How to Can Peaches in Extra-Light Syrup

Peaches are the epitome of summer, with their sweet, juicy flavor and vibrant color. Capturing that goodness in a jar allows you to enjoy the taste of peak-season peaches year-round. Below, you’ll find a simple recipe for home-canned peaches in extra-light syrup, perfect for preserving that sunny flavor while keeping things light and refreshing.

Whether you’re adding them to desserts, topping your morning yogurt, or enjoying them straight from the jar, these canned peaches will bring a bit of summer to any day.

Peaches in Extra-Light Syrup

Makes approx. 4 quarts or 8 pints

Ingredients

• 8 to 12 pounds peaches – peeled, pitted and halved
• 1 ¼ cups raw sugar
• 5 ½ cups water
• Citric Acid Bath:
• ¼ cup lemon juice
• 4 cups water

Fruit Prep:  To remove skins, blanch your peaches in a pot of boiling water for 40 to 60 seconds, or until the skins start to crack.  Immediately dip the peaches into ice cold water.  Skins should now easy pull off.  After removing the skins, cut peaches in half and remove the pit in the center.  To keep the peaches from browning, mix ¼ cup lemon juice with 4 cups of water and keep peaches submerged until ready to heat in syrup.

Instructions

1. In a large stainless steel stock pot, combine the 1 ¼ cups of raw sugar and 5 ½ cups of water.  On medium-high heat, stir mixture until sugar is fully dissolved and bring to a quick boil.  Reduce heat to medium-low.  One layer at a time, add peaches in hot syrup until heated through, which is about 1 minute per layer.
2. Using a slotted spoon, hot pack the peaches into warm jars cavity side down.  Be sure to overlap the layers to pack in more peaches being sure to keep a generous ½” headspace.  Ladle hot extra-light syrup into jars.  Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace as necessary.
3. Using a wash cloth dipped in vinegar, wipe each jar rim and screw bands.  Add prepared lids and rings and hand tighten.  Process in a hot water bath, 20 minutes for pints and 25 minutes for quarts.  Remember, processing time doesn’t begin until the water is at a full rolling boil!
4. After processing time has been completed, shut off heat and remove lid.  Wait until the water is no longer active and remove jars.  Rest hot jars in a draft free air until cooled.  Check to ensure each jar has sealed and store.

Happy Canning!
xx
Diane, The Canning Diva
www.canningdiva.com