Fresh Homemade Peach Sauce

Capture the essence of peach season with Fresh Homemade Peach Sauce that’s bursting with flavors from juicy peaches. Peach Sauce is a super-fast topping for ice cream, cheesecake, or pancakes. This sauce adds terrific flavor to anything you serve it on.

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We love desserts at our house. So, after dinner, we all start looking for something sweet to add that finishing touch to our meal. Usually, I make a large dessert over the weekend to get us through the week. But tonight, we didn’t have anything.

Before dinner, I searched the freezer for something that might satisfy some sweet-eating folks, and I came up with a tub of vanilla ice cream and fresh frozen peaches.

Fresh Homemade Peach Sauce in a skillet with text overlay.

Summertime offers so many fresh homegrown veggies and fruits. Therefore, I spend time during this season putting some away for the winter months. Peaches are one of the fruits I enjoy all year long. They tend to show up in Peach Cobblers, salads, and smoothies. Check out this link for tips on How to Freeze Fresh Peaches so you can enjoy them all year long.

This super easy topping is perfect for vanilla ice cream. It has just the right amount of sweetness and will turn a plain bowl of vanilla ice cream into a tasty and delightful dessert.

Why This Recipe Is Great

Homemade Peach Sauce is a delicious way for you to use fresh sliced peaches when they are in season or canned or frozen peaches any time of year. You control the ingredients, making this treat popular for many dishes. This is an incredible recipe to elevate your dishes and meals with homemade goodness, and you will savor every spoonful of this delightful sauce.

Flavor: This sauce bursts with the natural fruity flavor of peaches. There is no comparison to the store-bought version.

Sweetness: You control the sugar and the sweetness. Cut down on the sugar if so desired, and tailor the sweetness to your taste preferences.

Simple Ingredients: Simple sauce ingredients are needed for this recipe. Most are everyday pantry staples needed to create a homemade and wholesome sauce.

Versatility: This peach sauce is very versatile and a great accompaniment to many dishes and desserts. Whether drizzled over homemade pancakes, stirred into your yogurt parfait, or added as a topping to vanilla ice cream, the possibilities are endless.

Homemade Goodness: There’s something satisfying about making your own peach sauce from scratch. Crafting your own sauce adds a touch of love to every dish it touches.

Use Fresh, Frozen, or Canned Peaches

Fresh Homemade Peach Sauce with text overlay. — Fresh Homemade Peach Sauce

When shopping for fresh fruit, look for fresh, fragrant peaches with a slight give when gently squeezed. Avoid peaches that are overly ripe or have any blemishes or bruises. Look for in-season peaches whenever possible, for they will yield the best taste. Fresh Peaches are my first choice when making this dessert. But even if you don’t have any fresh peaches sitting around, frozen peaches will certainly work as well. So pull those babies out of your freezer or check your local grocery store for a bag.

I use frozen peaches a lot for this recipe. Allow the peaches to thaw slightly and drain any water before continuing with this recipe. Canned peaches will also work nicely. Be sure to drain the juice before topping it with sugar.

In just a few minutes, you, too, can have a perfect peach sauce that is warm, flavorful, and delicious. It’s the topping to your cream.

Ingredients Needed for the Best Peach Sauce

The beauty of this sauce is the simple ingredients needed. All of the ingredients work nicely together, and the flavor combination makes your peach sauce delightful. Please see the printable recipe card below for a complete list of ingredient amounts.

Peaches – Fresh, ripe peaches are the star ingredient of this sauce. You can also substitute frozen peaches or canned peaches and have a delicious outcome and fantastic dessert topping. You’ll need about 4-6 large peaches for this recipe.
Sugar – White or granulated sugar is used to sweeten the peach sauce to taste. You can adjust the amount of sugar based on the sweetness of your peaches and your personal preference. Start with 1/2 cup to begin with and taste as you go.
Lemon Juice – Lemon juice adds a bright and citrusy flavor to the peaches, helps brighten the sweetness, and helps keep the peaches from turning brown. If you don’t have lemon juice, you can substitute lime juice.
Corn Starch – Corn starch acts as a thickening agent and helps to achieve the desired consistency.
Vanilla – Vanilla enhances the flavor profile, adds warmth, and compliments the sweetness of the peaches.

Ingredients needed for fresh peach sauce. Text overlay.

How To Make Peach Sauce For Desserts

Making and eating Peach Sauce on desserts just pushes them over the top. I mean–who can resist a big bowl of ice cream with warm peach sauce? Not me!
Have you tried it on top of pancakes? You need to. They are fabulous when you add a big spoonful to the top. This is the perfect way to start your day. At least, in my opinion, it is.

Steps shown for making peach sauce with text overlay.

So, How do you make Peach Sauce?

This homemade peach sauce is incredibly versatile. Serve it over your favorite foods and enjoy the goodness however you like.

Prepare The Peaches

Peel, slice, or dice the sweet peaches into small to medium chunks. Place them in a medium bowl and add the lemon juice. Stir to coat the peaches evenly. Then, cover the peaches with sugar. Transfer the bowl to the refrigerator and let it chill for at least an hour or two. This step helps to release some of the juice from the peaches.
Cook the Peach Mixture:
- In a skillet or small saucepan over medium heat, add the chilled peaches and any juices. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the peaches begin to soften.
Add Flavorings:
- Once the peaches have softened, add the vanilla extract to the skillet. Stir to incorporate the vanilla into the peach mixture.
Thicken the Sauce:
- Sprinkle the cornstarch over the peach mixture and stir continuously to combine. The cornstarch will thicken the juices almost immediately. Continue to cook for a minute or two until the sauce reaches your desired consistency. Don’t overcook, or it will begin to get hard and sticky.
Serve and Enjoy:
- Once the sauce has thickened, remove the skillet from the heat. Serve the peach sauce warm over the top of your favorite dessert. The sauce can also be refrigerated for later use. Simply store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Recipe Tips

Here are a few expert tips to follow, and you’ll be well on your way to making the best peach sauce that’s bursting with flavor and perfect for any occasion.

Choose ripe peaches.
Allow the peaches to sit in sugar in the refrigerator for at least an hour. This will bring out all of the peach juice for a tastier dessert topping. This can easily be started before dinner and finished quickly for an after-dinner dessert.
You can cut down on the sugar. Use less sugar if desired.
Make a smaller batch of sauce by cutting the recipe in half.
Start with a small amount of cornstarch and add more as needed. Some peaches are juicer than others.
I usually use a small paring knife when peeling peaches. Check out this link for another way to Peel Peaches.

What Happens If I Cook This Sauce Too Long

Overcooking this sauce can lead to undesirable results. It’s essential to monitor the sauce closely while cooking and to remove it from the heat as soon as it reaches the desired consistency. Overcooking can lead to a caramelized consistency, making it difficult to pour or spread. If you prefer a thinner sauce, you can always add a bit of fruit juice to thin it out without additional cooking.

Recipe Variations and Substitutions

Feel free to get creative and experiment with different ingredients and flavor combinations to make your peach sauce uniquely delicious!

Add some ground cinnamon to bring out warmth.
Substitute the vanilla extract for almond extract.
Substitute some of the white sugar for brown sugar.
Combine other fruits, such as strawberries or blueberries, and experiment with new fruit sauces.

How To Use Fresh Peach Sauce

Get creative and experiment with incorporating fresh peach sauce into your favorite recipes and discover some new favorite combinations.

Top Off Breakfast: Top off your breakfast favorites with a warm peach sauce. Drizzle it over pancakes, waffles, or French toast for a delightful twist.

Enhance Yogurt or Oatmeal: Swirl peach sauce into your plain yogurt or oatmeal for an added burst of flavor.

Dress Up Desserts: Add some peach sauce to the top of pound cake, ice cream, or cheesecake.

Spread on Bagels: Spread this sauce on top of bagels or toast, as you would jam.

Can I Save Leftover Peach Sauce?

Yes, this sauce keeps nicely in the refrigerator for a few days. If you find yourself with leftover peach sauce (that might be a rarity), store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. For longer storage, you can freeze the sauce in freezer-safe containers or ice cube trays for up to three months. Simply thaw in the refrigerator overnight before using.

How To Reheat Leftovers

Reheating peach sauce is a simple process. I reheat any leftovers in the microwave. Place the desired amount in a microwave-safe small bowl and heat for a few seconds until warm.

Recipe FAQs

Can I Use Canned or Frozen Peaches Instead of Fresh?

Yes, you can substitute canned or frozen peaches if fresh ones aren’t available. Just be sure to drain canned peaches and thaw frozen ones before using.

How Can I Adjust The Sweetness Of The Sauce?

You can adjust the sweetness of the peach sauce by varying the amount of sugar you add. Taste the sauce as you go. It is easier to add more sugar than to try to fix an overly sweet sauce.

How Do I Know When The Sauce Is Done?

The sauce is done when the peaches are soft, tender, and thickened to the desired consistency.