Coconut Peach Crumb Bars

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For an easy fruit dessert you can bake and serve year-round, look no further than these coconut peach crumb bars! This crumb bar recipe uses fruit jam and can be easily customized for preference or dietary needs.

Coconut Peach Crumb Bars are a definite crowd-pleaser made with oats, coconut flakes, and peach jam. They will quickly become one of your favorite ways to use fresh peaches all year. Serve them warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the ultimate after-dinner dessert!

What are coconut peach crumb bars? 

Coconut peach crumb bars are like jazzed-up peach cobbler! They’re great for serving a crowd by cutting into individual squares and passing around a picnic, backyard barbecue, or holiday party. The buttery crust and perfect crumble topping make these a stand-out dessert any time of year.

Why you’ll love this recipe 

• Buttery Crumb
• Perfect Summer Dessert
• Wholesome Ingredients
• Sweet Peach Jam Layer

Ingredients: 

You can find all of these ingredients at your local grocery store. For bonus points, make homemade peach jam with peaches at the height of the season!

Flour: All-purpose flour works well in this recipe.

Oats: Use old-fashioned oats for the best, chewy texture.  

Sugar: Use granulated sugar here.

Baking powder: This leavener helps the bars rise and soften.

Salt: Kosher salt is the best option for baking or cooking.

Butter: Unsalted butter is best since it allows you to adjust the salt per recipe.

Coconut flakes: Use unsweetened, shredded coconut flakes.

Peach jam: This is used for the juicy peach filling for the bars.

How to make coconut peach bars  

Here’s a brief overview of how to make these delicious peach bars. See the recipe card below for the specific recipe instructions. 

Mix the dry ingredients: In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Pour in the melted butter and stir until combined.

Stir in the coconut flakes: Remove 1 cup of the oat mixture and set aside. Stir 2 tablespoons of coconut into the oatmeal mixture remaining in the bowl.

Press the mixture into the pan: Press the oatmeal mixture in the mixing bowl into the prepared baking pan. Use a flat-bottomed drinking glass to ensure it’s evenly packed into the pan.

Spread the peach jam: Smooth the jam evenly over the base layer for the bars.

Make the crumb topping: Combine the remaining coconut with the reserved oatmeal mixture. Evenly sprinkle this over the peach jam to make the crumb topping.

Bake: Bake the bars until the coconut is golden brown and the bars are very fragrant.

Cool and serve: Allow the bars to cool completely before cutting. Enjoy! 

Tips for success: 

Here are a few tips for success and variations you can try to make this the best fresh peach crumb bars you’ve ever eaten.

Peaches: If you don’t like peaches, substitute them with another fruit jam. Raspberry, blackberry, apricot, orange, pineapple, and strawberry all work well with the coconut. 

Jam: I use jam instead of fresh fruit because it’s easier, and the first time I made the recipe, I didn’t have enough fresh fruit on hand but had an abundance of jam. This fruit dessert can be whipped up with mostly pantry ingredients, so it’s easy to make year-round.

Coconut flakes: If you only have sweetened shredded coconut, you might want to reduce the sugar by a tablespoon to offset the coconut’s sweetness.

Oats: If you don’t have old-fashioned oats, you can use instant oats instead. I prefer to use old-fashioned because you can see whole oat flakes.

Flour: You can easily swap out all-purpose flour with gluten-free.  

Sugar: Try using brown sugar or coconut sugar instead of white granulated sugar for even softer bars.

Butter: It’s best to use unsalted butter, but if all you have is salted, you can still use it. Just reduce the added salt slightly.

Optional Flavoring: Add a squeeze of lemon juice or a teaspoon of vanilla or almond extract to the dish. This provides an extra depth of flavor to the bars.

How can I make these bars vegan or gluten-free? 

This peach crumble bars recipe is easily adaptable, and you can substitute ingredients to fit your dietary preferences.

Swap out the butter for melted coconut oil or vegan margarine to make them vegan.

For a gluten-free version, substitute almond flour or gluten-free all-purpose baking flour for the all-purpose flour. Also, check that your oats are gluten-free as well.

We aren’t looking for lift, so gluten content doesn’t matter. If you use almond meal, the bars will be a bit crumbly. The best substitute for identical results is your favorite 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend.

And that’s it! Easy peasy!

Can I make coconut peach bars in an air fryer?  

You can definitely make this easy recipe in your air fryer if you prefer.

Since air fryers are small convection ovens, they’re great for making more than just chicken wings and french fries.

They can easily handle your favorite summer desserts like this one.

Combine the ingredients according to the recipe, pre-heat the air fryer, and slide in the crumb bars.

Since air fryers are smaller, they usually cook more quickly than a large conventional oven. Be sure to check the bars at least 10 minutes before they should be done, and watch over them in case your fryer is on the hotter side. You may even want to turn down the temperature by five degrees.

How to serve  

This fresh peach dessert recipe pairs wonderfully with main courses like Cuban Picadillo, Lemon Chicken Pasta, or Jalapeno Chili.

It also goes well with other desserts like Blueberry Crumb Pie, Lemon Blueberry Swirl Bread, or Honey Scones.

How to store:

Refrigerate: Store these bars at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for a week.

Reheat: If you keep your peach bars on the counter, there’s no need to heat them up. If you store them in the fridge, you can let them sit at room temperature for a few minutes, so they are no longer cold.

Freeze: These bars are perfect for freezing and saving for later. It’s a great way to have fresh peach dessert on hand, even when it’s no longer peach season.

Wrap up the bars in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and keep them in the freezer for up to three months.

FAQs: 

Can I use canned peaches for crumb bars? 

This recipe uses peach jam since it gives you that bright summer flavor. You can use canned peaches if you don’t have access to peach jam. Be sure to drain the peaches and pat them dry. Too much moisture will extend the baking time.

Can I use cake mix to make these bars? 

There are only a few ingredients in this recipe, so there’s no need to use cake mix! This benefit is that you know exactly what’s going into your bars.

What’s the difference between crumb bars and crisp bars? 

Crumb bars are made with a flour-based topping, while crisp bars are often made with an oat and butter-based topping. They are both delicious and easy to make.