Creating Heavenly Summer Peach Bars is straightforward if you follow these simple steps:

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a 9×13 inch baking dish by greasing it lightly and lining it with parchment paper.
2. Prepare the Peaches: In a mixing bowl, combine the sliced peaches with granulated sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Set aside to allow the flavors to meld.
3. Make the Crust Mixture: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar (if using), and egg until the mixture is light and fluffy.
4. Mix Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
5. Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, stirring until just combined. The dough will be crumbly.
6. Prepare the Base: Reserve about 1 cup of the crumb mixture for topping. Press the remaining mixture into the prepared baking dish to form an even crust layer.
7. Spread the Peach Filling: Evenly spread the prepared peach mixture over the crust in the baking dish.
8. Add Topping: Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture on top of the peach layer evenly.
9. Bake: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is golden and the peaches are bubbling.
10. Cool: Once baked, remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool in the pan for about 15 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
11. Slice and Dust: Once cool, slice the bars into squares and dust with powdered sugar if desired.

By following these steps, you’ll create a batch of Heavenly Summer Peach Bars that are not only scrumptious but also visually appealing.