This Peaches and Cream Pie with Mascarpone is a delightful dessert perfect for the summer. The pie features a buttery pie crust filled with a smooth mascarpone whipped cream, topped with juicy macerated peaches. The sweet peaches are complemented by the creamy, almond-flavored filling and finished off with a drizzle of peach juice. This pie is refreshing, light, and bursting with fresh flavors, making it a crowd-pleaser for any gathering!

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

For the Pie Dough:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

• 5 oz unsalted butter (cold & cubed)

• 3 tablespoons cold water

For the Mascarpone Whipped Cream Filling:

• 8 oz mascarpone cheese (room temperature)

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream (cold)

• ⅓ cup granulated sugar

• ½ teaspoon pure almond extract

• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the Macerated Peaches:

• 3 lbs fresh peaches (peeled and sliced into cubes or wedges)

• ¼ cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)

• ½ teaspoon almond extract

• 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice

• A pinch of kosher salt

Directions

1. Prepare the Pie Dough: In a small bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter and use a food processor or pastry cutter to mix until it resembles pea-sized crumbs. Add cold water and pulse until the dough comes together. Form the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic, and refrigerate for at least an hour.

2. Bake the Pie Crust: Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Roll the dough into a circle and fit it into a pie dish. Freeze for 10-15 minutes, then poke holes in the dough with a fork. Line the crust with parchment paper and add pie weights or dry beans. Bake for 20 minutes, remove the weights, and bake for another 10-13 minutes until golden brown. Let it cool completely.

3. Prepare the Mascarpone Whipped Cream: In a stand mixer, beat the heavy cream with half of the sugar and the almond and vanilla extracts until stiff peaks form. In a separate bowl, whisk the mascarpone cheese with the remaining sugar until smooth. Gently fold the mascarpone mixture into the whipped cream until combined. Refrigerate until ready to assemble.

4. Macerate the Peaches: In a large bowl, combine sliced peaches with sugar, almond extract, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. Let the peaches sit for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

5. Assemble the Pie: Spoon half of the mascarpone cream into the cooled pie crust. Layer with half of the macerated peaches. Add the rest of the cream filling and top with the remaining peaches. Drizzle with some of the reserved peach juice.

6. Serve: Chill the pie for at least an hour before serving. Garnish with extra peach juice or fresh mint, if desired.

Nutrients (per serving)

• Calories: 443 kcal

• Carbohydrates: 48g

• Protein: 6g

• Fat: 26g

  • Saturated Fat: 14g

• Cholesterol: 73mg

• Sodium: 191mg

• Potassium: 330mg

• Fiber: 2g

• Sugar: 29g

The Pie Dough: Buttery and Flaky

The foundation of this pie is the buttery, flaky crust. Made with simple ingredients like all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, kosher salt, and cold cubed butter, this crust is a classic, melt-in-your-mouth pie base. The secret to a perfect pie crust is keeping the butter cold while you work with it, ensuring that it forms pea-sized crumbs when mixed with the flour mixture. The cold water is added to bind everything together, and the dough is chilled before rolling out to prevent shrinkage during baking.

After rolling the dough and fitting it into a pie dish, it’s frozen for a few minutes before being baked to ensure the crust doesn’t shrink during baking. The pie weights or dry beans prevent the crust from puffing up during the initial blind-baking step. Once the crust is baked golden brown and crisp, it’s left to cool completely before adding the creamy filling.

Mascarpone Whipped Cream Filling: Creamy and Almond-Flavored

The filling for this pie is a combination of mascarpone cheese and whipped cream, creating a light yet rich texture that perfectly complements the fresh peaches. Mascarpone is an Italian cream cheese that adds a delicate, buttery flavor, making it the perfect base for the whipped cream. The heavy cream is whipped to stiff peaks and then gently folded into the mascarpone mixture, resulting in a fluffy and smooth filling that’s not overly sweet but still indulgent.

Almond and vanilla extracts are added to the filling, giving it a warm and aromatic flavor that pairs beautifully with the peaches. This creamy filling adds the perfect contrast to the juicy, macerated peaches, creating a balance of richness and freshness in every bite.

Macerated Peaches: Sweet and Juicy

The star of this pie is undoubtedly the fresh peaches, which are macerated to draw out their natural juices and enhance their sweetness. The peaches are sliced and mixed with granulated sugar, almond extract, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. The sugar helps release the juices from the peaches, while the lemon juice adds a touch of acidity to balance the sweetness. Almond extract complements the flavor of the peaches and ties it all together with a hint of nuttiness.

After letting the peaches sit for at least 30 minutes, they become wonderfully juicy and flavorful. The macerated peaches are then layered on top of the mascarpone filling, adding a burst of fresh fruit flavor to every bite.

Assembling the Pie: Layering and Drizzling

Assembling the pie is simple yet satisfying. Start by spooning half of the mascarpone cream filling into the cooled pie crust, followed by a layer of half the macerated peaches. Then, add the rest of the mascarpone cream and top it off with the remaining peaches. Drizzle some of the reserved peach juice over the top of the pie to enhance the fruitiness and add a glossy finish.

Once assembled, the pie should be chilled for at least an hour before serving. Chilling allows the filling to firm up slightly and makes slicing easier. If desired, garnish with extra peach juice or fresh mint for an added touch of color and flavor.

Serving Suggestions

Peaches and Cream Pie with Mascarpone is best served chilled, making it a perfect dessert for warm weather. It pairs beautifully with a cup of tea, iced coffee, or even a glass of white wine. For a more indulgent experience, serve the pie with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side.

This pie is a great addition to summer barbecues, picnics, or dinner parties. Its light yet creamy texture and fresh peach flavor make it a refreshing end to any meal. Whether you’re serving it for a special occasion or as an everyday treat, this pie will undoubtedly impress guests and loved ones alike.

Nutritional Information

Each serving of Peaches and Cream Pie with Mascarpone contains approximately 443 calories. The pie is relatively high in fat (26g), primarily from the buttery crust and mascarpone filling, which adds a rich, indulgent texture. With 24g of carbohydrates, including 29g of sugar, it’s a sweet dessert that satisfies your cravings while still providing a moderate amount of protein (6g).

While the pie is high in calories, it’s important to remember that it’s a dessert meant for occasional indulgence. The pie also contains essential nutrients like vitamin A (1480 IU) and potassium (330mg), which come from the cream and peaches.

Customizing the Recipe

While this recipe is delicious as written, you can easily adjust it to suit your preferences. For a gluten-free option, you could substitute the all-purpose flour in the pie dough with a gluten-free flour blend. Alternatively, you could try a store-bought gluten-free crust to save time.

If you prefer a different fruit, you can swap the peaches for fresh berries, nectarines, or plums, depending on what’s in season. For an added twist, you could incorporate a bit of cinnamon or nutmeg into the mascarpone filling for a spiced version of the pie.

If you like a more intense almond flavor, feel free to increase the amount of almond extract in both the filling and the macerated peaches. Alternatively, for a lighter filling, you could replace some of the mascarpone with Greek yogurt for a slightly tangy contrast.

Conclusion

Peaches and Cream Pie with Mascarpone is a refreshing, light, and indulgent dessert that showcases the best of summer fruit. The combination of a buttery crust, creamy mascarpone filling, and juicy macerated peaches creates a dessert that’s sure to impress at any gathering. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply enjoying a sweet treat on a warm summer day, this pie is the perfect way to enjoy the flavors of the season.