Vanilla Poached Peaches

Last Updated on August 12, 2025 by becky

A recipe for whole poached peaches in a sweet, cinnamon-vanilla syrup. Serve alone or with vanilla ice cream for a simple summer dessert.

 

Why Make These Vanilla Poached Peaches?

Did you know that August is National Peach Month? This fruit-themed “holiday” began in the early 1980s, as a way to stimulate peach sales and consumption in the United States. Peaches reach their peak between June and August, so it’s no surprise that National Peach Month coincides with the last, lazy days of summer.

Along with strawberries and blueberries, ripe, juicy peaches are amongst my favorite seasonal fruits for baking and pastry.  Locally-grown summer peaches make a nice addition to sweet recipes, like breakfast pastries and hand pies. They’re also great for frozen desserts such as sorbet and granita, or for working into savory recipes (like my summer grilled peach and goat cheese pizza!) for a savory-sweet contrast.

In this recipe, I’ve poached whole peaches in a sweet syrup made from lemon, honey, cinnamon and vanilla. You can serve this rustic summer dessert warm or at room temperature, ideally accompanied by a big scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Ingredients for Making Poached Peaches with Vanilla

To make vanilla poached peaches, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Peaches – You can use white or yellow peaches. Make sure they’re ripe and peeled, but not sliced. You want to use whole peaches, pits and all.
• Granulated Sugar – Granulated sugar creates the sweet, thick poaching syrup. You can substitute caster sugar, measured by weight rather than volume.
• Honey – You’ll need 60 grams, or about 3 tablespoons, of good-tasting honey.
• Lemon – Add half of a large lemon, very thinly sliced, for a hint of citrus. Do not peel the lemon (and maybe save the rest of it for garnishing glasses of lemon granita or a pitcher of homemade lemonade!)

• Cinnamon – I always keep a big bag of cinnamon sticks in my cabinet to add to everything from savory Indian dishes to simmer pots. You’ll only need one stick for this recipe, but save the leftovers! They’re great for making the poaching syrup for these chaussons aux pommes (apple turnovers).
• Vanilla – For this recipe, you’ll need a whole vanilla pod (not extract, paste, or flavoring). Split the pot lengthwise with a sharp knife, then scrape the seeds into the pot. Vanilla pods often come in packages—use the extras to make my vanilla chai simmer pot, homemade vanilla ice cream, or in lieu of vanilla bean paste in any cake or cookie recipe.

How to Make Poached Peaches

To make this recipe, you’ll start by combining all of the poaching syrup ingredients in a large saucepan or stock pot, then simmering the mixture on the stovetop until the sugar dissolves.

Then, add the peaches and place a cartouche (see below!) over the pan, and simmer just long enough for the peaches to turn tender but not mushy.

Remove the peaches, then continue to cook the syrup until reduced by half. Remove the lemon, cinnamon, and vanilla, pour the reduced syrup over the peaches, and serve.

For ingredient quantities, step-by-step instructions, and process photos, scroll down to the recipe card below.

Making a Cartouche

A cartouche is a parchment circle placed over top of a simmering stew, sauce, or compote to help prevent evaporation.

If you’ve already made by chaussons aux pommes (apple turnovers), you’re already familiar with the process of making and using a cartouche! If not, please see my apple turnover recipe for step-by-step instructions and process photos.

How to Serve Vanilla Poached Peaches

You can serve these poached peaches warm or at room temperature, along with the sweet poaching syrup.

Other possible accompaniments include homemade vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, coconut whipped cream, custard (if you have some left over, you can make a batch of custard creams!), fresh berries, or basil or mint leaves to garnish.

Make-Ahead and Storage Suggestions

Store leftover poached peaches in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Serve cold, or briefly re-warm in the microwave until just heated through.

Other peach recipes you might enjoy:

Vanilla Peach Hand Pies
Summer Grilled Peach and Goat Cheese Pizza
Vanilla Peach Granita
Mascarpone and Peach Puff Pastries
Peach Hand Pies with Blueberries and Walnuts

And if you do make these, or any of my recipes, don’t forget to tag me @bastecutfold or use the hashtag #bastecutfold on Instagram. I always love to see what you’re making!

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