The Ultimate No-Bake Peaches and Cream Dessert: A Summer Favorite with a Cinnamon Graham Cracker Crust

Prepare to be enchanted by the quintessential summer treat – our No-Bake Peaches and Cream Dessert. This isn’t just any dessert; it’s a delightful symphony of flavors and textures featuring a thick, aromatic cinnamon graham cracker crust generously topped with a luscious, velvety peach whipped cream, studded with succulent, juicy peaches. It’s pure peach perfection, designed to be easy to make and impossible to resist. If you’re a fan of classic fruit cobblers, you might also enjoy our easy peach cobbler recipe, but for a truly refreshing, chilled experience, this no-bake wonder takes the crown.

A Beloved Family Recipe: Perfect for Summer Gatherings

This particular peach dessert holds a special place in our family’s heart. It’s a treasured recipe passed down from my mother-in-law, and it quickly became my husband’s absolute favorite summer request. Every year, as soon as peach season rolls around, he eagerly anticipates this cool, creamy, and fruity delight. And honestly, who can blame him? The combination of sweet, ripe peaches with light whipped cream and a crunchy, flavorful crust is simply irresistible. It’s the kind of dessert that brings smiles to everyone’s faces and creates lasting summer memories.

Why This No-Bake Peach Dessert Will Become Your New Favorite

Beyond its delicious taste, there are several reasons why this no-bake peaches and cream dessert stands out as a must-try recipe:

• Effortlessly Elegant: Despite its impressive appearance, this dessert is surprisingly simple to assemble, making it perfect for both novice and experienced bakers.
• No Oven Required: Ideal for hot summer days when you want a delightful treat without heating up your kitchen. Just a little chilling time and you’re good to go!
• Fresh Peach Flavor: It truly celebrates the natural sweetness and juiciness of fresh peaches, enhanced by a hint of lemon.
• Irresistible Texture Contrast: The crunchy graham cracker crust perfectly complements the soft, creamy filling and tender peach pieces.
• Crowd-Pleaser: Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue, a family picnic, or simply enjoying a quiet evening, this dessert is always a hit.

The Irresistible Charm of Graham Cracker Crust Desserts

If you’re anything like us, you have a soft spot for desserts featuring a buttery, crumbly graham cracker crust. There’s something inherently comforting and utterly delicious about that sweet, slightly spicy base. If you find yourself nodding along, then you’re likely already a huge fan of these other fantastic recipes:

• Banoffee Pie
• 7 Layer Bars
• French Silk Pie
• No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecakes

Indeed, a well-made graham cracker crust truly elevates a dessert, adding a layer of flavor and texture that makes it unforgettable. And in this peach dessert, the cinnamon-infused crust provides the perfect foundation for the light and fruity filling.

Key Ingredients for the Perfect No-Bake Peach Dessert

This exquisite dessert requires only a handful of readily available ingredients, allowing the natural goodness of the peaches to shine. Let’s take a closer look at what you’ll need and why each component is essential.

For the Peaches and Cream Filling:

1. Fresh Peaches (4 cups, peeled and chopped): The star of our show! For the best flavor and texture, choose ripe, fragrant peaches that yield slightly when gently squeezed. While fresh peaches are highly recommended for their vibrant flavor and natural juiciness, you can use frozen peaches if fresh aren’t available. Just make sure to thaw them completely and drain any excess liquid before using. Peeling peaches can be a breeze – a quick blanch in boiling water followed by an ice bath will make the skins slip right off.
2. Granulated Sugar: This sugar does double duty. It sweetens the peaches, of course, but more importantly, it helps to draw out their natural juices through a process called maceration. These juices are crucial for infusing the cream with a delicate peach flavor and for activating the gelatin.
3. Lemon Juice: A touch of fresh lemon juice is essential. Its bright acidity balances the sweetness of the peaches and sugar, preventing the dessert from being overly cloying. It also enhances the natural fruit flavor, making it pop.
4. Heavy Cream (whipped to stiff peaks): This forms the airy, rich base of our cream layer. Ensure your heavy cream is very cold before whipping for the best results. Whipping it to stiff peaks ensures a stable and fluffy texture that holds its shape beautifully. You’ll whip this after preparing the crust.
5. Unflavored Gelatin: This is the secret ingredient that gives our no-bake dessert its structure and helps it firm up perfectly without baking. It ensures the peaches and cream mixture sets into a sliceable, yet still melt-in-your-mouth, consistency.

For the Irresistible Graham Cracker Crust:

1. Graham Cracker Crumbs (2 cups): You can buy pre-crushed graham cracker crumbs or crush whole graham crackers yourself using a food processor or by placing them in a Ziploc bag and crushing with a rolling pin. Two cups ensure a generously thick crust that can hold up to the creamy filling. My husband loves to reserve about 1/2 cup of the mixture to sprinkle on top of the finished dessert for an extra textural crunch!
2. Melted Butter: This acts as the binding agent for the crust, holding the crumbs together and giving it that signature rich flavor and crisp texture once chilled. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the overall saltiness.
3. Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness to the graham cracker crust, balancing the slight savoriness of the crackers and complementing the dessert’s overall profile.
4. Ground Cinnamon: This is a crucial addition that truly elevates the crust. The warm, aromatic spice of cinnamon pairs exceptionally well with peaches, adding a depth of flavor that makes the whole dessert sing. Don’t skip it!
5. All-Purpose Flour: A small amount of flour helps to stabilize the crust, preventing it from becoming too crumbly and ensuring it holds its shape when sliced. It also helps absorb some of the butter, preventing greasiness.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making This Easy Peach Dessert

Let’s walk through the simple steps to create this delightful no-bake peach dessert. Precision and patience, especially during chilling, are key to a perfect result!

1. Prepare the Peaches:

In a medium-sized bowl, combine the peeled and chopped peaches. Sprinkle the granulated sugar and lemon juice evenly over the peaches. Gently stir everything together until the peaches are well coated. The sugar will begin to draw out the natural juices from the peaches, creating a flavorful syrup. Place the bowl of peaches in the refrigerator while you prepare the graham cracker crust. This chilling time allows for proper maceration, ensuring juicy, flavorful peaches and enough liquid for the gelatin.

2. Craft the Cinnamon Graham Cracker Crust:

While the peaches are chilling, prepare the star of the base. In a separate medium bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter, sugar, ground cinnamon, and flour. Stir these ingredients thoroughly with a fork or spoon until they are evenly combined and resemble wet sand. The mixture should hold together when squeezed. Press this graham cracker mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of a 13″x9″ baking dish. Use the bottom of a glass or your knuckles to ensure a compact and level crust. Place the prepared crust in the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes. This chilling period helps the butter solidify, creating a firm and stable crust that won’t crumble when sliced.

3. Assemble the Peaches and Cream Filling:

Remove the sweetened peaches from the fridge. You’ll notice a significant amount of delicious peach juice has accumulated at the bottom of the bowl – this is exactly what we want! Carefully drain all of this peach juice into a separate small bowl. Now, it’s crucial to measure out precisely 1/4 cup of this peach juice and set it aside. You can discard any remaining juice; we only need a small amount for the gelatin. In a small bowl, add the 1/4 cup of reserved peach juice and sprinkle the unflavored gelatin powder over it. Let it sit for a minute or two to “bloom” (soften), then use a fork to mix the gelatin thoroughly into the peach juice until it’s fully dissolved and there are no lumps.

Next, gently fold the peach and gelatin mixture into your freshly whipped heavy cream. Be careful not to deflate the cream too much. Once combined, gently stir in the chopped, macerated peaches. The goal is to evenly distribute the peaches throughout the light and fluffy cream.

4. Layer and Chill to Perfection:

Retrieve the chilled graham cracker crust from the refrigerator. Spoon the peach and cream mixture evenly over the crust, spreading it into a smooth, level layer using a spatula. Once assembled, place the dessert back into the refrigerator to chill for at least 2 hours, or ideally, several hours. This extended chilling time is vital for the gelatin to fully set, ensuring your dessert is firm enough to slice beautifully. The longer it chills, the better it sets and the more the flavors meld together.

Tips for Peach Dessert Perfection

Achieving the perfect no-bake peach dessert is simple, but a few expert tips can ensure outstanding results every time:

• Choosing Ripe Peaches: The success of this dessert hinges on the quality of your peaches. Select peaches that are fragrant and slightly soft to the touch. If your peaches are a bit firm, let them ripen on the counter for a few days before using.
• Whipping Cream to Stiff Peaks: For the lightest, most stable cream layer, make sure your heavy cream and mixing bowl are very cold. This helps the cream whip up faster and hold its volume. Over-whipping can turn it grainy, so stop as soon as stiff peaks form.
• Preventing a Soggy Crust: While the crust might soften slightly over time due to the juicy peach filling, ensuring it’s well-chilled before adding the filling and pressing it firmly into the pan will help maintain its crispness for longer.
• Making Ahead & Storage: This dessert is best served within 12-24 hours of preparation, as the graham cracker crust can get a little soft from the peach juices beyond that. However, it still tastes really good on the second day! Store any leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
• Serving Suggestions: Serve slices of this peach dessert as is, or with an extra dollop of fresh whipped cream, a sprig of mint, or a sprinkle of reserved graham cracker crumbs for added visual appeal and crunch.

Delicious Variations to Try

While this recipe is perfect as written, feel free to experiment and customize it to your liking:

• Mixed Berry Delight: Instead of just peaches, try combining them with other summer fruits like blueberries, raspberries, or sliced strawberries.
• Spiced Up Crust: Enhance the cinnamon in the crust with a pinch of nutmeg or cardamom for an even warmer flavor profile.
• Nutty Crunch: Add finely chopped pecans or almonds to the graham cracker crust mixture for an extra layer of texture and flavor.
• Cream Cheese Layer: For a richer dessert, consider adding a thin layer of sweetened cream cheese filling between the crust and the peach cream.
• Tropical Twist: Replace some of the peaches with mango for a tropical variation.

That’s all there is to it! This no-bake peaches and cream dessert is a classic family recipe that my loved ones absolutely adore, and I truly hope you enjoy it just as much. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the bounty of summer and treat yourself to something truly special.

More Irresistible Peach Recipes

If you can’t get enough of the sweet, juicy goodness of peaches, be sure to explore these other fantastic recipes:

• Homemade Peach Fritters
• Refreshing Peach Punch
• Easy Peach Cobbler Recipe
• Classic Fresh Peach Pie
• Creamy Peach Cream Pie

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