More Peaches and Cream? - Yes!

By Luci

Yes. More. My previous blog gave three recipes for non-dessert preparations using peaches and cream (https://www.dazzlingdinners.com/post/peaches-and-cream). Then Michele’s blog two weeks ago featured a peach pie (https://www.dazzlingdinners.com/post/national-peach-pie-day). Why? Because fresh, local peaches are in season and they are wonderful! Best to indulge in them now because they will not be with us for long. 

Because I love peaches topped with heavy cream, here are some recipes for flavored heavy cream to top luscious fresh peaches.

All recipes provide enough cream for four servings using two large peaches, sliced.

Basil-Infused Cream

Basil provides the perfect complement for sweet peaches, and other fruit as well. AI gives an accurate description of its flavor: sweet, peppery, and aromatic with notes of mint, anise, and clove. Make this lovely dish special by serving it with yummy candied basil leaves.

Makes 1 cup, enough for 4 generous servings

Ingredients

1 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup sweet basil leaves

1 tablespoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 fresh, ripe peaches, sliced

Preparation

Place cream and sugar in a small pot. Bring to a boil. Quickly take off heat and plunge basil leaves and vanilla extract into pot. Cover tightly and let sit for 30 minutes. Strain the cream, pressing lightly on the basil. Cool until ready to pour over peaches.

Candied Basil Leaves (Optional)

Ingredients

Sweet basil leaves, 2-3 person

Egg white

Sugar, superfine or granulated

Preparation

1. Allow 2-3 large, clean, pretty leaves per person. Make sure they are perfectly dry. Leave their stems on to serve as a handle. 

2. Dip each leaf into a bowl of egg white. Shake off the excess and dip each into bowl of superfine sugar or, if you prefer a very visible coating, into a bowl of granulated sugar.

3. Lay out on parchment paper and allow to dry.

With Sambuca Romana Cream

Isn’t licorice-flavored cream with peaches enticing? Just thinking about it, you can smell the rich aroma and imagine the distinctive sweet but earthy taste of licorice.  Use Sambuca Romana for the alcoholic kick that elevates the taste of the cream and the peaches with complexity. Serve with anisette toast (optional).

Makes 1 cup, enough for 4 generous servings

Ingredients

1 cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon sugar

1/2 tablespoon Sambuca Romana

2 fresh, ripe peaches, sliced

2 anisette cookies per person (optional)

Preparation

Mix together the cream and sugar. Add the Sambuca Romana and mix well. Refrigerate until ready to use. Pour over sliced peaches and place the anisette cookies, if using, to the side.

With Spicy Cream

Remember the old nursery rhyme describing girls as sugar and spice and everything nice? That sure applies to peaches immersed in sweet and spicy cream. If desired, serve with cinnamon cookies.

Makes 1 cup, enough for 4 generous servings.

Ingredients

1 cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon sugar

1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground coriander

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

2 fresh, ripe peaches, sliced 

Preparation

Mix together the cream, sugar, vanilla and spices. Pour over the sliced peaches.