There is such a treasure found in recipes that have been passed down through the generations. My great grandmother’s fried peach pies are the stuff of legend in my family and so when I was thinking over a new bar recipe for my third cookbook, Sweetness, it didn’t take long until I dreamed up the idea of mixing her bursting-with-flavor peach pie filling with a shortbread crust and a streusel topping.

As a result, I consider this recipe to be a collaborative effort between my great grandmother, Lela and myself. This simple bar as all of the flavors I love in Lela’s fried peach pies, and still brings to mind sweet memories of her. The fact that it happens to have a lot less fuss involved is just a double win!

Let’s dive on in and let me show you how to make these sweet babies!

The recipe and all of the ingredients and their amounts are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. 

Making the crust: Place all crust ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and cut together with a fork or pastry cutter until well combined and form a crumbl dough. Press into bottom of prepared 9×13 dish. Bake until just lightly browned around the very edges, about 20-25 minutes.

Make the peach filling: Place all fruit filling incredients in a medium sized saucepan and cook over medium high heat, stirring often at the start, until it comes to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer, stirring every now and then and breaking up large pieces of the peaches, until thick and reduced by about half, 15-25 minutes.

It is vital that you use dried peaches in this in order to have the punch of flavor. If you want to use fresh or canned peaches, you’ll need to experiment. Try to get them thick like the dried ones are by cooking for a period of time. I’ve never made this with fresh, though, and I suggest dried because that is what my great grandmother used. In fact, she used to dry her fresh peaches on large pieces of tin in her front yard on hot summer days! 

Spread this mixture over prepared crust.

Make the streusel: Combine all streusel ingredients in a small mixing bowl and cut together well with a fork or pastry cutter until well mixed and crumbly. 

Sprinkle all over the top of peach mixture.

Return pan to oven and bake 15-20 minutes, or until top is lightly golden. Allow to cool before cutting (but they are wonderful warm!).

Merciful Maude! I’m about to eat my computer screen right now. I hope you get to make them soon. If you do, please report back. I love hearing from you in the comments! 

Lela’s Fried Peach Pie Bars

All the flavor of my great grandmother’s delicious Fried Peach Pies in a simple bar form!

Ingredients

For the crust

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter at room temp
• 1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar

For the fruit filling

• 6-7 ounces dried peaches not fresh or canned
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) Butter
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Streusel topping

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter at room temp
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 and spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray; set aside.

• Making the crust: Place all crust ingredients in a medium mixing bowl and cut together with a fork or pastry cutter until well combined and form a crumbl dough. Press into bottom of prepared 9×13 dish. Bake until just lightly browned around the very edges, about 20-25 minutes.

• Make the peach filling: Place all fruit filling incredients in a medium sized saucepan and cook over medium high heat, stirring often at the start, until it comes to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer, stirring every now and then and breaking up large pieces of the peaches, until thick and reduced by about half, 15-25 minutes. Spread this mixture over prepared crust.

• Make the streusel: Combine all streusel ingredients in a small mixing bowl and cut together well with a fork or pastry cutter until well mixed and crumbly. Sprinkle all over the top of peach mixture. Return pan to oven and bake 15-20 minutes, or until top is lightly golden. Allow to cool before cutting (but they are wonderful warm!).

A positive attitude might not solve all your problems but it will annoy enough people to make it worth your effort. 

~Herm Albright

Yum

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