Easy Peach Compote Recipe with Honey

Here’s how to make a delicious peach compote recipe with ripe peaches, honey, lemon juice, and a dash of cinnamon. This simple fruit sauce adds a cozy, spiced warmth to your favorite desserts or breakfast foods.

Peach compote is hands down one of my favorite fruit sauces to make during the summer. It’s easy, versatile, and, honestly, a lifesaver when I come home from the farmer’s market with way too many peaches (which happens every summer!).

Ripe peaches have this incredible natural sweetness and juiciness that’s hard to beat. 

When you cook them down with a touch of honey, a splash of lemon juice, and a hint of ground cinnamon and vanilla extract, they transform into a rich, flavorful fruit sauce that’s great with almost anything.

I’ve also experimented with other fruit compotes, like blueberry, strawberry, and cherry.

Blueberry compote has a deep, rich flavor, perfect for topping pancakes and French toast. Strawberry compote, with its vibrant color and tartness, is ideal for drizzling over ricotta cheesecake or adding to a creamy strawberry ricotta dessert. Cherry compote, with its bold, sweet-tart taste, is simply irresistible on buttermilk waffles.

As you can tell, I am a big fan of fruit compote. But there is something about the flavor of this fresh peach compote recipe that makes it my absolute favorite. In fact, it’s the only compote I always keep stocked in my freezer, ready to add a taste of summer to any dish, any time of the year.

If you have 15 minutes, let me show you how easy this is to make.  

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• Step-by-step photos and instructions
• Tips
• Variations
• FAQ
• Serving suggestions
• More compote recipes
• Recipe origin
• More peach recipes
• Recipe

Ingredients

• Peaches: Ripe peaches are essential for this fruit compote. You can use fresh or frozen. 
• Honey: I love using honey as a sweetener. It adds more flavor than granulated sugar. Maple syrup is a great alternative.
• Lemon Juice: A little splash adds zing and keeps the peaches from browning.
• Vanilla Extract (Optional): Although optional, I strongly recommend using it. A hint of vanilla adds a warm, cozy aroma and deepens the flavor.
• Cinnamon (Optional): A dash of cinnamon adds a spiced warmth that complements the sweetness of the peaches and honey. Once again, this is optional, but if you are a cinnamon lover like me, you will definitely want to include this. 
• Water: A splash keeps things from sticking to the pan and helps everything cook smoothly.
• Kosher Salt: Just a pinch. 

Step-by-step photos and instructions

Peel, pit, and chop: Carefully remove the skin and pits from 4 large peaches. I find that if the peaches are ripe, the skin can easily be peeled away. Chop the peaches into bite-sized pieces. Be sure to do this over a bowl to catch any juices.

Combine ingredients: Add 2 tablespoons of honey, 1½ tablespoons of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of water, and ¾ teaspoon of cinnamon in a small, heavy-bottomed saucepan with the diced peaches.

Cook the compote: Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the peaches become soft and break down, about 10 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat once the peaches are softened. Stir in 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract and a pinch of Kosher salt.

Cool and serve: Let the compote cool for a few minutes before serving. My family loves enjoying this simple peach dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, as shown in the photo above.

Tips

After making peach compote every summer for decades, I’ve picked up a few tricks to ensure it turns out right every time. Here are some tips to help you make the most delicious batch:

• Use ripe, juicy peaches: The key to a flavorful compote is using peaches at their peak ripeness. If your peaches are perfectly ripe, the skin can often be easily peeled away, without blanching. If your peaches are a little under-ripe, you can always add a touch more sweetener.
• Don’t skip the lemon juice: Lemon juice brightens the flavor, balances the sweetness and helps keep your peaches from browning during cooking.
• Keep an eye on it: Compote can burn easily if left unattended, so I make sure to give it a good stir every few minutes to prevent sticking and scorching.
• Adjust the consistency: If you like your compote thicker, simply cook it a little longer to let more of the liquid evaporate. For a thinner consistency, just add a splash of water until it reaches your desired texture.

Variations

• Experiment with Spices: Take the flavor up a notch by adding a pinch of spices like cardamom, nutmeg, or even ground ginger. These spices complement the peaches beautifully and add a cozy, spiced twist to the compote.
• Add a Splash of Alcohol: For an adult twist, stir in a tablespoon of bourbon, rum, or Grand Marnier during the last few minutes of cooking.
• Use Different kinds of Honey: The type of honey you use can affect the flavor of your compote. Lighter honey, like clover or orange blossom, adds a delicate sweetness, while darker honey, like buckwheat or wildflower, brings a deeper, more robust flavor. 
• Add a twist with balsamic vinegar: Adding a splash of balsamic vinegar toward the end of cooking brings a lovely richness that pairs beautifully with the sweetness of the peaches.
• Mix in Other Fruits: Don’t be afraid to throw in other fruits that need using up. Blueberries, raspberries, or even plums make great additions to this compote, adding extra bursts of color and flavor.
• Customize the Texture: If you prefer a smoother compote, you can easily mash the peaches as they cook. Sometimes, I use a potato masher to break them down into a consistency that’s just right for spreading or spooning.

FAQ

Serving suggestions

This peach compote is delicious whether served warm or cold. Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy it:

• Pancakes and Waffles: Spoon warm peach compote over mini pancakes or a buttermilk waffles. It adds a fruity burst, perfect with maple syrup and a dollop of whipped homemade ricotta.
• Yogurt and Granola: Stir a spoonful into your morning yogurt and top it off with some crunchy granola.
• Oatmeal: Mix it into a bowl of oatmeal for a naturally sweet and colorful start to your day. It really elevates the flavor and texture of your usual oats.
• Dessert Topping: Enhance your desserts by drizzling a little compote over a slice of orange chiffon cake, or lemon loaf.
• Scones and Biscuits: Serve it alongside freshly baked scones or buttermilk biscuits.
• Decadent Treat: Spoon the mixture over a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a simple and indulgent dessert.

More compote recipes

Recipe origin

I first tasted a version of this peach compote many years ago at a friend’s BBQ. They served it over vanilla ice cream.

I couldn’t believe how something so simple as peaches and ice cream could be so delicious.

Fast-forward a few decades, and now I’m excited to share this summer dessert with all of you.

Peach compote has become one of my favorite summer compote recipes. I always make a few extra jars to store in the freezer so I can enjoy a taste of summer, even when the season ends. It’s perfect for special breakfasts—whether topping warm pancakes or stirring into a bowl of oatmeal. 

Enjoy!

More peach recipes

★★★★★ If you’ve tried this easy peach dessert recipe, I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments below. Don’t forget to rate the recipe!

Recipe