These Caramelized Peaches require only 5 ingredients and take just 10 minutes to make! They're sweetened with maple syrup, packed with flavor, and they make the perfect topping for any dessert, ice cream, or breakfast. Try them on pancakes or oatmeal!
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Why This Recipe Works
Perfect for the summer - Nothing beats using fruits when they're in season! Summer peaches are juicy, sweet, and so flavorful! Cooking them with maple syrup and butter enhances their natural sweetness and flavor and it's a good way to use them all up if you have lots!
Lots of uses - Just like caramelized bananas or apples, these peaches can be added to desserts, ice cream, or any sweet breakfast. Try them on this Peach Oatmeal or these Peach Pancakes!
Simple and healthy - The recipe calls for 6 simple ingredients and it comes together in just about 10 minutes! It's the perfect dessert or ice cream topping to whip up on a hot summer day. The peaches are sweetened with pure maple syrup which is one of the heathier sweeteners and it adds a delicious maple flavor!
Ingredients
- Peaches - Fresh peaches when they're in season are the best choice. If you can't get any fresh peaches, frozen peaches also work. Just let them defrost in the fridge and discard any excess liquid before cooking them.
- Butter - I like using salted butter because I find the salty flavor really goes well with the sweet maple syrup. Any butter works, you can use vegan butter to keep this dish dairy-free.
- Maple syrup - You can use any sweetener you like here. I opted for maple syrup to add some maple flavor to the peaches and also because it makes the peaches more saucy than sugar would. Regular cane sugar or brown sugar also work great here.
- Vanilla - I like using vanilla bean paste or vanilla powder to see the little vanilla seeds on the peaches but regular vanilla extract works just as well.
- Lemon juice - A light squeeze of lemon juice balances out the sweetness and adds a nice fresh flavor to the peaches. Use freshly squeezed lemon juice if possible.
- Sea salt - A small pinch of salt balances out the sweetness of the maple syrup and peaches. Use Himalayan pink salt or sea salt if possible.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Cut your peaches into wedges and set aside. Each peach should make 8 wedges. You can blanche and peel the peaches but it’s not necessary.
- Heat a pan over medium heat and add the butter.
- When it’s almost completely melted, add the peaches making sure they all have enough room.
- Pour the maple syrup over the peaches, add sea salt, and toss gently using a spatula.
- Cook for 5-7 minutes on medium heat until the peaches are soft but not completely fallen apart, and the sauce thickens. It should simmer but if it bubbles too vigorously, lower the heat a little bit.
- When the peaches are almost done, add the cinnamon, vanilla extract, and lemon juice.
- Toss gently to mix and take off the heat.
Serving and Storing
You can serve these peaches over ice cream while they're still hot (my favorite!) or use them as a topping on any desserts or breakfast foods.
Try them on this Peach Oatmeal, this Peach Baked Oatmeal, or these delicious Peach Pancakes to double up on that peach flavor.
Storing: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. You can then either eat them cold or warm them up on the stove. I like to add a splash of water to make sure they don't stick as they warm up.
FAQs
Yes, you can use any sweetener you prefer here! I like using maple syrup because it's extra saucy and it adds a nice maple flavor and it's one of the healthier options. Brown sugar would also be delicious here. You can just sprinkle it on top of the peaches and butter and it will melt into a sauce.
Using frozen peaches will yield more watery caramelized peaches but if you don't have fresh peaches, you can definitely use frozen. Just let them defrost in the fridge overnight or for a couple of hours and remove any excess liquid before cooking.
I don't recommend freezing these, they taste the best fresh. You can keep any leftovers in the fridge for 2-3 days and just reheat them on the stove with a splash of water or a little bit of butter and maple syrup.
More Peach Recipes
If you have lots of fresh peaches, I highly recommend you try these five peach recipes! The lemonade is my all-time favorite Starbucks copycat recipe for the summer and the baked oatmeal is a great big breakfast for a busy morning!
📖 Recipe
Caramelized Peaches
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 7 mins
- Total Time: 12 minutes
- Yield: 2-4 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Caramelized Peaches require only 5 ingredients and take just 10 minutes to make! They make the perfect topping for any dessert, ice cream, or breakfast.
Ingredients
- 6 peaches, pitted and cut into wedges
- 2 tbsp butter (salted or unsalted, sub coconut oil or vegan butter)
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ⅛ tsp sea salt
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
Instructions
- Cut your peaches into wedges and set aside. Each peach should make 8 wedges. You can blanche and peel the peaches but it’s not necessary.
- Heat a pan over medium heat and add the butter.
- When it’s almost completely melted, add the peaches making sure they all have enough room.
- Pour the maple syrup over the peaches, add sea salt, and toss gently using a spatula.
- Cook for 5-7 minutes on medium heat until the peaches are soft but not completely fallen apart, and the sauce thickens. It should simmer but if it bubbles too vigorously, lower the heat a little bit.
- When the peaches are almost done, add the cinnamon, vanilla extract, and lemon juice. Toss gently to mix and take off the heat.
- Best served hot over ice cream, yogurt, oatmeal, pancakes, or desserts.
Notes
Storing: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Add-ins: You can add 1 oz of bourbon to the peaches halfway through cooking to add extra flavor. The alcohol will cook off and it adds nice depth of flavor.
Keywords: caramelized peaches
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