Peach Melba Sundae
This Peach Melba Sundae with Toasted Almonds is an easy and delicious way to enjoy the bounty of late summer peaches combining them with raspberries, vanilla ice cream, toasted almonds and whipped cream.
If it’s August, I’m in the mood for peaches and what could be better than desserts like this Peach Melba Sundae.
Colorado is not like Georgia with widespread recognition as the ‘peach’ state. Maybe because we keep our peaches to ourselves? They are simply divine.
What is Peach Melba? It is a dessert invented in 1892 or 1893 by the French chef Auguste Escoffier at the Savoy Hotel, London, to honor the Australian soprano Nellie Melba and it’s made with poached fresh peach halves, raspberry sauce, and vanilla ice cream.
I’ve only modified the original a bit when I made this Peach Melba Sundae. The original recipe from Escoffier poaches the peaches before layering them with vanilla ice cream, and raspberry sauce.
The Peaches I had were so perfectly ripe I saw no reason to poach them and I finished this Sunday off with finished with whipped cream and toasted almonds. Nothing to cook, nothing to bake…perfect for a late summer evening dessert isn’t it?
Colorado peaches are just now coming into season. We start to get antsy the first of August, knowing that they will flood the markets soon. Our peaches are not well known across the land like Georgia peaches and I think I know why. We hoard them; we don’t want to share, they are THAT good.
Grown on what is called the Western Slope, that’s the western side of the Rocky Mountains. Hot summer temps during the day that can lower as much as 40 degrees at night are what create the sweetness that cannot be beat. And when they are ready?
Heck, I’m happy to stand over the kitchen sink and eat one but I love them in so many ways.
In addition to this Peach Melba Sundae, every year I make a batch of this Peach Jam with Bourbon, and my friends can usually count on my favorite summer pie, a Peach Pie with a Walnut and Brown Sugar Crumble.
Of course there are drinks too. I use the aforementioned peach jam to make a luscious Bourbon and Peach Jam Smash Cocktail and there is always the requisite margarita with a spicy Grilled Peach and Jalapeno Margarita.
I typically buy a case of twenty pounds of peaches from a neighbor whose son does a fundraiser; yes I pay a bit more for them but they’re still not pricey, it helps a kid towards a goal and heck, they’re delivered to my front door!
Still this Peach Melba Sundae is the easiest of them all. A simple blitzed sauce of raspberries and you’re on your way to making a quick but fantabulastic dessert!
PIN IT! ‘Peach Melba Sundae’
Peach Melba Sundae
Ingredients
For the Raspberry Sauce
- ½ cup fresh raspberries
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon Raspberry liqueur
- 1 teaspoon lemon or lime juice
- Water if necessary to thin sauce
For the Whipped Cream
- 4 ounces heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Sundae
- 3 scoops vanilla ice cream
- 2 peaches, cut into wedges
- 1 tablespoon almonds, sliced and toasted (optional)
Instructions
- Freeze the glasses.
- To make the sauce, combine raspberries, sugar, Chambord, and lemon or lime juice in a blender and blitz to a puree, adding water if necessary to get a thick, pourable sauce.
- Strain the sauce through a colander if necessary. (My blender made it unnecessary!). Chill.
- Make the whipped cream and chill until the raspberry sauce has cooled and is ready.
- Layer starting with peaches at the bottom, a scoop of ice cream, raspberry sauce, and whipped cream repeating until the glass is full.
- Finish with a big swirl of whipped cream on top. Garnish with toasted almonds.
- Serve with two spoons!
This is something I’ve been waiting for close to 3 decades! Not that it may not have been there as a recipe, but because of the way it has been served – in a tall glass. I’ve had it this way as a child – my first memory when my uncle bought it for me! Exactly like this! Can’t wait to make it! Thank you very, very much!
Serve with 2 spoons? Maybe one for each hand. Heh heh umm not sharing! 🤣 Looks like the perfect post workout treat! 😋
We make Peach Melba sometimes, but never in sundae form. Love the idea! We’re inhaling peaches at the moment — it’s still peak peach here. This looks great — thanks.
Inhaling? Yes, that fits! I bought 20 pounds with the intention of canning them as these amazing preserves with bourbon but I’ve eaten so many of them that I need to replenish that stock before I start canning tomorrow!