Peach Bavarian -- Sunday Sweetness After a Week Worth Celebrating

End of February. Book two getting good early reviews. The Omaha World-Herald ran a review by Jolene Pietrowski — same reporter — who called it "the book the first book was building toward." I cried.

Drove Tuesday-Wednesday.

Gayle had a quieter week.

Sunday: fried chicken.

After that week — the review, the drive, the steadiness of it all — Sunday felt like it deserved something gentle to finish on. The fried chicken was the anchor, but I wanted a dessert that matched the mood: soft, a little sweet, nothing that demanded too much. Peach Bavarian is exactly that kind of recipe. It’s quiet and pretty and just celebratory enough without making a fuss.

Peach Bavarian

Prep Time: 20 min | Cook Time: 0 min | Total Time: 4 hr 20 min (includes chilling) | Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 1 can (15 oz) sliced peaches in juice, drained (juice reserved)
• 1 package (3 oz) peach-flavored gelatin
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup cold water
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Fresh peach slices or mint, for garnish (optional)

Instructions

1. Prepare the peaches. Drain the canned peaches well and reserve the juice. Chop peaches into small pieces and set aside.
2. Dissolve the gelatin. In a large bowl, dissolve the peach gelatin in 1/2 cup boiling water, stirring for about 2 minutes until fully dissolved.
3. Add cold liquid. Stir in 1/2 cup cold water and 2 tablespoons of the reserved peach juice. Refrigerate the gelatin mixture for 30–40 minutes, until it is slightly thickened but not set — it should have the consistency of unbeaten egg whites.
4. Whip the cream. In a chilled bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream with sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form.
5. Combine. Gently fold the whipped cream into the thickened gelatin until smooth and airy. Fold in the chopped peaches.
6. Chill to set. Pour the mixture into a lightly greased 6-cup mold or a serving bowl. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or until firmly set.
7. Unmold and serve. If using a mold, dip briefly in warm water and invert onto a serving plate. Garnish with fresh peach slices or mint if desired. Serve cold.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 160 | Protein: 2g | Fat: 11g | Carbs: 15g | Fiber: 0g | Sodium: 55mg