Finding the perfect dessert recipe when you’re cooking for just two people can be tricky. Most recipes make enough to feed a crowd, leaving you with way too many leftovers that often end up going to waste. And let’s be honest – nobody wants to do complex math to divide a standard recipe into smaller portions.
That’s why this peach crisp for two is such a winner: it’s perfectly portioned for a cozy date night or quiet evening at home, comes together with simple ingredients you probably already have, and gives you that warm, comforting dessert experience without days of leftovers taking up space in your fridge.
Why You’ll Love This Peach Crisp
- Perfect small batch dessert – Made for just two people, this recipe eliminates waste and prevents you from having too many leftovers sitting around.
- Quick preparation – Ready in just 30 minutes, this dessert is perfect when you want something sweet without spending hours in the kitchen.
- Simple ingredients – You likely have most of these pantry staples on hand already, and you’ll only need two fresh peaches.
- Customizable recipe – Works great with either coconut oil or butter, and you can easily adjust the sweetness to your taste.
What Kind of Peaches Should I Use?
For a peach crisp, you’ll want to pick peaches that are ripe but still firm enough to hold their shape when baked. Yellow peaches are the classic choice for baking since they tend to be a bit more tart and hold up better in the oven than white peaches, which are sweeter but can get mushy. When shopping, look for peaches that give slightly when gently squeezed and have a sweet peachy smell at the stem end. If your peaches aren’t quite ripe, you can speed things up by placing them in a paper bag at room temperature for a day or two. Just avoid using hard, unripe peaches as they won’t soften properly during baking and won’t give you that juicy, sweet filling we’re after.
Options for Substitutions
This cozy dessert for two is pretty adaptable! Here are some easy swaps you can try:
- Peaches: Not peach season? No worries! You can use other stone fruits like nectarines, plums, or apricots. Even apples or pears work great – just cut them into small pieces so they cook evenly.
- Oats: Regular old-fashioned oats work best, but you can use quick oats in a pinch. Just avoid instant oats as they’ll get too mushy. If you’re out of oats, crushed graham crackers or nuts make a nice crunchy topping.
- Brown sugar: White sugar plus a tiny drop of molasses works instead of brown sugar. Or use coconut sugar for a slightly different flavor.
- Coconut oil/butter: These two are interchangeable in this recipe. You could also use margarine or even a dairy-free butter substitute if needed.
- Cinnamon: Out of cinnamon? Try apple pie spice, pumpkin pie spice, or even a pinch of nutmeg or cardamom for a different spin.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking
The biggest challenge when making peach crisp is dealing with overly juicy peaches that can make your dessert too wet – combat this by making sure to pat your diced peaches dry with paper towels and don’t skip the flour in the filling, as it helps absorb excess moisture.
Getting the right topping texture depends on your coconut oil or butter being cold, not melted, so keep it chilled until the last minute and use your fingers to create small crumbs when mixing it with the dry ingredients.
To achieve the perfect golden-brown topping, avoid the temptation to stir the crisp while it’s baking, and instead let it bake undisturbed until you see the fruit bubbling around the edges and the topping turn a light golden color (usually about 20-25 minutes).
For the best texture contrast, let your crisp cool for at least 10 minutes after baking – this allows the fruit filling to set slightly while keeping that wonderful contrast between the warm, soft peaches and the crunchy topping.
What to Serve With Peach Crisp?
This warm and cozy peach crisp practically begs for a scoop of cold vanilla ice cream on top – the contrast between hot and cold is just perfect! If you’re not in an ice cream mood, a dollop of fresh whipped cream or even Greek yogurt adds a nice creamy element to balance out the sweet fruit and crunchy topping. For a special breakfast twist, try serving this crisp warm with a splash of cold milk or a spoonful of plain yogurt and a drizzle of honey. The small portion size makes it just right for sharing with someone special over coffee or tea.
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: This cozy peach crisp will stay good in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just cover your ramekins with plastic wrap or transfer leftovers to an airtight container. The topping might lose some of its crunch in the fridge, but it’s still super yummy!
Make Ahead: Want to prep this ahead? You can mix the dry topping ingredients and store them in a container at room temperature for up to a week. When you’re ready to bake, just add the coconut oil or butter and sprinkle over your prepared peaches.
Warm Up: To enjoy leftover peach crisp, pop it in the microwave for about 30 seconds, or warm it in the oven at 350°F for about 10 minutes. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top, and it’ll taste just like it’s freshly baked!
Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
Cooking Time | 15-20 minutes |
Total Time | 25-35 minutes |
Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 350-400
- Protein: 4-6 g
- Fat: 16-20 g
- Carbohydrates: 55-60 g
Ingredients
For the fruit base:
- 2 medium fresh peaches, peeled and diced
- 1 tsp all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
For the crumble topping:
- 2 tbsp packed brown sugar
- 2 tbsp old-fashioned oats
- 3 tsp flour
- 3 tsp coconut oil or unsalted butter
Step 1: Prepare the Baking Dish
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
Spray two ramekins or a small baking dish with nonstick spray to prevent sticking.
Step 2: Make the Peach Filling
- 2 medium fresh peaches, peeled and diced
- 1 tsp all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
In a small bowl, toss the peeled and diced peaches with the all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, and granulated sugar until the peaches are evenly coated.
Divide this peach mixture between the prepared ramekins.
I like to ensure the spices are evenly distributed so every bite is flavorful.
Step 3: Prepare and Add the Crumble Topping
- brown sugar
- oats
- flour
- butter or coconut oil
In another small bowl, combine brown sugar, oats, and flour.
Cut in the butter or coconut oil using your fingers or a fork until the mixture is clumpy and the fat is in pea-sized pieces.
Crumble this mixture evenly over the peaches in the ramekins.
Step 4: Bake the Peach Crisp
Bake the assembled crisp at 375°F for about 15 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown.
Allow to cool slightly before serving for best texture.