Ten Peachy Summer Finds in Denver Restaurants, Bars and Bakeries

Summer is winding down, which means peaches are flowing into Denver from the Western Slope. Palisade peaches – and fuzzy fruit from elsewhere in western Colorado – capture sunshine in every bite, adding juicy freshness to desserts, drinks and even savory plates. Here are ten Denver finds that fully celebrate peach season.

Frozen Matter
530 East 19th Avenue
720-600-6358
Frozen Matter opened in Uptown in the spring of 2016 and has been churning out inventive ice creams with organic and all-natural ingredients ever since. Fresh peaches star in their small-batch Peaches & Cream ice cream, balancing bright fruit in a creamy housemade base for a treat that’s equally rich and sunny.

Spruce Confections
767 Pearl Street, Boulder
303-449-6773
Spruce Street Confections’ peach scones are finished with a sweet pecan topping. You can pick one up at any of the three Boulder locations (which also include 4684 Broadway and 4740 Pearl Parkway) or in numerous coffee shops and grocery stores around the Denver metro area, including Whole Foods.

Brazen
4450 West 38th Avenue
720-638-1242
Peaches shouldn’t be limited to breakfast and dessert. Brazen’s savory peach-and-bacon salad is made from maple-and-bourbon-glazed peaches, pork belly and arugula, then drizzled with a lemon vinaigrette. Tart, sweet and smoky flavors mingle to enliven the palate for more Brazen small plates to come.

Wooden Spoon Cafe and Bakery
2418 West 32nd Avenue
303- 999-0327
This petite Highland bakery can have long lines on weekend mornings, but it’s well worth the wait. The peach galette and custard-filled peach Danish are both piled high with fresh peach slices and baked with love – just like every other baked good on the Spoon’s menu.

Glazed and Confuzed
2501 Dallas Street
303-524-9637
Unusual combinations are a hallmark at this doughnut maker that recently relocated to the Stanley Marketplace, so peaches-and-cream may look a little ordinary ordinary – with just a custard-filled doughnut from the case. But fresh peach slices are added when you check out, then topped with sugar and caramelized with a kitchen blowtorch. There’s nothing confuzing about fresh doughnuts and even fresher peaches.

Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project
3350 Brighton Blvd
720-550-8860
Crooked Stave’s digs are located in an old ironworks shop inside The Source. The self-described artisan beer project specializes in Belgian-style sour beers, and the seasonally appropriate Surette Reserva Peach Palisade is a golden sour ale, aged in oak barrels with Colorado Palisade peaches and cherry skins. Fresh, funky and tart, the beer makes for a great transition from summer to fall.

Hinman’s Bakery
4850 East 39th Avenue
720-524-8518
John Hinman opened his previously wholesale-only location to retail, fittingly, on Pi Day this year. Look for his peach pies and tarts at the Union Station Farmers’ Market on Saturdays, starting at 9 a.m., or stop by the bakery in North Park Hill Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hint: Go early if you want to score something peachy, but if you miss out, there are plenty of other seasonal treats, too.

Vesta
1822 Blake Street
303-296-1970
In July, Vesta celebrated its twentieth year of serving seasonal, local ingredients at its LoDo location. Even cocktails get a seasonal touch – like the Kentucky Buck, a combination of Old Granddad 114 bourbon, peach-ginger purée, ginger beer and peach bitters, garnished with slices of fresh peach. It’s like summer in a glass.

The Long I Pie Shop
321 East 45th Avenue
The Long I Pie Shop moved into its new home in the kitchen of Fort Greene, one of Globeville’s hidden gems, in April this year. Shauna Lott’s baked goods, including her homey and satisfying peach crumble, can also be found on Saturdays at the Union Station Farmers’ Market.

Acorn
3350 Brighton Boulevard
720-542-3721
The tiny island of Capri, Italy may be famous for tomato salads, but Acorn makes the dish distinctly Colorado. Acorn’s market salad is similar to a Caprese, but replaces balsamic vinegar with kalamata caramel and adds peaches to the mix of heirloom tomatoes, mozzarella and fresh basil.