I have tried several peach cobbler recipes and none have come close to what I would consider peach cobbler perfection. My quest continues.

In the meantime, my Pacific Northwest friend, Tina, baked a rather tempting looking peach crisp last week and shared her recipe with me. She put a lot more of the crumbly crisp on top while I opted for half as much because the peaches I bought taste so incredibly delicious, as is. In fact, they were the best ones I have had in a long time and it almost felt like I was doing them a disservice by putting anything on them. The texture, the sweetness and the exactly correct ripeness kind of makes me nervous about the next fresh peach I may sink my teeth into. These were the best and I fear they cannot be topped.

However, that’s what I did. I topped them–with a buttery, nutty, oatmeal crisp topping that may not be a tender cobbler, but it’s the next best thing and I will certainly be making this fresh peach crisp again.

Fresh Peach Crisp

PEACHES

• 8 cups fresh peach slices
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 3 tablespoons flour

CRISP

• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup old fashioned dried rolled oats
• 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup butter, cold, cut in slices
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup pecans

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Prepare the fresh peaches by peeling, slicing, removing the pits until you have about 8 cups, about six large peaches. 
2. In a small bowl, combine the dry ingredients that will carefully be stirred into the sliced peaches: cinnamon, salt, sugar and flour.
3. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9″ x 13″ baking dish. Pour the peach mixture into the dish, and spread evenly.
4. In a food processor, pulse together the butter with the dry ingredients of brown sugar, oats, graham cracker crumbs and salt. Pour into a small bowl.
5. Stir the chopped pecans into the crisp mixture, then evenly sprinkle or spread the dry mixture over top of the peaches.
6. Bake for 35 minutes. Serve warm with homemade vanilla ice cream.