Vanilla Spice-Rubbed Grilled Peaches With Fresh Goat Cheese

Total Time
Prep 25 mins
Cook 0 mins

These are like little warm peach pies--without the crust! You can serve the peaches with vanilla ice cream instead of the goat cheese. Adapted from a recipe by chef Tom Douglas by way of the Chicago Tribune.

Ingredients Nutrition


  1. Prepare a grill for medium direct heat.
  2. For the rub, put the sugar in a small bowl. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into the sugar using the tip of a sharp paring knife (tuck the bean into a bowl of sugar for vanilla sugar).
  3. Mix the vanilla seeds with the sugar, using the tips of your fingers to break up clumps. Stir in the pepper and cinnamon.
  4. Cut the peaches in half; remove the pits. Brush the cut sides lightly with oil; sprinkle generously with the spice rub (you will not use all the spice rub -- reserve the remaining for another use).
  5. Place the peaches, cut sides up, on a lightly oiled grill; grill until the peaches are starting to soften and the skin side is marked by the grill, about 3 minutes.
  6. Turn; grill until the sugar is nicely golden and caramelized, about 2 minutes (move to a cooler part of the grill if they are browning too quickly).
  7. Turn the peaches cut-side up again; place 1 tablespoon of the goat cheese in the center of each.
  8. Grill peaches until goat cheese is warmed and just beginning to melt, about 1 minute. Transfer to a platter.
  9. Sprinkle the goat cheese with a little more of the spice rub.
  10. Serve hot.
Most Helpful

5 5

This is a lovely, quickly prepared dessert. The peaches soften, but remain firm enough to slice with a fork. The vanilla brings out the freshness of the peaches. The sugar blends with the peach juice and caramelizes a bit under the grill. Soft goat cheese balances the sweetness of the rest of the dessert. I liked this; if you want the dessert to be very sweet, use ice cream. This is a delicious summer dessert.

5 5

Truly an outstanding recipe. It was so easy and so delicious. It was made with large fresh peaches.