Spiced Peach Butter – Fresh peaches are slowly cooked with spices and sugar until much of their water has evaporated and turn them in a smooth, thick peach butter.
During this in-between period between summer and fall, I thought it would be the perfect time to introduce a new recipe that incorporates the incredible fruit of the summer and the warm, comforting spices of fall that we’re so excited to embrace soon.
I’ve made peach cobbler before so I wanted to make something brand new. Therefore, I decided to take those peaches and cook them down into a thick, spreadable butter. You may have had apple butter before. Well, meet its summertime cousin, Spiced Peach Butter!
What is spiced peach butter?
Spiced peach butter isn’t actually a butter at all. Well, at least not in the traditional sense. There is no dairy in it whatsoever, but it is luscious and spreadable, just like butter. It differs from jam, preserves, or jelly because it gets its texture 100% from the fruit – no pectin or gelatin. The fruit is cooked for hours and hours with sugar and spices until much of the moisture is gone and then the fruit is pureed to make it smooth and spreadable.
The most popular form of this spreadable butter is apple butter. It’s super popular during the fall, when apples are in abundance. But in reality, you can make butter from any firm-fleshed fruit: apples, plums, strawberries, and even pumpkin make great butters.
How to make this butter
Spiced peach butter is made in the slow cooker, which is great because it requires very little maintenance throughout the cooking process.
To begin, the peaches are peeled, pitted, and chopped and added to the slow cooker. Spices and sugar are added to give the butter all its flavor. Make sure to give the peaches a taste to ensure you like the flavor. Now is a great time to make any adjustments. But remember, the flavor will intensify as the butter cooks so don’t get too crazy with the spices.
Next, a spoon or chopsticks are laid across the top of the slow cooker and the lid is placed on top. This is to allow the moisture to escape during the cooking process. The slow cooker then does all the work for either 10 hours on low or 7 hours on high. Make sure to give the butter a few stirs throughout the process.
Finally, the cooked peaches are pureed until completely smooth with a squeeze or two of lemon juice to brighten up the flavor a little. Your spiced peach butter is now complete!
Tips & Tricks
- To easily peel peaches, boil them for a minute in hot water, cool in ice water, and then use your fingers to pry the skin from the flesh.
- It’s super important to vent the slow cooker as it cooks to let all the moisture evaporate. This will ensure the butter is perfectly thick.
Spiced Peach Butter
Ingredients
- 10 peaches (about 4.5-5 pounds)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Peel, pit, and chop peaches into large chunks. Add to a large slow cooker (4-6 quart). Add sugar, salt, cinnamon and cloves. Stir together until well combined.
- Place a wooden spoon across the top of the slow cooker and place the lid on top. This will allow the moisture to vent out of the slow cooker. Cook on low for 10-12 hours or on high for 6-8. You'll know the mixture is done cooking when it's pretty thick with much of the moisture removed.
- Turn off the heat from the slow cooker and remove the lid. Allow the peaches to cool for at least 10 minutes. Then, scoop into a blender and add the lemon juice. Blend until no chunks remain and the mixture is smooth. Store in a mason jar or other storage container for up to 2 weeks. Serve on toast, biscuits, or eat straight from the jar!
Notes
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More recipes you’ll love:
Raspberry Peach Cobbler
Bourbon Peach Handpies
Salted Caramel Apple Pie Dip
Can I hot water bath this and can it?
This spiced peach butter the most suitable for spreading into sandwich. I like these taste of peach but the peach season is not very long. So this is a good way to save the taste of peach. But how long can we store this spiced peach butter?
Because of the sugar in the recipe, it will last up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.
This peach butter sounds AMAZING!!
Fresh peaches are the best! I never thought to use them to make peach butter. I love apple butter but I think peach butter would be even better.
Oh my goodness does this look so delicious! I can’t wait to make this!
A perfect recipe to utilise peaches in a smart way. Peach butter sounds so yummy.
Awesome way to utilise peaches sitting around. Worth a saving recipe.
:::Pulling out my slow cooker::: This is going to be such a delight this fall, thank you for sharing this recipe!
Oh we just went peach pick the other day and have so many peaches! I might just have to make this now. It looks so yummy!
I love peach anything…this sounds absolutely amazing!!! I saved some of my fresh peaches by freezing them, I wonder if I could use those to make peach butter!
Oh my gosh, yuuuuuummm!! This looks so delicious.