Summer Peach Pie

When peaches are at their summer best — heavy, fragrant, dripping with juice — there is only one proper thing to do, and that is bake them into a deep-dish pie. This one piles the crust high with spiced peaches in a filling tuned to set rather than run, all under a flaky, cold-butter pastry that shatters at the fork. It is summer captured at its peak, the kind of pie that makes a whole season worth waiting for.

The Cold-Fat Flaky Pastry

Make the pastry with cold butter worked into the flour in flakes, keeping everything chilled so it bakes up tender and shattering. Cold fat is the whole secret to a flaky crust — handle the dough as little as possible and keep it cool, and it will reward you with layers that crackle.

The Spiced Peaches, Set Just Right

Toss the peaches with spice and just enough thickener so the filling sets into something sliceable rather than soupy. A deep-dish pie holds a great deal of juicy fruit, so this careful thickening is what lets you cut a clean slice that holds its shape — the mark of a pie made with real care.

Jorj Morgan

Deep-Dish Summer Peach Pie

Experience the pure joy of summer in every bite: sun-kissed peaches, gently spiced and nestled beneath a deeply golden, flaky pastry. This dessert, best served with a pristine scoop of premium vanilla bean ice cream, offers an unforgettable taste of the season's bounty.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 50 minutes mins

Wait Time (Chilling) 30 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 50 minutes mins

Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

The Cold-Fat Pastry

• 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour plus more for dusting
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 12 tablespoons unsalted butter deeply chilled and cut into small cubes (1 ½ sticks)
• ⅓ cup vegetable shortening such as Crisco, deeply chilled
• ½ cup ice-cold water
• 1 large egg beaten with 2 tablespoons melted butter (for the egg wash)

The Peach Stabilization

• 8 ripe fresh peaches
• Water and ice for the blanching bath

The Spiced Filling

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice from ½ medium lemon
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into tiny cubes

Method

 

Make the Pie Dough

1. Place the 3 cups of flour, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt into the bowl of a high-capacity food processor. Pulse a few times to aerate and mix.
2. Add the chilled butter cubes and the cold vegetable shortening directly over the dry ingredients. Pulse 8 to 12 times, strictly until the fats are cut into the flour and the mixture resembles coarse, pea-sized crumbs. (Preserving these cold butter pockets is critical for a flaky crust).
3. With the machine running, slowly pour the ½ cup of ice water down the feed tube. Pulse just until the dough begins to clump together into a ball. Do not overprocess.
4. Turn the dough out onto a heavily floured board. Divide it evenly into two round disks, wrap each tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for exactly 30 minutes to relax the gluten and solidify the fats.

Peel & Slice the Peaches

1. Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil over high heat. Prepare a separate large bowl filled with ice water.
2. Carefully drop 2 to 3 peaches at a time into the boiling water for exactly 10 to 12 seconds to loosen the skins.
3. Use a slotted spoon or spider to immediately transfer the peaches to the ice water bath to halt the cooking process. Once cooled, use a sharp paring knife to effortlessly peel the soft skins away.
4. Halve, pit, and slice the peeled peaches to a uniform ¼-inch thickness. Place the slices into a large mixing bowl and toss gently with the fresh lemon juice to prevent oxidation.

Toss the Filling

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. In a small ceramic bowl, whisk together the 1 cup of granulated sugar, ½ cup of flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and kosher salt.
3. Pour this dry spice mixture directly over the sliced peaches. Toss gently until the fruit is evenly coated. Allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes so the sugar draws out the fruit juices.
4. Pour the entire peach mixture into a large colander set over a bowl. Drain the excess liquid. (This crucial step removes heavy water weight, preventing a soggy bottom crust).

Assemble & Bake the Pie

1. On a well-floured board, roll one dough disk from the center outward into a circle 1 inch larger than your 9-inch pie pan. Gently ease the dough into the pan without stretching it.
2. Brush the bottom of the raw crust with a light layer of the egg wash, and pierce the bottom several times with a fork to allow steam to escape.
3. Pour the drained, spiced peaches directly into the crust. Dot the top of the fruit evenly with the tiny cubes of cold butter.
4. Roll the second dough disk out and place it gently over the top of the pie. Fold the overhanging edges under and crimp firmly with your fingers to seal the pie.
5. Use a paring knife to cut several small steam vents into the top crust. Brush the entire surface heavily with the remaining egg wash.
6. Place the pie pan onto a heavy metal baking sheet to catch any bubbling juices. Bake at 400°F until the crust is deeply golden brown and the fruit filling is thick and bubbling vigorously through the vents, about 45 to 50 minutes. Allow to cool and set before slicing.