What Is a Donut Peach

One of the tastiest—and perhaps cutest—summer stone fruits is the aptly named donut peach. They are the size and shape of a donut, especially when the small, round pit comes out, leaving a perfect hole in the center of this squat fruit with plump shoulders. It's also called a Saturn peach, which makes sense if you view the pit as the planet and the sweet creamy white or pale golden flesh as one big ring. And yet another moniker is the saucer peach, as in a disk-shaped flying saucer UFO from an old sci-fi flick.

Ripe donut peaches are notably flavorful, juicy, and sweet, with a hint of almond. (As with all peaches, donuts will let you know they're ripe and ready when they emit their unmistakable perfume.) Their tender skins have little to no fuzz, so there's no need to peel them unless you want to, and if you do, the thin skins slip off in wide strips with little more than a tug on a loose spot near the pit, which pops out easily with a finger poke and a gentle pull. Donut peaches are usually palm size and easy to polish off in a few drippy, delightful bites. In other words, ripe donut peaches are perfect for eating out of hand and are a dream to work up for any recipe that calls for fresh peaches.

WATCH: Keep Cool with Peach Ice Cream

Donut peaches have been around for years, appearing in grocery stores, which makes them a delicious option when you can't make it to the local roadside peach stand or farmer's market. These fruits are especially great for those who don't live in the prime Southern peach territory.

Donut peaches in grocery stores are usually not labeled by a specific variety. Still, it's nice to know that they have fun names, such as UFO, Galaxy, Tango Os, Sweet Bagels, Sauzee Swirls, Peach Pies, and Flat Wonderfuls.

Donut peaches might be a tad pricier than regular round peaches, but many peach lovers believe that a super sweet and juicy donut is worth taking for a spin. Keep an eye out for their cousins, the donut nectarine.

Peach Recipes

Donut peaches are the perfect summer stone fruit for all your favorite peach recipes. Discover new ways to use these plump, sweet peaches in desserts, appetizers, and cocktails.

Peach Streusel Coffee Cake

Enjoy this peach streusel with your morning coffee or as a late-night treat. It's decadent enough to taste like dessert but still retains its essential coffee cake qualities. Brown sugar, cinnamon, and chopped pecans add ideal spices and texture.

Peach Jam

Use your favorite summer fruit in your next batch of homemade jam. Prolong peach season by converting these fresh flavors into an easy-to-make preserve. This pantry staple combines peaches, sugar, lemon juice, and pectin. Try adding extra flavoring, like hot peppers, for pepper jelly.

Peach Salsa

You can prepare an appetizer or salsa topping that's a beautiful combination of zest and spice in ten minutes. Enjoy this peach salsa with chips or top chicken, fish, salads, or tacos. This peach salsa tastes delicious and adds an extra dose of radiant color to your summer meals.

Cast-Iron Skillet Peach Cobbler

Peach cobbler is practically perfect, even more so when cooked in a cast-iron skillet. Use this recipe for baking desserts for a family gathering or an ordinary weekend treat. It's the perfect serving size for about eight lucky guests.

Peach Margaritas

Pair a classic summer drink with classic summer fruit. Peach margaritas are the answer to what to serve for your next summer get-together. Add a little more spice by combining the sweet peaches and tart lime juice with some chili-lime seasoning on the rim of the glass.

Check out some more of our favorite peach recipes here.