How to make peach muffins and peach picking near Washington DC. 

peach picking

This is the BEST peach muffins recipe! Tender, just sweet enough, filled with fresh peaches, and delicious. 

Onn a rare, non-stifling day in August here in Washington, DC, I took my daughters to pick peaches. Now, my daughter doesn’t actually eat peaches, mind you, but she loves to pick them. Clearly. Every time I turned around there were more and more peaches in the box. I’m not really a big fan either. Nor is my husband. So what am I going to do with all these peaches? Peach muffins.

what can I make with lots of peaches?

• peach butter
• peach on pizza! (Top pizza with peaches, bacon, and spinach.) 
• peach bellinis 
• peach cobbler 
• grilled peaches 
• peach hand pies 
• peach-glazed chicken 
• peach salsa 
• peach baby food

where to go fruit picking in the Washington DC area

For those in the Washington, DC area, we visited  Homestead Farms in Poolesville, MD. That’s our usual spot for apple picking, pumpkin buying and hayrides in the Fall. This is the first time we trekked out there in the summertime.

You might also try:

• Butler’s Orchard 
• Swann Farms 
• Mackintosh Farm

Homestead also lets you cut your own zinnias. Fill a bag for four dollars. We got about three times this many for only twelve bucks.

peach muffins 

First up on our get-rid-of-peaches mission: Peach muffins. Even my picky daughter loved them. However, as she noted, they would have been better… without the peaches. Sigh. And the slap to my forehead could be heard around the world.

We adapted this recipe for peach muffins.

ingredients you will need:

• 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 cups packed brown sugar (dark or light) 
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup vegetable OR canola oil
• 1 1/4 cup milk 
• 4 peaches, de-pitted and diced (about 3 cups) 
• granulated sugar (for topping)

*you’ll also need 2 muffin pans 

what to do

Grease 2 muffin pans with non-stick cooking spray. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. 

In a large bowl, place the flour, salt, baking powder, brown sugar, and spices. Briefly stir with a whisk. 

In a large bowl with a whisk or hand mixer, or in a standing mixer fitted with the flat beater, beat the eggs, oil, and milk. 

Add the dry ingredients and blend well.  Gently stir in the fruit. 

Scoop generously in each muffin cavity so the batter nearly reaches the top. Sprinkle with sugar. 

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the tops are golden, risen and spring back when lightly pressed. 

This peach muffins post was originally published in August 2013 and updated in July 2020.