Honey Poached Peaches

Name: Honey Poached Peaches
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 2 servings
Ingredients: 2 firm yellow peaches; ½ cinnamon stick; 1 vanilla bean or ½ tsp vanilla paste; 80g honey; 300ml water; Thick Greek yoghurt or dollop cream, to serve

3 Apr

Written By Karina Arora

Honey poached peaches with Greek yoghurt and reduced honey syrup

Close up of two Honey poached peaches on a bed of Greek yoghurt

Yellow peaches in a saucepan to make Honey poached peaches

Preparation time: 20-30 minutes | Serves: 2 people

What happens when you take a something that already works really well, but then elevate it? Like peaches and cream - a near perfect combination, but I’m taking it a step further by poaching them in a simple honey, cinnamon and vanilla syrup for a subtly sweet, seasonal dessert that comes together in just 20 minutes.

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Why you’ll love my Honey Poached Peaches -

I’ve waxed lyrical about my love for summer and stone fruits several times, so instead let me describe why poached peaches are such an underrated way to enjoy them.

Don’t get me wrong - I will never go past a fresh, perfectly ripe peach. But this recipe is more for the beginning or end of the season when the sweetest, juiciest peaches are either yet to arrive or hard to source. That’s when you need something a little extra to coax out the flavours.

Poaching peaches turns them almost jammy, and if you get the timing just right, they'll still hold their shape just enough to not disintegrate the moment you dig your spoon in. Honey, cinnamon and vanilla is a foolproof combination, plus the poaching liquid reduces to form a glossy, sticky syrup that gives this dessert some serious oopmh.

Honey poached peaches in vanilla, cinnamon and honey syrup

Honey poached peaches in a bowl in dappled sunshine

When can I make/ serve these poached peaches?

The exciting this about this recipe is that it could be served as a very elegant, effortless dessert or, you could literally eat them for breakfast!

It’s perfect for those days when you want a sweeter start and I’d even suggest sprinkling granola or chia seeds on top for a crunchy contrast.

They're perfect for those days when you want a sweeter start, and I'd suggest spooning them over Greek yoghurt or oatmeal with a handful of granola or chia seeds for a bit of crunch.

For a dinner party dessert, serve the honey poached peaches warm over vanilla ice cream or with a generous dollop of cream. You can poach the peaches ahead of time and reheat gently in the microwave for 20-30 seconds, or or spend just 20 minutes making them fresh. Either way, what a treat.

Find my tips and tricks in the recipe notes below.

Ingredients

2 firm yellow peaches
½ cinnamon stick
1 vanilla bean/ ½ tsp vanilla paste
80 gms honey
300 mls water

To serve -

Thick Greek yoghurt/ dollop cream

Method

Halve the peaches and scoop out the pit.
Bring the water, vanilla, cinnamon and honey to a gentle simmer.
Gently place the peaches in and cover.
Poach for 5-6 minutes on each side until you can poke a knife through the peaches.
Transfer to an ice bath for 5-10 minutes then peel and discard the skins.
Simmer the poaching liquid uncovered until thick and syrupy (10-ish minutes).

To serve -

Dollop cream or Greek yoghurt into a bowl, top with the peaches.
Pour the warm syrup on top and serve immediately.

RECIPE NOTES

Swaps, Serves & Storage

What can I swap peaches with?
Most stone fruits will work beautifully in this recipe! You can swap yellow peaches with white peaches, nectarines or firm plums. The cooking time may vary slightly, so keep an eye on the fruit and use my the knife trick to ensure they’re the right level of doneness.
Can I use canned peaches for this recipe?
Canned peaches are already pre-cooked so poaching them will make them too soft. I would suggest using fresh peaches for this recipe.
Can I use maple syrup instead of honey?
Yes you can make the poaching liquid with maple syrup instead of honey which will also make this recipe vegan. Reduce to 60ml as maple syrup is sweeter than honey.
Do I have to serve the poached peaches with Greek yoghurt?
I love Greek yoghurt as it makes for a lighter, healthier dessert which is perfect for a mid-week treat, however you can also serve the peaches with dollop or whipped cream, vanilla ice cream or even oatmeal!
How long can I store the peaches?
Store leftover poached peaches in an airtight container with their syrup in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat gently in the microwave or in a small saucepan over low heat. The syrup will thicken further as it chills.

Tips & Tricks

Use firm peaches for this recipe - for poaching peaches, you want to use fresh fruit that is just shy of being ripe. They should be firm to touch with the slightest give upon pressing. Fully ripe peaches will fall apart easily if poached.