecan Sandy Crumble is the best of both worlds, EASY baked peaches topped with an old fashioned Pecan Sandy topping. It’s the perfect mix for a fabulous summer dessert.

A bowl of peach crumble with a scoop of melted ice cream

I’ve been on the search all summer for a great peach cobbler, crisp or crumble. Taylor doesn’t like the cakey types so I’ve been experimenting with crisps and crumbles. Peach bars were a favorite until today, when I made a Peach and Pecan Sandy Crumble.

I always loved Pecan Sandies as a kid, I can’t believe Keebler still makes them. This is my dream combination, peaches that are not overly sweetened topped with an old fashioned cookie.

I make this dessert every summer once the peaches hit the fruit stands, sometimes with a mixture of white and yellow peaches and sometimes with just yellow peaches, it’s great whatever combination you use. You can leave the skins on or peel them depending on your preference, I like mine peeled. Here are some tips for peeling and cutting peaches.

Toasted pecans are finely ground and form the base of the crust which gives the topping that Pecan Sandy taste and texture. We all decided that we can stop searching for a crumble topping, it can’t be any better than this one.

A spoon full of peach and pecan crummble.

All you need for the peach filling

Peaches – any type or combination, pealed or un-pealed. They should be sweet enough to eat.
Lemon juice
Cornstarch so it’s not too juicy
Just a little sugar, nutmeg and cinnamon

What you’ll need for the crumble

Toasted pecans – try toasting them in the toaster oven, it takes just a couple of minutes. You can also use the oven or toast in a skillet on the stove. Keep a close eye on them, it doesn’t take long to burn.
Powdered sugar – this gives them a cookie texture.
Turbinado or any coarse sugar for a crisper topping.
Butter
Flour, baking powder, salt and vanilla

How do you make Peach Pecan Sandy Crumble

First make the crumble by combining ground pecans and flour and then pour melted butter over the mixture, because it just wouldn’t be the same without butter.

Butter being poured into a bowl of flour mixture.

Combine the crumble and add some chopped toasted pecans.

Next cut up your peaches and add some cornstarch and seasoning and place them in your baking dish. Top with the crumble and bake!

This crumble is great right out of the oven, supper crunchy on top and you just can’t beat baked peaches. Try to eat this the same day you make it. As it sits, the peaches will make the topping soggy. It still tastes great the next day or two, the texture is just a bit mushier. Not that it kept Taylor from taking the leftovers home with her. You can just put this in the oven while you’re eating dinner and it will be perfect when you’re ready for dessert.

A baking dish of peach crumble with a serving removed.

What’s the difference between a cobbler, crisp and crumble

All three are baked fruit, the only difference is what you decide to put on top. While the fresh fruit is the star of these desserts, the topping can make all the difference.

Cobblers are covered with a biscuit like topping so that the biscuits can absorb some of the juice. Cobblers are great with almost any fruit, because who doesn’t love a good biscuit, but I think the biscuit topping works best with fruits that are super juicy when cooked like berries.

A ramekin filled with Southern blueberry cobbler with a spoon

Cobbler Recipes

Crisps and Crumbles are very similar. Instead of a biscuit, they are topped with a streusel like topping. Most crisps have an oatmeal based streusel while a crumble is typically made with a flour based streusel, both have butter and some type of sugar. The idea is that the topping gets crisp while the fruit bakes. These are especially good with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Ice cream topped berry and rhubarb crisp with a spoon

Crisp Recipes

Crumble Recipes

Why make a cobbler, crisp or crumble over a pie

The biggest reason to choose a cobbler, crisp or crumble over a pie is convenience. You don’t have to plan ahead. Just cut up your fruit, mix with a bit of cornstarch or flour and top it with some basic pantry ingredients mixed with butter. You can pull a fabulous dessert together in 15 minutes and let it bake while you’re preparing dinner.

It’s a great way to use up fruit that’s getting too ripe or if your fruit is not the best, baking it will bring out the flavors. A final reason is that fruit gets really juicy when it cooks and that can make a mess if you’re making it into a pie, and of course, you don’t have to make a pie crust.

A white ramekin with peach crumble and whipped cream.

Adapted from Smitten Kitchen

Peach and Pecan Sandy Crumble