Traeger Smoked Peaches – Recipe and Cooking Guide
Hey Smokers and welcome to my post where we will run through my Traeger Smoked Peaches recipe and cooking guide. As you may or may not know, this site is all about cooking on my Traeger Pro 22 Pellet Smoker and seeing where we can take things. And today, that is into the fruity fruity world of peaches!
Now, fruit is not something I have ever considered for a smoker, however since I bought my new pellet smoker, I am looking to smoke everything I can get my hands on. Then my wife came home with some peaches and as they say, the rest is history…
Traeger Smoked Peaches: What You’ll Need
Ok, so below is what I used to cook me some peaches on the smoker:
Ingredients:
- Some ripe peaches, halved and pitted (the amounts below are for 4 whole peaches)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar (optional for a sweeter taste)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional for added flavor – I left this out as I don’t really love cinnamon)
- Drizzle of Honey – I added this to account for the lack of cinnamon
- Olive oil or melted butter, for brushing
- Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, for serving (optional – nope, ice cream is a must – haha)
Equipment:
- Pellet smoker (I used Apple pellets but Cherry would work as well)
- Brush for oil/butter
- Wire cake tray (optional for easier clean up)
The Cooking Process
This is what I did and when:
1. Preheat Your Pellet Grill
Start by preheating your pellet grill to a medium-high heat, around 225°F (107°C). This temperature is ideal for cooking peaches as you really don’t want it to burn before it has warmed through.
Use pellets good for fruit such as Apple (my choice here) or Cherry.
2. Prepare the Peaches
As the smoker is pre-heating, prepare the peaches as follows:
- Wash the peaches thoroughly. Cut them in half and remove the pits. If desired, you can leave the skin on for added texture and flavor (which I did cos I really couldn’t be bothered trying to remove them).
- Lightly brush the cut sides of the peaches with olive oil or melted butter to help the smoke adhere to the peaches.
- If using cinnamon, mix it and some brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and sprinkle the mixture over the cut sides of the peaches for added sweetness and flavor.
As above, I am not a fan of cinnamon so I chose to sprinkle some brown sugar onto each oiled side and then drizzle some honey on top.
3. Smoke the Peaches
Place the peaches in the smoker, skin side down either on the grill or on a wire cake tray. Smoke for about 30-60 minutes, or until the peaches start to change color and/or the sugar caramelizes.
The time of the cook here is to personal taste. Ideally, you want the peaches to be warmed through with a bit of smokey flavor. If you like them with a little burn on top, or particularly mushy (if you are adding them to a pie for example), then leave them longer. If you want them to still be a little crunchy, take them off earlier.
My cook took almost exactly 1 hour at 107°C to warm through with a little firmness.
4. Serve
Once the peaches are smoked to your liking, remove them from the smoker and let them cool for a few minutes.
Serve warm, optionally with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream on top. And if you really want them to look good, garnish with fresh mint leaves as well.
Tips for Perfect Pellet Smoked Peaches
In my experience, the following tips are crucial in the effort for some perfect smoked peaches:
- Choosing firm peaches: For smoking, choose peaches that are ripe but still firm. Overripe peaches can become too mushy when smoked.
- Pellet Choice: Fruitwood pellets like apple, cherry, or peach provide a milder, sweeter smoke that complements the natural flavors of the peaches.
At the end of the day, if you have just smoked a pork shoulder and want some desert, then just throw the peaches on and see how they go. You never know, stronger pellets such as oak or mesquite may just turn out ok as well!
And as always, I cooked my peaches on the Traeger Grills Pro 22 Electric Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker.
FAQs
Can I Use Any Type of Pellets for Smoking Peaches?
Yes, you can use various types of wood pellets for cooking peaches on a smoker, but as fruit trends to be more delicate than meats, the choice of pellets can significantly influence the flavor profile of the finished dish. Different woods impart different flavors, so it’s worth experimenting to find your preference. Apple and cherry wood pellets offer a sweeter, more subtle smoke that complements the natural flavors of fruit without overpowering it. Ultimately, the best type of pellets for cooking peaches depends on your personal taste preferences.
Conclusion
So there you have it, my recipe and cooking guide for some Traeger Peach action. I hope it has been of assistance but as usual, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out by commenting below. I would also love to hear of your own experiences, preferences or suggestions here as well.
Are there any other products you have been looking at but want to know more about? If so, please comment below and I will do my best to get some details for you.
Until next time
Have fun and get smoking!
Paul
