Peach Sauce

Easy to make in 15 minutes or less, this peach sauce is great for everything from breakfast to dessert. You’ll love it paired with creamy yogurt and crunchy granola, but it’s also incredible over ice cream or cheesecake. It’s a simple sauce that can be made fresh or cooked briefly to last longer in the fridge. This endlessly versatile essence of summer is so tasty, you’ll want to make it every week.

When you can smell the peaches before you see them, you know they’re going to be good! Whenever I have truly ripe peaches, I like to prepare them simply, without too much fuss. When I first started making the sauce in 2013, I almost always made it fresh without any cooking. It’s the perfect way to highlight really ripe peaches with just a hint of sweetener, vanilla, and cinnamon.

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Peaches – in-season peaches, juicy and ripe, are best for this sauce. You can use frozen peaches, but they will lack flavor. Farmers’ markets are usually the best place to find ripe, fresh peaches. We live in an area where you can grow peaches locally. But grocery stores can be ok, and Costco has also been very reliable for peaches. Look for flats of peaches you can smell, and within 5 days or so, they’ll be soft, ripe, and ready to use in endless ways.
• Maple syrup – or honey both work to naturally and very lightly sweeten this sauce. Sweeten to your taste depending on the ripeness of your peaches.
• Cornstarch – is my preferred thickener because of its texture, but you can use slightly less tapioca starch as well.
• Cinnamon – a pinch of ground cinnamon enhances the flavor of the peach sauce while still being subtle.
• Lemon – a hint of fresh lemon juice really brightens up and enhances the peach flavor, especially in the cooked verison.
• Vanilla extract – makes this peach sauce taste like peach pie.

Step 1: Start by dicing up the peaches into small pieces. I prefer to leave the skin on because it’s much easier, and it also makes for beautiful color in the finished sauce.

You also don’t even notice the peels in the finished dish, so it doesn’t feel like it’s worth it to take the time to peel them.

Step 2: Next, if you’re making the cooked version of the sauce, mix the cornstarch, maple syrup, and water until the cornstarch is dissolved.

Step 3: Add the diced peaches and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Lower to medium-heat or low, and maintain a simmer. Stir occasionally to make sure it’s not sticking, for 3 to 5 minutes until the peaches are barely softened and the consistency has thickened.

Step 4: Cool the sauce completely and refrigerate to serve with yogurt or ice cream. This sauce can be served lightly warm over ice cream or cheesecake if desired, but we do prefer it cold.

Ways to serve this

• Use this sauce as the fruit layer in my Fruit and Yogurt Parfait recipe or as the fruit topping in my Coconut Chia Pudding.
• It’s the perfect topping for my Vanilla Ice Cream, Honey Ice Cream, or Maple Ice Cream. My Coconut Ice Cream is really good with this peach sauce for a dairy-free option.
• Use it instead of the cherry topping in my Mom’s No-Bake Cheesecake. It’s also really good instead of strawberries in my Almond Flour Shortcake recipe.
• For breakfast, this sauce is great for waffles, pancakes, and French toast. You can also use it to top my basic base of Overnight Oats.

Storing leftovers

• To store –place any remaining cooked peach sauce into an airtight container and refrigerate for up to five days. If you try the fresh version, place it in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to two days.
• Make ahead – the cooked version of this peach sauce can be made ahead, it keeps well for five days.
• To freeze – you can freeze the cooked version of the sauce, however, it will be much softer when you defrost it. Place any sauce into an airtight container and freeze for up to one month. Defrost in the refrigerator before using. Freezing also changes the color of peaches.

More Peach Recipe Inspiration

• Peach Sorbet
• Peach Crisp
• Peach Green Smoothie
• Peach Muffins
• Peach Chicken Salad