Peach Butter Recipe to Preserve the Flavor of Summer (2024)

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If you’re lucky enough to have an abundance of fresh peaches, set some aside to make this homemade peach butter recipe. You can opt to preserve this for the pantry, or simply store in the fridge for topping your breakfast toast, ice cream, or even just a spoon.

Try this recipe for making this no sugar added apple butter, too!

Peach Butter Recipe to Preserve the Flavor of Summer (1)

I love jams and jellies, but when a person is trying to cut back on sugar, fruit butters are often the answer! This peach butter is a lovely spread for your morning toast, without added sugar.

The Handcrafted Pantry

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Ready to DIY your pantry with more wholesome ingredients? Check out my ebook, The Handcrafted Pantry! Filled with delicious recipes for some of your favorite condiments, snacks, and toppings, it’s the guide you need to start skipping packaged products and embrace homemade.

Homemade Peach Butter

Making peach butter at home couldn’t be easier. With just a few ingredients, you can make up a batch to serve right away, or preserve it in jars for the pantry.

Peach Butter Recipe to Preserve the Flavor of Summer (3)

Ingredients

Fresh peaches — If you live in an area where peaches are grown, track down a farmer to purchase them directly and you’ll be rewarded with the most flavorful peaches you can imagine. (I’m particularly fond of O’Henry peaches.) You’ll peel the peaches to remove the fuzzy skin.

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Cinnamon — Adding a bit of cinnamon gives this peach butter a little bit of a peach pie flavor! You could also add spices like nutmeg or allspice if you like.

Lemon juice — This brightens the flavor of the butter and helps to acidify the mixture to make it safe for canning.

Making the peach butter

You’ll want to use peeled peaches for this recipe. Go here to learn more about peeling peaches. Essentially, you’ll blanch the peaches to loosen the skin and make it easy to remove.

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Once peeled, chop the peaches (more on that here) and put them into a large saucepan or stockpot with water and cinnamon. The water will help to prevent scorching as you cook the peaches.

Cook the peaches until they’re completely soft, then mash them or use an immersion blender to puree them into a fine texture.

Continue cooking the fruit down until it reaches the desired consistency. Transfer the hot peach butter to jars and refrigerate, or proceed with the canning instructions to make the product shelf stable.

Use a slow cooker

If you don’t want to cook this peach butter recipe on the stove top, which requires a little bit of attention, you can certainly make it in a slow cooker. Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker and cook on low for several hours before pureeing.

Once pureed, continue to cook on low with the lid tilted to allow moisture to escape. Check hourly until the peach puree reaches the desired consistency.

Kick it up

For something a little extra special, you can stir a quarter cup of bourbon into the peach mixture once it’s pureed.

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Canning Jams and Butters

You’ll need specialcanning jars, lids, and rings(read more aboutcanning equipment here) to make this peach butter shelf-stable, but the process isn’t difficult.

Once the jars are filled, you’ll process them in a water bath. What this means is you’ll put the filled and sealed jars into boiling water and heat them for ten minutes. This assures that the jars will seal well.

Hot tip:Boil some extra water in a saucepan or electric kettle as you’re working. If you need to top off the water in the canner, you won’t cool down the water too much.

Remove the jars to a towel-covered countertop and allow to cool fully. As they cool, you’ll hear the little “tink” sound of the jars sealing. Store any unsealed jars in the fridge and use those first. (This is unusual, but it does happen once in awhile.)

🍅 Safety First!

Canning is an excellent way to preserve food for the pantry, but there are some important safety considerations to keep in mind. The recipes on this site have been made following safe canning procedures by a certified Master Food Preserver.

  • Know the difference between water bath canning and pressure canning. Low acid items must be pressure canned for safety.
  • Altering ingredients may change the recipe’s pH, posing a safety issue. I highly recommend investing in pH paper to test your products for acidity level when canning. Note: For safe water bath canning, the Hawaii Master Food Preserverssuggest a pH of 4.2 or lower in the tropics. In other regions, the recommended pH is 4.6 or lower.
  • Use the proper jars and lids. Never reuse lids, with the exception of the Tattler or Harvest Right hard plastic lids that are intended for such a purpose.
  • For more on canning equipment, please go here.
  • Want to learn more? The National Center for Home Food Preservation is the go-to resource for safe canning information.

Remove the ring from each sealed jar, rinse to remove any residue, and store (without the ring) in the pantry.

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A jar of peach butter makes a great gift. Grab a FREE download of these cute printable canning labels— complete with a gentle reminder to return the jar!

Using peach butter

  • Serve this delicious peach butter on toast, English muffins,homemade biscuits,pancakes, orwaffles.
  • Stir it into homemade yogurt.
  • Use it to add that summertime taste to your morning oatmeal.

Be sure to try these delicious peach preserves while the fruit is in season, too!

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★Did you make this peach butter recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!★

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Easy Homemade Peach Butter Recipe

Yield: 3 half pint jars

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Processing Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes

If you're lucky enough to have an abundance of fresh peaches, set some aside to make a batch of peach butter. You can opt to preserve this for the pantry, or simply store in the fridge for topping your breakfast toast, pancakes, or ice cream.

Ingredients

Instructions

PREPARE FOR CANNING

  1. Wash the jars you'll use, making sure each is clean and free of nicks in the rim, which could impede sealing.
  2. Wash the lids and rings in hot soapy water. (If you're using non-Ball brand lids, prepare as suggested by manufacturer.)
  3. Place empty jars in a canning pot or large stock pot with enough water to cover by an inch or two, cover pot, and set on high heat. It can take awhile for the water to heat, so get it started before you begin making the recipe.

MAKE THE PEACH BUTTER

  1. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a rolling boil. Use a knife to cut an X on the bottom of each peach.
  2. Ease peaches into the boiling water and heat for 60 seconds.
  3. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the peaches into a bowl of ice water for 60 seconds, then remove to an empty bowl. Repeat with remaining peaches.
  4. Slip the skins from the peaches. Read more detailed instructions on blanching and peeling peaches here.
  5. Remove the cooking pot from the heat and dump out the water.
  6. Cut each peach in half, remove pit, and cut each half into 6-8 pieces. Place chopped peaches into pot.
  7. Add 1/2 cup water, lemon juice, and cinnamon to the pot and bring to a boil. Simmer over medium heat for 15-20 minutes or until soft, stirring occasionally.
  8. Using an immersion blender, puree peach mixture until smooth. Alternatively, use a potato masher to smash the cooked fruit.
  9. Continue to cook on medium low for about 35-50 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture reaches the desired thickness. The peach butter will thicken more as it cools.
  10. Transfer into jars and store in refrigerator or proceed with the canning process outlined below.

CANNING

  1. Remove empty jars from canner, draining water back into pot.
  2. Ladle hot jam into half-pint, pint, or quart sized jars, leaving 1/4" head space. A canning funnel makes this easy.
  3. Wipe jar rims to remove any residue that may have spilled. A clean rim is essential to a good seal.
  4. Set jar lids in place. Screw bands on finger tight.
  5. Use a jar lifter to gently submerge jars into hot water in the canning pot. Water should cover the top of the jars by an inch. The water will cool somewhat in reaction to the addition of the jars. Return the water to a simmer and then set the timer.
  6. Process pints, half-pints, or quart jars for 15 minutes 0-1,000 feet altitude, 20 minutes for elevations between 1,001-6,000', or 25 minutes for over 6,000'.
  7. Remove jars from water using the jar lifter and transfer to a solid, towel-covered surface. Allow to cool for 24 hours.
  8. Check seals. Lids should be solid and pulled down tight. (if they flex and pop, the jar didn’t seal; put unsealed jars in the refrigerator and use those first).
  9. Remove rings and wash outsides of jars. Store in a cool, dry place.

Notes

If you prefer a sweeter peach butter, you can add up to a cup of sugar to this recipe. If you have an abundance of peaches, you can double or triple this recipe.

Processing time is based on this information from the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

This recipe tested in the range of 3.5-4.0 pH.

Boiling lids or heating above 180°F as once recommended can damage the sealing compound.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 16Serving Size: 1 grams
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 46Unsaturated Fat: 0gCarbohydrates: 11gSugar: 10g

Did you make this recipe?

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Do you have questions about home canning? First time canner? Check out this list of 101 frequently asked canning questions!

This post was originally published in May 2015; it has been updated.

About the author:Loriel is on a journey to a more natural life and hopes to inspire those around her by writing about her stories on her blog Naturally Loriel. She lives an abundant life with her husband Scott, toddler Andrew, a crazy little Lilly cat and a flock of 8 chickens. She’s a dreamer of self-sufficiency, a lover of all things sweet, and has a knack for story-telling.

Peach Butter Recipe to Preserve the Flavor of Summer (2024)

FAQs

How do you preserve summer peaches? ›

Once the peaches ripen, use them right away, freeze them, refrigerate them in an airtight container, or purée them to keep them from spoiling. Submerge peach slices in sugar syrup. To preserve sliced peaches for later use, can peaches in sugar syrup to preserve them for up to one year.

What is the difference between peach preserves and peach butter? ›

But what's the difference between peach butter and peach preserves or jam? Fruit butter is just the pulp of the fruit, cooked with sugar, then pureed into a thick spreadable mixture, and is typically very smooth. Preserves are pieces or chunks of fruit in a gelled sugar syrup.

How do you preserve fruit butter? ›

Processing: Pack cooked butters immediately into hot jars leaving ¼ inch headspace. Adjust lids and process in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes. When cool, test seal, remove bands, and store in a cool place. Butters can also be frozen or stored for short periods of time in the refrigerator.

How long does homemade fruit butters last? ›

Fruit butters will last for one to two weeks in the refrigerator but they can also be frozen, using freezer-safe packaging. Some fruit butters can also be preserved using the water bath canning method.

What do you put on peaches to preserve them? ›

Dissolve ¼ teaspoon ascorbic acid in 3 tablespoons cold water and add to each quart of peaches to slow darkening. Add ⅔ cup sugar to each quart (1⅓ pounds) of prepared fruit.

Do I need to peel peaches before preserving? ›

You don't HAVE to peel the peaches to can them, that's just how most people prefer them.

How do you keep peach preserves from turning brown? ›

To slow down the process of color loss, store your sealed jars in total darkness. You can also add some lemon juice even when a recipe does not require it (1 tablespoon per cup of mashed fruit or juice at the most).

How long do homemade peach preserves last? ›

Here's how long homemade jam lasts: For homemade jam, using sugar and processed by canning in a hot water bath, you can expect to get about two years of shelf life when stored in a cool, dry place. Once opened, keep your homemade jam in the refrigerator for up to three months.

What is the best peach variety for preserves? ›

Clingstone. The pretty yellow peach flesh "clings" to the stone, and therefore the name. These are the earliest peaches to come in. Distinguished by their juiciness and sweet peach flavor, they lend themselves very well to jams, preserves and canning.

Is it better to freeze or canning butter? ›

There's, however, also canning, which is a more novel solution that can keep your butter fresh for about three years and it doesn't even require freezing! When done properly, freezing your butter can help to keep it fresh for as long as a whole year, while refrigeration will only keep it for about four months.

How do you know when fruit butter is done? ›

To test doneness, put a spoonful of fruit butter on a plate. If no liquid seeps from the edges, it's done. Return to a simmer to thicken more if necessary. For very smooth fruit butter, puree in a food processor or blender, then strain and push the mixture through a sieve before storing.

How long does fruit butter last? ›

If stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, homemade apple butter can last up to 6 months. If you store it in the freezer, it can last up to a year. It's important to check the apple butter for any signs of spoilage before consuming. Discard if it has an off odor, mold or discoloration.

How do you increase the shelf life of homemade butter? ›

You don't get fresher than homemade butter, and you'll taste the difference. Because it's fresh, your butter won't keep as long as commercial butter, so make it in small batches and keep it in the fridge for a few weeks or freeze it for up to 9 months.

Why does homemade butter go bad? ›

butter is composed of at least 80 fat. so it will go through lipid oxidation. turning it rancid over time. the cream used to make butter has been pasteurized.

Does homemade butter go rancid? ›

Homemade butter's shelf life depends on how thoroughly you extract the buttermilk. If a substantial amount of buttermilk remains, it will sour within a week, otherwise homemade butter can keep for up to 2-3 weeks in the fridge.

How do you preserve peaches for a long time? ›

Place your peach in your produce drawer or a loosely tied plastic bag to place in your fridge. Keep in mind that the cold air of your refrigerator may dehydrate your peach and cause wrinkles.

Is it better to freeze or canning peaches? ›

Freezing peaches is a little easier and quicker and produces wonderfully sweet and delicious peaches to put in your freezer. Canning peaches produces jars of peeled and halved peaches for your pleasure.

Can you freeze fresh peaches without blanching? ›

If you don't care about the look of your frozen peaches, it's totally fine to skip blanching and remove the skin by hand, or not at all. Do I have to peel peaches to freeze them? Peeling your peaches before freezing is helpful if you plan to use them in a recipe where you would prefer the skins to be removed.

What is the best way to save fresh peaches? ›

Once ripe, the ideal way to keep peaches fresh is in a bag with large holes or, if they aren't being kept in the refrigerator, in an open bag away from other fruits.

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