This Peach Pie Filling recipe is so easy to make, and you can use fresh, frozen, or even canned peaches! Learn how to make this delicious filling from scratch, and with only 6 ingredients!
Homemade pie filling tastes better than anything you'll ever get from a can at the store!
Of course, peach pie filling delicious in a peach pie, but there are a lot of other ways to use it, too! Use it for a peach cobbler, crisp, or crumble, or in slab pies and hand pies. Or, just enjoy a warm bowl full, topped with ice cream.
This peach pie filling recipe is so easy to make, you'll never want to buy the canned stuff again!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make: This recipe is SO simple to make. Even the most novice cook can make a delicious peach pie filling!
- Freezer friendly: When fresh fruit is in season, make a double or triple batch! The filling will keep for up to 4 months in the freezer.
- Less sugar: Canned pie filling has a lot of added sugar and high fructose corn syrup. This recipe uses the peaches and just a touch of brown sugar!
Ingredients
See ingredient substitutions in the next section. ⬇️
To make this pie filling recipe, you'll need:
- peaches: I use frozen organic peaches because they come already sliced and ready to go. Plus, they last longer than fresh peaches.
- brown sugar: The molasses in brown sugar adds a fantastic caramel flavor to the filling.
- thickener: My thickener of choice is cornstarch. It thickens the filling without making it clumpy, like flour can.
- ground cinnamon
- vanilla extract
- salt
What are the best peaches for fresh peach filling? Look for fruits that are just starting to ripen. They should be soft to the touch when you squeeze them, but not mushy.
Substitutions and Recipe Variations
- peaches: You can use fresh, frozen, or canned fruit. You can also include other fruits such as apples, cherries, blueberries, etc.
- cornstarch: You will need some sort of thickener in this recipe. Cornstarch helps give that delicious syrupy consistency that you know any love with peach pie filling. You can try using arrowroot, tapioca, all-purpose flour, or even Xantham gum, but I'm not sure how much of each you will need or how well they will work.
- sugar: Instead of using brown sugar, you can use white sugar, or use a combination of brown and white.
- cinnamon: Feel free to add ground ginger, ground nutmeg or even a little bit of cloves in addition to cinnamon.
- vanilla extract: If you need an alcohol-free flavoring, you can use vanilla essence.
How to Make Peach Pie Filling
Summary only. The complete recipe instructions are in the card at the bottom of this post ⬇️
- Combine the fruit, cornstarch, sugars and spices.
- Simmer on low heat until the filling thickens.
- Let the peach pie filling rest for a few minutes before using.
- Use it for your favorite recipe or even over ice cream and enjoy!
Liz's Tips for the Best Pie Filling
- How to ripen peaches: If you need to ripen peaches quickly, seal them in a brown paper bag and let it sit at room temperature overnight.
- If your pie filling is too thick, add a bit of water to thin it. Only add a tablespoon or so at a time though, as you don’t want it to be too watery.
- To thicken peach pie filling that's too thin, let it simmer longer. Considering the amount of cornstarch in this recipe, runny filling shouldn't be an issue for you.
- If you use frozen peaches, don't include any additional liquid. The frozen fruit will secrete enough liquid as it thaws.
- To peel the fruit easily, use a vegetable peeler or paring knife.
Great Uses for Peach Pie Filling
Of course, the most popular use for this peach pie filling recipe is to make pies. But, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy it.
- Serve it warm in a bowl with a scoop of ice cream
- Hand pies:
- In a peach pie (with sour cream pie crust!)
- Cobbler: Either a full size peach cobbler or a peach cobbler for two
- Pie bars: Use the peach filling in my blueberry pie bars recipe.
- If you don't want to make pie filling, these baked peaches are also amazing!
Storage and Freezing
Refrigerator: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Freezer: This peach pie filling can be frozen in a freezer-safe container up to 3 months.
Reheating: To reheat, place the filling in a saucepan over medium heat and stir occasionally until warmed through.
❕Important Note
Keep in mind that this peach pie filling is not shelf stable. To make it shelf stable, you will need to use a pressure canner and a canning-specific recipe.
Peach Pie Filling Recipe FAQ
The best way to thicken peach pie filling is to cook it long enough, and to add a thickening agent like cornstarch, arrowroot flour, tapioca, or flour. 1-2 tablespoons of cornstarch should be enough to help thicken peach pie filling. If it's too thick, you can always add a drizzle of water to thin it out.
You can used canned, fresh or frozen peaches to make peach pie filling, but fresh or frozen is best. If you use canned peaches for pie filling, drain the juices from the can first, to prevent the filling from being runny.
While it isn't necessary, peeling the fruit gives the peach filling a smoother texture and consistency.
Other Easy Fruit Desserts to Make
Peach Pie Filling from Scratch
Ingredients
- 4 cups peaches frozen, fresh, or canned. If fresh, pit, peel, and slice.
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- In a 2-quart sauce pan over medium-high heat, stir together peaches, brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt.
- When mixture begins to simmer, reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 15-25 minutes or until the mixture thickens up.
- Cool the filling to room temperature before storing in the fridge. If kept in a large jar with a lid or other airtight container, the peach filling will last for up to 1 week.
Helpful Notes and Tips From Liz
- Reheating - To reheat, place in a saucepan over medium heat and stir occasionally until warmed through.
- Add other fruits - Peaches are great for pairing with other fruits such as apples, cherries, blueberries, etc. It adds a great flavor profile to your already righteous dessert.
- Can I Use Fresh Peaches? - Of course you can! I simply use frozen organic peaches because they come already sliced and ready to go. Plus, they last longer than fresh peaches since life can catch up sometimes.
Grace
I really want to make this but I don’t know it will turn out since all I have is peaches in jars so don’t know if I have to do some adjustments
Liz Marino
This probably will not work with jarred peaches. They're usually extremely soft. I think it will fall apart. I would use fresh peaches!
Lynda
this was sooo good. made a delicious peach pie. everyone loved it. will definitely be my recipe from now on. so easy to make. thanks.
Connie Brown
I had to use 5 cups of peaches to fill my pie plate. Should I have added more of the other ingredients? I added the fresh peach slices after it was already thickened. Looks good. TY
Liz Marino
Every pie plate is different, maybe yours was a little bit larger? this recipe should be enough for a full peach pie!
Eric
I have made this so many times and I love it.
Kate
Ahh... this looks so incredibly good, beautiful flavours. I'm off to make a pie now!
Anjali
I love how easy this was to make, and it turned out great!! It really did taste like peach pie in a jar!
Dannii
Oh yum! I love peaches, but I have never had peach pie before. I can't wait to try it.
Emily
This peach pie filling is so delicious! It tastes great in peach cobblers as well as peach pie!
Nart at Cooking with Nart
This looks delicious. Peaches seem to be in season where I am too so I can try this recipe. Think it would also be food on crunchy toast!