This Easy Homemade Crockpot Peach Butter is a sweet treat that makes your kitchen smell amazing! Made with ripe peaches, it’s smooth and spready, perfect for toast or pancakes.
I love how simple this recipe is. Just toss everything in the crockpot and let it work its magic while you go about your day. You’ll feel like a chef without all the fuss! 🍑
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
Peaches: Fresh, ripe peaches give the best flavor. If fresh ones aren’t available, use frozen peaches—just make sure they’re unsweetened. Canned peaches can work too; just drain them well.
Granulated Sugar and Brown Sugar: The sugars balance the tartness of the peaches. You can reduce the sugar for a less sweet version or use honey or maple syrup for a natural sweetener. Just remember to adjust the liquid if you do!
Lemon Juice: This brightens the flavor and helps preserve the peach butter. You can substitute with lime juice if that’s all you have—just keep the tanginess in mind!
Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves add warmth and depth. Feel free to skip or swap these according to your taste; allspice or ginger could be interesting alternatives for a different twist.
How Do I Get the Peaches Ready for Cooking?
Preparing peaches is essential for making delicious peach butter. Here’s how to do it easily:
- Start by blanching the peaches. Bring a pot of water to boil, and drop in the peaches for about 1 minute.
- Transfer them to a bowl of ice water immediately; this helps stop the cooking and makes the skins easy to slip off.
- Once cooled, the skins should come off effortlessly. Cut the peaches in half, remove the pits, and slice them up.
With your peaches prepped, you’re ready to move on to the cooking process. This step can save you a lot of time and make your peach butter smooth and flavorful!
Easy Homemade Crockpot Peach Butter
Ingredients You’ll Need:
For the Peach Butter:
- 5 pounds ripe peaches (about 12–15 medium), peeled, pitted, and sliced
- 1 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
How Much Time Will You Need?
This recipe takes about 20 minutes to prepare and then cooks for 8 to 10 hours on low or 4 to 5 hours on high. After cooking, you can spend another 10 minutes blending and jar prepping, so in total, you’re looking at around 10+ hours with prep included. Most of this time, you can relax while your peach butter cooks away happily in the crockpot!
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Prepare the Peaches:
Start by peeling, pitting, and slicing your peaches. A great way to do this is to blanch them first. Boil a pot of water, drop the peaches in for about 1 minute, and then quickly transfer them to an ice bath. This will make peeling a breeze! Pop the skins off, slice the peaches, and set them aside.
2. Mix in the Slow Cooker:
Put the sliced peaches into your slow cooker. Add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Stir everything together until the peaches are well coated with the sugar and spices.
3. Cook it Up!
Cover the slow cooker and set it to cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours. Remember to stir occasionally if you can. You want the peaches to be very soft and the mixture to thicken up nicely as it cooks.
4. Blend to Perfection:
Once the peaches are soft, grab an immersion blender and puree the mixture right in the crockpot until smooth. If you don’t have one, you can carefully transfer batches to a regular blender or a food processor (but be careful with the hot mixture!).
5. Thicken If Needed:
If after blending, your peach butter seems a bit thinner than you’d like, just continue cooking it uncovered on low for another hour. This will help it thicken up beautifully!
6. Final Touch:
Once thickened to your liking, stir in the vanilla extract if you’re using it for that extra flavor boost!
7. Jar It Up:
While the peach butter is still hot, transfer it into sterilized jars. Seal them up and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or freeze for longer storage. Just make sure to leave a little space at the top of the jars if you’re freezing.
8. Enjoy!
Your homemade peach butter is ready to enjoy! Spread it on toast, biscuits, pancakes, or use it as a sweet topping for your desserts. It’s peachy perfection!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use Frozen Peaches for This Recipe?
Yes! If fresh peaches aren’t available, you can definitely use frozen peaches. Just make sure to thaw them completely before using. You might want to drain any excess liquid to avoid a runny peach butter.
Can I Reduce the Sugar in This Recipe?
Absolutely! You can adjust the sugar to your taste. Start with less sugar, and you can always add more later if needed. Just keep in mind that less sugar may affect the overall preservation of your peach butter.
How Do I Store Leftover Peach Butter?
Store any leftover peach butter in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. For longer storage, you can freeze it in jars or freezer-safe bags for up to 6 months. Just leave some room in jars for expansion while freezing!
Can I Add Other Spices or Flavorings?
Definitely! Feel free to experiment with spices like ginger or allspice for a new twist. You might also consider adding a splash of bourbon or rum for a fun flavor kick, just be sure to adjust other ingredients accordingly!
