Peach Butter

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to enjoy the sweet taste of peaches all year round, this peach butter recipe is perfect. Unlike traditional peach butter recipes that require long setting times, this version uses tapioca as a thickener, significantly shortening the process. With a few simple ingredients and minimal hands-on time, you can create a batch of homemade fruit butter that’s ideal for baking, stirring into oatmeal or topping your favorite ice cream.

Ingredients for Peach Butter

• Peaches: Use fresh or frozen peaches that are peeled, pitted and coarsely chopped. They provide the main flavor and texture of the butter.
• Sugar: This ingredient sweetens the peaches, balancing their natural tartness and helping to preserve the butter.
• Lemon juice: The lemon juice adds a hint of tartness and maintains the peaches’ bright color.
• Ground cinnamon: This spice infuses a warm, spicy note to the fruit butter that complements the sweetness of the peaches.
• Ground cloves: Cloves add depth with their strong, sweet and slightly bitter flavor.
• Quick-cooking tapioca: This ingredient thickens the butter, giving it a smooth, spreadable consistency.  

Directions

Step 1: Combine ingredients

In a large bowl, combine the peaches, sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon and cloves. Transfer this mixture to a 5-quart slow cooker.

Editor’s Tip: To easily remove the skins from fresh peaches, blanch them in boiling water for 30 seconds, then transfer them to an ice bath. The peels should slip off effortlessly.

Step 2: Cook the mixture

Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours, stirring occasionally, until the peaches are very soft.

Step 3: Thicken

Stir in the tapioca. Cook uncovered on high for 1 hour or until the butter has thickened to your desired consistency.

Editor’s Tip: For a smoother texture, use an immersion blender to puree the peach butter before thickening.

Step 4: Store 

Pour the hot peach butter into pint jars or freezer containers and let it cool to room temperature for about 1 hour. Cover and refrigerate for up to three weeks or freeze for up to 1 year.

Editor’s Tip: Preserve your fruit butter with water bath canning for shelf-stable storage. Once in jars, bring a large pot to a boil and process the jars for 10 minutes.

Peach Butter Variations

• Skip the tapioca: If you prefer, you can skip the tapioca. Simply cook the butter a bit longer to achieve your desired thickness.
• Make it spicy: Add a teaspoon of ground ginger and other warming spices to give the peach butter a warm, spicy kick.
• Add vanilla: Enhance the flavor by adding a teaspoon of vanilla extract during the last hour of cooking.

How to Store Peach Butter

After cooling, refrigerate the peach butter for up to three weeks. For longer storage, freeze it in airtight containers for up to 1 year or use a water bath canner for canning.

Can you freeze peach butter?

Yes, you can freeze peach butter. Place it in airtight containers, leaving some space for expansion, and freeze for up to one year. Thaw in the refrigerator for one to two days before using.

Recipe Tips

How to use peach butter

Peach butter can be spread on toast, waffles, or pancakes, mixed into yogurt or oatmeal, and much more.

Can you use frozen peaches to make peach butter?

Yes, fresh or frozen peaches work for this recipe. Just thaw frozen peaches first and follow the recipe as directed. Frozen fruit may have a higher water content so keep that in mind as well. 

How do you know when peach butter is done?

Peach butter is done when it has thickened to a spreadable consistency and holds its shape on a spoon. This typically takes 8 to 10 hours in a slow cooker, plus an additional hour if thickening with tapioca.

What’s the difference between peach butter and peach jam?

The taste of peach butter is smooth and much more concentrated in flavor than peach jam. It’s made by cooking the peaches until thick and smooth, often without large pieces of fruit you’ll find in jam.