Bacon with peaches????
Oh my goodness!! If you have never thought of wrapping slices of juicy ripe peaches in a basil leaf and bacon, you don’t know what you’ve been missing! And, if that weren’t enough. How about topping them with a drizzle of tangy-sweet balsamic glaze? Mind blown! 🤯
Seriously this is such a fun and impressive summer starter or appetizer. It is also unbelievably delicious. You will be surprised how fast they fly off the tray. This recipe uses only two fresh peaches, making 32 appetizers. Two of us polished them off in about 15 minutes – they are that good. Luckily, this recipe is straightforward to increase. Next time, I’m definitely doubling it.
Easy balsamic glaze
I make my own simple balsamic glaze to drizzle over the peaches. If you want, you can save use store-bought. I prefer making it as I have balsamic vinegar and honey in my pantry. It is as simple as mixing the vinegar and honey and simmering it until it reduces to a syrup. It takes roughly 25 minutes. Keep an eye on the glaze, especially as it is coming to a boil. It will boil over in a nano-second! Also, be mindful as it starts to reduce, not to burn it. (It doesn’t taste very good burnt!)
Prep to oven in less than 10 minutes
The prep is super simple. Slice the peaches by cutting them in half and removing the stone. Slice each half into four even slices. The fresh basil may need rinsing and any stems removed. Depending on the size of the leaves, each peach slice will need one or two leaves. The bacon needs cutting in half. It’s easiest to cut all the pieces at the same time when it’s right out of the fridge and really cold.
Wrap each peach slice with a leaf or two of the fresh basil and then with the bacon. Use a toothpick to secure. Place the peaches on a wire rack sprayed lightly with non-stick spray and set into a foil-lined baking sheet/pan.
Bake to perfection in 25-30 minutes
Pop the pan in a preheated 400°F for 25-30 minutes, until the bacon is cooked.
Garnish with glaze and basil leaves
Before serving, drizzle with the balsamic glaze and garnish with the extra basil leaves. These are fabulous served warm or chilled Enjoy!
Bacon-Wrapped Peaches with Balsamic Glaze
Course: Appetizers, Starters, SidesCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy4
servings10
minutes30
minutesSurprise and delight guests with a tray of sweet fresh peaches wrapped in crispy smoky bacon and fresh basil drizzled with tangy-sweet homemade balsamic glaze.
Ingredients
• 1 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 large peaches
• 8 slices of bacon
• 16-25 basil leaves
• Toothpicks to use as skewers
Directions
- Prep: Cut peaches in half and remove the stone. Slice each half into 4 equal slices. Cut bacon strips in half. Rinse and dry basil leaves, remove any stems. Line a baking pan with foil. Lightly spray a wire rack with non-stick spray and place on a foil-lined pan. Preheat oven to 400F
- In a small saucepan, combine vinegar and honey. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for about 25 minutes or until mixture has been reduced by half. Raise temperature to medium-high and cook for another 5 minutes, until thickened to the consistency of syrup, whisking continuously so the mixture doesn’t burn. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Place one large or 2 small basil leaves over the center of each peach slice. Wrap each peach slice with a piece of bacon. Use a toothpick to secure the bacon. Place wrapped peaches on the rack inside the baking pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until bacon is cooked.
- Transfer to a serving platter and remove toothpicks. Drizzle with balsamic glaze. Serve hot or at room temperature.