Nectarine Crisp

This delicious nectarine crisp is summer in a baking dish! A crunchy oat and nut topping covers a juicy, sweet layer of fresh nectarines. Enjoy this easy crisp recipe with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top for the perfect summer dessert.

The best nectarine crisp recipe

You’d be pressed to find an easier summer dessert than this tasty nectarine crisp recipe. All you do is toss the filling, mix up the oat topping in another bowl, and layer both into a skillet and bake.

And once you take your first bite, you’ll be stunned that such a delicious dessert could be so simple to prepare. A sweet bottom layer of syrupy nectarines is hidden under a buttery crisp topping.

Top it all off with a melty plop of vanilla ice cream or sweetened whipped cream, and you have yourself a delicious dessert. There’s just nothing better than a homemade crisp with peak-season nectarines!

Fresh fruit is one of the best parts of summer! If you’re interested in more great summertime fruit recipes, be sure to check out this creamy fruit salad, strawberry cobbler, and cherry crumble.

Ingredients

Because nectarine crisp is so easy to make with pretty basic ingredients, it’s an excellent option for summer entertaining. Please refer to the recipe card below for exact measurements.

• Fresh nectarines: The riper your fruit is, the better this crisp will turn out. Make it in the summer or whenever you can get your hands on really sweet, juicy nectarines.
• Flour: A little all-purpose flour helps the nectarine juices to thicken as they bake, resulting in a jammy sauce under the nutty topping. You’ll also need flour for the topping.
• Brown sugar goes into both the filling and crunchy topping and gives the dish a lovely caramel note. You can use light brown sugar or dark brown sugar, whatever you have available.
• Orange juice + orange zest are slightly different from the traditional lemon juice. But when it comes to nectarines, orange juice brings out the natural nectarine flavor even more than lemon.
• Vanilla extract + ground cinnamon create warm depth of flavor. I toss the nectarines with the vanilla and a dash of cinnamon, and then add more cinnamon to the crispy oat topping.
• Whole rolled oats make up the base of the delicious nectarine crisp topping. Yum!
• Crushed pecans give the topping a great crunch and a lovely nutty flavor. Feel free to swap in walnuts or hazelnuts.
• Salted butter adds richness to the topping and ensures it forms sweet, nutty clumps.

How to make nectarine crisp

This easy crips recipe will be a go-to for your family during the summer, and it takes only a few minutes to pull together. Without further ado, let’s dive into this scrumptious nectarine dessert recipe!

#1: Mix fruit filling

• In a 10-inch or 9×13-inch baking dish, combine the nectarines, brown sugar, flour, orange juice, orange zest, vanilla, and cinnamon. Toss and make sure the nectarines are well coated.
• Set aside as you prepare the crisp topping.

#2: Create topping

• Combine the brown sugar, oats, flour, pecans, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl.
• Add the cubed butter. Cut the butter into the dry ingredients using a fork or a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

#3: Bake & serve

• Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the nectarines. Place the pan in the preheated oven.
• Bake the crisp at 375°F for 40 to 45 minutes, until the peaches begin to release their juices and the topping is golden brown.
• Remove the skillet or baking dish from the oven and allow the juices to settle lightly (about 15 minutes). Serve warm and garnish with vanilla ice cream. Enjoy!

Tips for the best nectarine crisp

This nectarine crisp recipe couldn’t be easier! Here are a few tips and tricks to make your baking experience a breeze:

• Buy nectarines in advance: Most often, the nectarines sold at grocery stores aren’t quite ripe. If you can, plan your shopping trip a day or two before you want to make this crisp. Allow the nectarines to ripen on the counter until they smell fragrant and feel soft to the touch.
• Less dishes: To avoid more dirty dishes, you can mix the nectarine filling right in the baking dish. A large skillet or a 9×13-inch / 23×33 cm casserole dish will work well.
• Leave the skin on: Unless the nectarine skin really bothers you, I say skip peeling them – it’ll save you so much time and effort.
• Preheat oven: Be sure to preheat your oven 20 to 30 minutes before you want to bake so the oven gets sufficiently hot.
• Catch juices bubbling over: Place them on a tin-foil-lined baking sheet if baking in a skillet. If any juices bubble up, they drip on the baking sheet and not your oven floor.
• Let set before serving: When you take the crisp out of the oven, it’ll be piping hot. Serve your nectarine crisp warm, but allow the juices to set and thicken for 15 to 20 minutes before digging in.

Variations

• Mix & match your fruit: Pair nectarines and blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, pitted cherries, or other fruit and berries.
• Bourbon: Add 2 tablespoons of bourbon or whiskey to the filling for extra oomph.
• Nuts: If you aren’t a fan of pecans, switch them up for other nuts! Try walnuts, slivered almonds, or hazelnuts instead.
• Glaze: Drizzle on some warmed cream cheese frosting as a glaze.

Storage & make-ahead

Make nectarine crisp ahead of time

If you plan to make this nectarine crisp for dinner, you can do some of the work ahead of time. Mix up the topping a few hours in advance or even a day in advance.

You can also slice the nectarines and store them covered in the fridge for up to a day. When it comes time to serve, all you have to do is assemble the dish and bake.

How to store nectarine crisp

Lucky for you, this nectarine crisp stores well, and you can enjoy it for days after making it. Once the crisp has cold, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last for 2 to 3 days.

Reheat nectarine crisp

Warm up a apportion in the microwave and then top it with a scoop of ice cream – it will taste as good as the day you baked it!

Freeze nectarine pecan crisp

This nectarine bake freezes well. Simply bake it and allow it to cool completely. Once cold, transfer into a freezer-safe container and place in the freezer. It will last for about 3 months.

When ready to eat, let it thaw and place it in the oven at 350°F / 180°C / gas mark 4 and cook for 20 minutes until it’s warmed up.

FAQ

Do you have to peel nectarines for nectarine crips?

Honestly, that’s up to you. The nectarine skin softens as the crisp happily bakes away, so I never bother with peeling my nectarines. However, if you don’t like the texture of cooked nectarine skin, feel free to peel them first.

Can I make nectarine crisp with frozen or canned nectarines?

Yes! Nectarine crisp can be made with both canned and frozen nectarines. I recommend draining canned nectarines before you substitute them for fresh fruit.

Likewise, thaw frozen nectarines and drain the excess liquid. The simplest way to do this is simply to put your frozen nectarine slices in a colander and leave it in the sink until thawed.

What’s the difference between nectarine crisp and nectarine crumble?

A crisp is traditionally a fruit (in this case, nectarines) covered has oats and nuts in the topping and is crunchier than a crumble.

By contrast, a crumble is similar to a crisp but without the oats in the streusel. It’s typically a simple combination of flour, butter, and sugar that is clumpier than a crisp.

Both are easier than nectarine pie, but I still encourage you to check it because my nectarine pie is absolutely irresistible.

What’s the difference between nectarine crisp and nectarine cobbler?

Crips and cobblers are often confused, but they are quite different! Cobblers usually have a biscuit-like topping (see our blueberry cobbler, for example), while crisp is made with a crispy, streusel-like topping.

More nectarine desserts

Once you try this nectarine crisp, you’ll be on the lookout for more delicious nectarine desserts. Try a few more of these, and you’ll be set for the whole season.

• Homemade Nectarine Pie
• Nectarine Cobbler
• Soft Nectarine Cake
• Easy Nectarine Galette
• Nectarine Bread
• Almond Nectarine Tart
• Nectarine Compote
• Nectarine Jam
• Refreshing Nectarine Smoothie