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Last winter, I caught an episode of the show Southern at Heart on Food Network Canada and in that particular episode, Chef Damaris Phillips visited a peach orchard. After her visit, she went straight to her kitchen and made pickled peaches, something I had never tried—so I was curious. When peach season rolled around this year, I remembered that show and used her recipe to adapt into the recipe I'm sharing with you today: Easy Refrigerator Pickled Peaches.
If you follow me on Instagram (if you aren't, you should!) you would already know that I LOVE peaches. I posted peach pictures for a few days straight once those delicious Niagara peaches made their first appearance in the local stores. Each year when peach season rolls around, I break out all my old favourite recipes, like my Coconut Peach Ice Cream. In addition to making the old faves, I always look for a few new ones to try and I also try to develop a few new-to-me recipes (stay tuned for those). There really isn't a peach recipe I've come across that I didn't love. To me, peaches can do no wrong!
These Easy Refrigerator Pickled Peaches aren't "canned" peaches that you can leave on your shelf for months to enjoy year-round. They're pickled, so their window is much shorter. Canning is a whole other process that I have not yet explored (but I want to and will soon). Do you can? If so, tell me about it!
Pickling is something that was new to me up until now, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Happily, the results were great and this recipe has been added to my list to make for future peach seasons.
So...What Do Pickled Peaches Taste Like?!
You may be wondering what pickled peaches taste like if you've never pickled anything before (like I was). The end result is sweet, sour, tangy, spicy peaches...it's a really unique flavour. My mouth is watering as I describe it!
What to do with Pickled Peaches
This was the next big question I had. After I make them, what am I supposed to do with them? Luckily, there are many things you can do with Easy Refrigerator Pickled Peaches. You can:
- Eat them just as they are
- Chop and use as an ice cream topping
- Chop and add to salads
- Slice and add as a topping to burgers or sandwiches
- Pair with certain meats if you are a meat eater
- Add to a cheese board
I'm sure there are more uses, too! Do you use pickled peaches in any other way? Tell me about it in the comments!
Easy Refrigerator Pickled Peaches
Easy Refrigerator Pickled Peaches
Ingredients:
- 2 x 500ml (16.9 oz) Mason jars
- 1 ½ cups rice vinegar
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- ¼ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 inch piece of ginger, peeled and cut into thick slices.
- 4-5 ripe peaches, cut into sixths
Instructions:
- Over low heat, add the rice vinegar, maple syrup, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg to a small saucepan.
- Heat until the sugar dissolves (about 5 minutes). Make sure that the mixture does not boil, you want it to be warm to the touch but not extremely hot. If it gets too hot, the peaches will cook and you don't want that.
- After sugar has dissolved, remove from heat. If it's not warm to the touch, let it cool for a while.
- Divide the sliced ginger between the two jars, placing the pieces at the bottom.
- Divide the peach slices between the two jars, add peaches until each jar is full.
- Pour the liquid mixture over the peaches, dividing between the two jars. Make sure peaches are totally covered.
- Cover with lids and place in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks (test after 1 week to see if you like the flavour as-is)
Recipe Notes:
Adapted from Damaris Phillips' Pickles Peaches recipe.
Karen says
Quick question for you-do you peel the peaches?
Thank you!!!
Gwen Leron says
Hi Karen, no, the peaches do not need to be peeled. Any further questions, please ask. Enjoy!
EmaLee Noggle says
I made these last summer and they were delicious! I just ate them straight outta the jar and I used the juice for cocktails.. -- ice, vodka, coconut la croix and some juice! Delicious! Someone at work told me to blend the peaches into a drink! I may try with ice, vodka and
s the peaches
Gwen Leron says
This is wonderful, EmaLee! Thanks for letting me know, I'm glad you like them, and yes, there are so many ways you can use them. Thanks for taking the time to leave your note!
LeDornai S. says
Can one substitute apple cider vinegar for rice vinegar . This will be my first attempt in making pickled peaches.
Gwen Leron says
Hi there, yes, apple cider vinegar should work just fine. Let me know how things go!
LeDornai S says
I used the Apple Cider vinegar and it was a little too strong at the first tasting but my sister seemed to like the taste. I’m going to wait until next week to let to try the other peaches. I have an interesting question I would like to ask. Can I use the same recipe and add Brandy to it. I would like to try and see how they will taste.
Gwen Leron says
Glad you gave the recipe a try! That IS an interesting question, but I am not sure about how the result would be since I haven't tried it myself. I do think that the peaches would be extremely strong depending on how much you add, so keep that in mind. Let me know when you try the peaches you made!
Betsy Taylor says
I LOVE pickled peaches! I use them as a condiment like cranberry sauce with pork chops! The flavor combo with the pork is amazing!! I'm really excited to try these as I've been traveling in our RV across the states and can't get them in any store since I left Georgia!!
Gwen @ Delightful Adventures says
I hope you like the recipe, Betsy, and I hope they travel well in your RV! Peaches have just come into season here, so I'll be making a batch soon 🙂
Billy says
I have never actually tried pickled peaches before.. I love peaches, but I am really curious to see what sort of flavors end up coming out of the peach once it reaches the end of the pickle. I think there will probably be a sourness and tartness that would make the peaches great in a salad or in a pie. Super excited to try this at home! Thanks for sharing!
Gwen @ Delightful Adventures says
I had never tried them before I made them, Billy! I was pleasantly surprised! The flavour is like what you describe. A little sweet, tart, sour...you really have to try them to see what they taste like 🙂
Nancy A. Speed says
Hi Gwen ~ I love to can. It's been awhile since I canned peaches. I'm an Elderly Vegan, and various disabilities keep me from canning the way I did. My Mother made spiced peaches around the Autumn and Wintertime holiday seasons. Vinegar, sugar, spices all were involved, and the taste was amazing!!
I bet this recipe from Southern at Heart/Damaris is wonderful. I love watching her, too.
Thanks for sharing!
Gwen says
Hi Nancy! I'm sorry to hear that you can't can the way you are used to doing. Yes, the taste of these pickled peaches is definitely amazing. It's the first time I've made and had these but I will be making them again when the next peach season rolls around. Thanks for stopping by 🙂