Baked Peaches with Maple Syrup & Vanilla

An exclusive dessert recipe from Nigel Slater's cookbook, Ripe - a follow-up to the hugely popular Tender.

Photo: Jonathan Lovekin

By Nigel Slater

Serves: 4

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 ripe peaches
• 4 tbsp maple syrup
• Pinch of vanilla seeds (the contents of a single pod)
• Juice of 1 lime

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Wipe the peaches and slice them in half. Discard the pits and place the fruit, cut side up, in a shallow baking dish.
2. Put the maple syrup in a bowl with the vanilla seeds and the lime juice. Mix well, then pour over the peaches. Bake for approximately 35 minutes, until the peaches are thoroughly tender. It is a good idea to baste the fruit from time to time as it cooks
   .