Marshmallow Peach Icebox Dessert is a light summer dessert recipe that highlights the amazing flavor of sweet Elberta peaches.
No Bake Peach Dessert
Elberta peach season has to be one of my favorite seasonal fruits of all-time. Growing up my mom would by a big crate of peaches and we would peel, slice and can until our little hands cranked out lots of peaches to enjoy throughout the year.
While canned peaches are delicious, there is nothing quite like a fresh peach. Toss them on the grill and enjoy with ice cream for dessert, add them to a savory dish like this Peach & Goat Cheese Salad.
Or spend the extra time to make this amazing no bake Marshmallow Peach Icebox Dessert that has been a family favorite for as long as I can remember!
Summer Peach Recipe
This dessert is a light and fluffy recipe that couldn’t be any more perfect for summer. Marshmallows and fresh peaches are folded together with an egg and butter mixture and topped with crushed Vanilla Wafer Cookies.
The only problem with this Marshmallow Peach Icebox Dessert is that you could easily eat 3 pieces at one sitting because it is so light and absolutely delicious.
I’m sure one of the reasons this has remained a family favorite over all these years is because of the seasonality of it. For some reason, when you have something over and over again, it seems to loose it’s luster just a bit.
This Marshmallow Peach Icebox Dessert has such a short window to be enjoyed while Elberta peaches are in season, that we make it alot in August, but that is about the only month we have it.
Canned Peaches or Fresh Peaches
The original recipe my Mom has does say that you can use canned peaches, but I don’t think it would taste nearly as good. The slight tartness and texture that the fresh Elberta peaches provide are the perfect balance to the sweet marshmallows.
Other varieties of fresh peaches would be good in this recipe, but I doubt they would rival the beloved Elberta peach.
The recipe calls for quartered marshmallows that you will have to cut up using a kitchen scissors. This is a tedious process, but I find that I prefer the texture of quartered marshmallows slightly better than simply using mini marshmallows. Mini marshmallows definitely do the job though if you are short on time.
Variations on peach icebox dessert
Another variant to this recipe is the crushed crackers. The original recipe calls for crushed Vanilla Wafers but my Mom will often use graham crackers because they are cheaper. I personally prefer the taste of the Vanilla Wafers, but either are great in the end.
If you are making this Marshmallow Peach Icebox Dessert for company, I recommend using a larger 9×13 pan so it goes a bit farther. If you are just enjoying it at home with your family, an 8×10 produces a nice thick slice which I prefer.
Use pasteurized eggs
One last thing to note is the fact that this recipe requires raw egg. It is important that you go out of your way to buy pasteurized eggs for a safe recipe.
I will admit that my mother has only ever used regular eggs and we only recently discovered this. She refuses to pay the extra dollar or two for pasteurized eggs so we are left taking the risk because the dessert is just too good not to enjoy a piece!
While this recipe requires a few extra steps, I promise you it is worth every bit of effort. I implore you to make this dish at least once, because I have yet to meet anyone who doesn’t absolutely love it!
More delicious peach dessert recipes!
- Peach Upside Down Cake
- Homemade Peach Pie
- Peach Pretzel Salad Dessert
- Peach & Yogurt Dark Chocolate Parfait
Marshmallow Peach Icebox Dessert
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp. unflavored Gelatine 1 packet
- 1/4 c. cold water
- 2 pasteurized eggs separated
- 1/3 c. butter softened
- 1 c. powdered sugar
- 34 marshmallows quartered or 10 oz bag mini marshmallows
- 4 c. chopped Elberta peaches fresh or canned
- 1 1/2 c. vanilla wafer cookies or graham crackers crushed
Instructions
- Soak gelatin in the cold water for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile in a small saucepan, cream the butter, powdered sugar and egg yolks. Cook the mixture over low heat, stirring constantly until slightly thickened.
- Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the soaked gelatin, being sure it is well incorporated and there are no lumps. Pour the mixture into a large bowl and allow to cool for 5 minutes.
- In a separate small bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form.
- Fold the peaches into the butter mixture until they are well coated. Stir in the quartered marshmallows and gently fold in the beaten egg whites.
- In an 8×10 or 9×13 pan (depending on how thick you want the dessert) add half of the crushed vanilla wafers. Top the wafers with the peach and marshmallow mixture. Finish it off by topping it with the remaining vanilla wafers. Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving. Stores well refrigerated for 5- days.
Bill Keeler says
My great grandmother made this! Do you know when this recipe was invented???
Danielle Green says
All I know is that it has been a family favorite for a long time. I don’t see this recipe very often, but it is so good, more people need to try it!
Kallie says
This exact recipe has been in our family for about 3 generations now. We have never seen it posted anywhere and people we make it for have never heard of it. Do you know where it originated? My family is originally from Illinois.
Danielle Green says
I do not know, but I’m also in the Midwest in Minnesota. If I had to guess, it came from a church cookbook somewhere along the lines. Lol
Lauren says
Is it better with graham crackers or vanilla wafers?
Danielle Green says
I prefer it with vanilla wafers
Malinda says
I didn’t have Elberta peaches but used what was available to me and it still turned out so delicious!
Alison says
Super easy & so delicious!
Julie says
My whole family loved this one! We’ll be adding it to our arsenal of desserts, thanks for sharing!
Megan says
This recipe was absolutely divine! Everything about it was perfect, my guests LOVED it! Thank you so much!
Chienn says
Hi is it a must to use pasteurized eggs?
Danielle Green says
To be honest, my mother never has and we have never gotten sick, but it’s obviously not recommended.
Karly says
This dessert is so light and fluffy! Thanks for sharing!
Julie Evink says
You can invite me over for this any day! I’ll be there in a few minutes!
Julie Evink says
You can invite me over for this any day! I’ll be there in a few minutes!
Malinda Linnebur says
I love fresh peaches!! This dessert looks absolutely divine!!!
Malinda Linnebur says
I love fresh peaches!! This dessert looks absolutely divine!!!
Melissa Howell says
I love fresh peach desserts! It’s rare to find a dessert recipe where the peaches aren’t baked. This sounds so refreshing, and like the perfect end to summer!