While driving through rural Florida, I came across a roadside truck selling ripe, juicy Georgia peaches—and I knew exactly what I was going to make: peach empanadas. Inspired by the savory empanadas I grew up eating filled with picadillo, I decided to give this Latin classic a sweet makeover: buttery, flaky peach hand pies that showcase the natural sweetness of perfectly ripe Georgia peaches.
The Secret Is in the Filling
This peach filling is simple yet bursting with flavor. With just a few ingredients, you get a rich, syrupy filling that celebrates the seasonal goodness of fresh peaches.
Puff Pastry or Empanada Wrappers?
Peeling the peaches is quick and easy (pro tip: boil for 30 seconds and the skin slides right off!). For the crust, you can use homemade puff pastry, store-bought puff pastry, or even empanada wrappers. While empanada dough works in a pinch, puff pastry gives these hand pies a buttery, flaky finish that elevates the dessert.
Domestic Gourmet Tip:
Want to enhance the color and flavor of your peach filling? Sauté the peaches in Domestic Gourmet Organic Annatto Oil – Aceite de Achiote until soft, then add the remaining filling ingredients for a warm, earthy note that complements the natural sweetness of the peaches.
iBuen provecho!
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Peach Empanadas
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 large peaches, peeled approximately 2½ cups cubed, can substitute with frozen peaches
- ½ cup granualted sugar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup turbinado cane sugar
- 1 lb puff pastry either homemade or the frozen variety
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
For The Filling:
- Peel and cube peaches.
- In a small saucepan, add peaches, sugar, lemon juice, and stir until evenly distributed.
- Simmer on medium heat until the juice releases from the peaches.
- Mix the cornstarch into the water in a separate small bowl to create a slurry.
- Add the slurry to the saucepan.
- Continue to simmer for 5-10 minutes until the peaches are tender and the liquid is a thick syrup.
- Test the syrup by checking to see if it coats the mixing spoon. Once the syrup coats the spoon, the filling is ready.
- Set aside to cool to room temperature.
- At this point, you can refrigerate overnight or continue to assemble the empanadas.
Assembling The Empanadas:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- In a small bowl, whisk 1 egg and set aside.
- On a well-floured counter, with a small 4" bowl, cut out 6-8 circles. If the dough gets soft and unmanageable, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until it hardens again.
- Flour your rolling pin and roll out your 4" circle of puff pastry until it is about 6" and ⅛" thick.
- Place 2 tbs of peach filling in the center of the circle and, using a pastry brush, brush the outer edge with egg wash.
- Fold the dough circle over the filling, creating a half-moon shape, and press edges closed using the tines of a form to seal them shut.
- Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and place the finished empanadas on the lined pan.
- Brush the empanadas with egg wash using the pastry brush and sprinkle liberally and evenly with turbinado cane sugar.
- Using a knife, score the tops of your empanadas with 3 lines, creating vents for steam to escape.
- Place on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 20-23 minutes until golden in color. If you don't have a convection oven, rotate the tray of empanadas 180 degrees halfway through the baking time to bake evenly.
- Remove tray from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before placing empanadas on a wire rack to cool until room temperature before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below, tag @domesticgourmet on Instagram, and hashtag #domesticgourmet.
About the Author: Ciji Castro
Ciji Castro is the CEO and Executive Chef behind Domestic Gourmet, a premium food and lifestyle brand rooted in honoring ancestral cooking and Latin traditions. With a deep love for bold, heritage-inspired flavors and clean ingredients, Ciji leads the vision and culinary direction of Domestic Gourmet’s product line.
Her flagship product, 🌿 Domestic Gourmet Organic Annatto Oil – Aceite de Achiote, brings vibrant color and flavor to every dish—celebrating the flavors of her Cuban and Puerto Rican roots while meeting the standards of today’s health-conscious kitchens.
Through Domestic Gourmet, Ciji is on a mission to share the richness of cultural cooking with a modern and convenient twist—one thoughtfully crafted product at a time.
Follow along at @domesticgourmet for recipes, cooking tips, and more.
Wonderful recipe!
Made these for dessert the other night. They were absolutely delicious. Mine weren’t so pretty, lol, but boy were they good. Served them with ice cream and will definitely be making these again.
#thedomesticgourmet #empanadas