This recipe for Breakfast Grits with Caramelized Peaches is ready in 15 minutes. Caramelized peaches make an amazing topping for quick cooking creamy grits. This breakfast is truly a treat for a weekday or a weekend breakfast. This easy recipe is naturally gluten free.
Prepare the grits: In a medium pot (about 2 quarts), combine the milk, water, and sugar. Heat over medium-high heat until almost boiling (you'll see steam coming off the surface). Gradually add the grits while whisking constantly. Lower the heat to medium-low and continue to cook for about 3-5 minutes until the grits have thickened a little, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and allow to stand for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until thickened to your liking. Allow to stand for 5 more minutes before serving to cool down.
Prepare the caramelized peaches (start on these while the grits are cooking): In a small saucepan, melt the butter and add the diced peaches, cinnamon, and vanilla bean powder. Cook over medium heat for about 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the brown sugar and water, stir, and continue to cook for about 2 minutes, or longer if you prefer softer peaches. Remove from heat.
Serve the grits: Pour the grits into 2 bowls (or 4 bowls if serving kids) and top each bowl with the caramelized peaches, making sure to get the brown sugar syrup into each bowl.
Notes
Watch out! Grits sometimes splash hot liquid when cooking - this is because of the liquid evaporating and expanding underneath the surface. To prevent getting splashed and burned, cook the grits over medium heat for about 3-5 minutes until they start to thicken, and then remove them from heat. Continue stirring for another 3-5 minutes until the grits thicken to your liking. If the grits are still too runny, turn the heat back on for a minute or two.
This recipe makes 2 large servings of grits (for hungry adults), or 3-4 smaller servings (for kids or adults who don't eat a big breakfast). If you plan on eating this in 3-4 servings, I would recommend doubling the peach recipe so that there is enough caramelized peach topping for each bowl of grits. Besides, extra caramelized peaches never hurt anyone!