DIY Peach Liqueur Recipe (2024)

  • Vodka
  • Peach

For this liqueur, all you need is fresh peaches, sugar, lemon zest, and a little patience.

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DIY Peach Liqueur Recipe (1)

In This Recipe

  • What's Available to Buy?

  • Why DIY?

  • Use It!

Why It Works

  • A two-day infusion is optimal for extracting flavor from the fruit.
  • Adding lemon zest to the vodka-peach infusion adds a bright note to the finished liqueur.

A truly ripe peach is sweet and tangy, so delicate that holding it too firmly will bruise and maybe even break it. Peaches like this are rare, because a lot of grocery stores stock up on rock-hard peaches that were plucked before their time to make them easier to transport. So when you find peaches at their peak, it's time to go nuts with them.

One delightful way to use a peach is peach liqueur, also known as creme de peche. This liqueur complements spirits, citrus, and sugar so well that I'm not sure why it isn't more common in co*cktails. And in addition to splashing it in some iced tea and shaking it up with gin and lemon, you can also glaze chicken with it or pour it on some ice cream. Making creme de peche is a way to keep summer sweetness around long after summer is through.

What's Available to Buy?

Somewhere along the way the word "schnapps" became associated with ill-advised underage drinking and sorority-party shots. But peach schnapps, when used with a very light hand, can be the perfect accent ingredient in your co*cktail. If you want to go a bit more refined, Mathilde, Leopold Brothers, and Stirrings make delicate and pleasantly sweet peach liqueurs that many liquor stores carry.

Why DIY?

Homemade peach liqueur captures everything that is fantastic about this fresh summer fruit, and it's easy to make. Plus, making your own means no preservatives or artificial coloring. I like the way a little bit of lemon picks up the tangy undertones of peaches, but feel free to experiment with flavors and add some herbs, such as thyme.

Use It!

Like most fruit liqueurs, DIY peach liqueur is great with sparkling wine (and maybe a squeeze of lemon and dash of bitters) or splashed in seltzer. It's also the pinnacle of summer drinking when used in place of simple syrup when making sweet tea.

If you want to ambitious, look to thecategory of co*cktails known as sours. Sours generally consist of a spirit, something sweet, and some citrus juice. You can use your homemade peach liqueur as your "something sweet," mixing up peachy variations on daiquiris, sidecars, and more. (If you're feeling frisky, maybe shake with some egg white for a nice foam on top.) Want a co*cktail recipe you don't have to experiment with? TheCaptain Anne Bonnieis a complex drink that includes aged rum, Cynar, and lime juice.

Looking beyond co*cktails, you can use your DIY peach liqueur in savory recipes that call for liqueurs—it would be peachy as a glaze for poultry or fish, including some chopped or grilled fruit as an accent. Got a sweet tooth? Use peach liqueur as a topping for ice cream or cake.

June 2012

Recipe Details

DIY Peach Liqueur Recipe

Active5 mins

Total72 hrs

Serves16 servings

Makes2 cups

Ingredients

  • 1 cup vodka

  • 2 large peaches, pit removed, flesh and skin roughly chopped (about 10 ounces; see note)

  • About 3 to 4 inches of lemon zest

  • 3/4 cup sugar

  • 3/4 cup water

Directions

  1. Place vodka, peach, and lemon zest in a sealable glass jar. Seal and shake. Let mixture steep for 2 days at room temperature away from direct sunlight. Sample before straining to see if the peach flavor is sufficient. If not, let steep for another day. Strain fruit, then filter mixture through a coffee filter or through two layers of cheesecloth, pressing down to extract liquid.

  2. Heat water and sugar in a pot on medium heat until it boils and forms a syrup, about 5 minutes. Let syrup cool.

  3. Once the syrup is cool, combine it with the peach-zest infusion. Seal in bottle or jar, then shake to mix. Let rest for a minimum of one day. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.

Special Equipment

Fine-mesh strainer, cheesecloth or coffee filters

Notes

Both yellow and white peaches work well for this recipe. If you use frozen peaches, defrost them first.

Read More

  • DIY vs. Buy: How to Infuse Spirits
  • DIY Orange Liqueur
  • DIY Cherry Liqueur
  • DIY Ginger Liqueur
  • DIY Pear Liqueur
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
72Calories
0g Fat
10g Carbs
0g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 16
Amount per serving
Calories72
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g0%
Saturated Fat 0g0%
Cholesterol 0mg0%
Sodium 1mg0%
Total Carbohydrate 10g4%
Dietary Fiber 0g1%
Total Sugars 10g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 1mg3%
Calcium 1mg0%
Iron 0mg0%
Potassium 18mg0%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

DIY Peach Liqueur Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is peach liqueur made of? ›

Made with 100%, honest-to-goodness real peaches, cane sugar and spirits.

Are peach schnapps and peach liqueur the same? ›

Peach schnapps sounds so much more exotic than mere "peach liqueur" but that's exactly what peach schnapps is, a clear peach liqueur that due to the "schnapps" moniker sounds much more alcoholic than its actual strength of 20 to 25% alc./vol..

What alcohol can be made from peaches? ›

Authentic Peach Brandy Moonshine

It's literally alcohol that was made almost solely from sugar and other flavor compounds found in raw peaches. In its most simple form, authentic peach moonshine is made with 4 ingredients: water, peaches, and yeast. However, a bit of granulated sugar is often added to increase proof.

How long do you soak peaches in alcohol? ›

The peaches will brown slightly the longer they soak in the whisky. I recommend soaking them for at least 48 hours before enjoying the peaches and store well for a few weeks in the fridge. Just make sure the peaches are always covered in the whisky to prevent them from going bad.

What is the main ingredient of liqueurs? ›

Liqueurs are produced by combining a base spirit, usually brandy, with fruits or herbs and are sweetened by the addition of a sugar syrup composing more than 2 1/2 percent of the total beverage by volume.

Can you drink peach liqueur straight? ›

Schnapps can definitely be enjoyed straight. While you can enjoy any flavor of schnapps at any given time, certain flavors may work better in different settings. For example, peppermint might be the perfect flavor for winter drinks. Enjoy the sweet flavors from peach schnapps during the spring and summer months.

Is peach schnapps just vodka? ›

Most peach schnapps is made from a distilled brandy made from various fruits, including peaches. The alcohol content of peach schnapps can range from 40% to 80%, depending on where it's produced and how it's distilled.

Can you substitute peach vodka for peach schnapps? ›

You can use Peach Absolut instead of schnapps. Just keep in mind that Absolut is vodka and has a much higher alcohol content. Using pulp free juice will guarantee a very smooth co*cktail. However, you can use whatever you have — even freshly squeezed.

Can you use schnapps instead of triple sec? ›

The classic margarita recipe uses triple sec, a generic term for orange liqueur. I use peach schnapps instead to boost the stone fruit notes throughout the co*cktail while adding sweetness. Schnapps can mean different things to different people.

How to make fruit flavored alcohol? ›

Instructions
  1. Prepare the fruit: Wash and pat the fruit dry. ...
  2. Transfer the fruit to the canning jar: Transfer all the fruit to the canning jar, along with any extra herbs or spices you'd like to use. ...
  3. Cover the fruit with vodka: Pour the vodka over the fruit. ...
  4. Infuse for 3 to 5 days: Shake the jar of fruit and vodka daily.

How do you make alcohol from fruit without yeast? ›

Making alcohol from fruit without using yeast is possible, but it requires using wild, airborne yeasts that are naturally present in the environment. This process is called wild fermentation or spontaneous fermentation, which is the traditional method of making wine, beer, and other fermented beverages.

Why do you soak peaches in ice water? ›

Preparing Peaches for Peeling

First, bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Using a paring knife, score a shallow "X" in the bottom of each peach. Create an ice bath by filling a large bowl with ice water. This will help stop the cooking process and cool the peaches so they are easier to handle.

Do you have to refrigerate fruit soaked in alcohol? ›

It is not necessary to keep the steeping fruits in the fridge as both the fruits and the alcohol keep well. We would however prefer to keep the fruits in a cool, dry (and if kept for longer, dark) place while they soak. The best container for the fruits is a tightly sealed plastic container.

What is the best alcohol to soak fruit in? ›

The Best Booze Soaked Fruits
  • Bourbon Soaked Cherries. If there's fruit, it counts as health food, right? ...
  • Vodka Soaked Strawberries. Straight from the berry patch of your dreams | Recipe.
  • Champagne Soaked, Frosting Covered Strawberries. ...
  • Frozen, Beer Soaked Watermelon.
Aug 13, 2023

Does fruit-infused alcohol go bad? ›

Infused spirits are best enjoyed within three months, but will never go bad.

What of alcohol is in peach schnapps? ›

Referred to as "schnapps", these are bottled with an alcohol content typically between 15 and 20% ABV (30–40 proof), though some may be much higher. Schnapps, specifically peach and peppermint schnapps, exploded in popularity in America in the 1980s.

What is a peach margarita made of? ›

What is a peach margarita made of? For a peach margarita recipe, you'll need fresh or frozen peaches, lime juice, tequila, orange liqueur (such as Triple Sec), honey, and ice cubes. For a fancy presentation, you should also have more lime wheels and chili-lime seasoning (such as Tajin).

What fruit is liqueur made from? ›

These can range from the common, such as raspberries, oranges, and cherries, to the more exotic, like lychees and passionfruit. The chosen fruit is then typically macerated in a base spirit, often a neutral grain alcohol, to extract its flavours and colours.

How strong is peach liqueur? ›

Originally 24% alc./vol. but reduced to 18% alc./vol.

References

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