This post may include affiliate links; for details, see our disclosure policy.
This mint syrup with peaches is the ultimate easy peach dessert! The pure minty drizzle highlights the natural sweet juiciness of the peaches.
Why should we all use our creative power? Because there is nothing that makes people so generous, joyful, lively, bold and compassionate, so indifferent to fighting and the accumulation of objects and money. ~Brenda Ueland
Some people ooze creativity, but I would contend that we are all born with a creative spirit. Maybe it’s not easily visible in some people, but instead of singing or dancing perhaps it’s creative problem solving skills. Or, I’ve met engineers who are closet painters or sculptors. And I’ve learned from teaching cooking that once people have the tools of how to create a meal, they are creative and inventive beyond what they thought possible. To me, a simple recipe that highlights interesting flavors with minimal effort is #1 in creativity in my book. Keep reading for more on creativity and this mint syrup with peaches recipe!
Related: Great Peach Recipes
On creativity
I identify as a creative: I was a writer and played classical piano and French horn throughout my childhood, then ended up majoring in music and journalism in college. Since I chose a career in the business world (I’m part owner of a technical writing firm), I’ve had to determine how to balance an intense creative passion with a demanding career. How’s that for a challenge? I’d imagine many of you reading this have had similar experiences. Cooking became that creative outlet for me, and along with that this blog.
Many times, the stress of running two businesses while trying to be a loving boss / wife / daughter / friend / sister / aunt / niece / etc. has left me on less than a full tank. A few weeks ago, I was thrilled to be approached by a dear friend to try out a book called The Artist’s Way that focuses on creative renewal. One of the challenges in the book was to take an “artist’s date” each week, where you do something to indulge your inner artist. For me, it was playing a Chopin waltz I hadn’t touched in years. It felt so good, I cried (ha!). Creative healing central, here. If any of you readers are creatives or wanting to tap into more creative potential, I’d highly recommend the book.
How to make mint syrup with peaches
And now, the food. To me, a simple recipe that highlights interesting flavors with minimal effort is #1 in creativity in my book (at least, in the home cooking realm!). A dear friend made this for a picnic and I couldn’t get over the simple beauty of vibrant, ripe fruit against the minty sweetness of a light drizzle of syrup. We knew we had to try it for ourselves! And for our version: we decided to make it into an easy peach dessert.
The main concept for making mint syrup is incredibly simple. Simmer mint stems with sugar and water, then remove from the heat and let it stand for 1 hour so the mint seeps into the syrup. After cooling, the syrup tastes like pure mint! It’s like a science experiment that’s incredibly tasty. After making the mint syrup, you can store it for up to 6 months. So after making it the first time, it makes for many easy dessert recipes!
Want more to use up mint? Try these Best Mint Recipes.
Making this easy peach dessert
Adding this mint syrup to local peaches and berries from our farmer’s market was beyond stellar. It’s like eating the best kind of candy possible. And if you struggle with work life balance as I do, it’s also a super simple dessert for a summer evening. Whip up a bit of the mint syrup (which mainly involves hands off wait time) and store it in the refrigerator for the next occasion. You could also top with our homemade whipped cream recipe!
We’d love to hear in the comments below if any of you have thoughts on creativity, creative renewal, work / life balance, etc. Or mint syrup! Let us know in the comments below.
Looking for peach recipes?
Peach recipes are what summer’s all about. Along with these peaches with mint syrup, here are a few of our favorite peach recipes:
- The Best Peach Pie!
- Peach, Heirloom Tomato, and Burrata Salad
- Easy Peach Sangria
- Best Peach Cobbler
- Peach Crisp with Basil
- Fresh Peach Salsa
- Simple Peach & Mascarpone Tart
- Black Bean and Quinoa Bowl with Peach Salsa
This recipe is…
This mint syrup with peaches recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free.
Mint Syrup with Peaches
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
This mint syrup with peaches is the ultimate easy peach dessert! The pure minty drizzle highlights the natural sweet juiciness of the peaches.
Ingredients
For the mint syrup
- Large handful of mint stems with leaves
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups sugar
For the fruit
- ½ pint blackberries
- ½ pint raspberries
- 2 peaches
- Mint leaves
- Mint syrup (above)
Instructions
- Make the mint syrup: Remove the leaves from the mint and reserve for a garnish. Roughly cut the mint stems and place them in a medium saucepan. Add 1 cup water and 2 cups sugar; bring to a simmer for a few minutes until thickened. Remove from the heat and cool for about 1 hour while the mint seeps. When cool, strain into an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.
- Slice the peaches. Place the berries and peaches on a plate; drizzle with mint syrup and garnish with mint leaves.
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
I really love what you wrote about creativity. I feel like I was so creative as a child, but I progressively became less and less so as I got older. Traditional schooling and corporate America will do that. My blog is my creative outlet now, but like you I’m also a classically trained pianist and I love playing my Chopin!! :)
So fun to hear that you were a part music major. I studied music and math in college and now that I’m home with the kids, I miss both in my life. At first I was frustrated because I couldn’t keep up with the music and practicing, but then I finally let go and cooking/blogging has become my new creative outlet as well. Cooking is something which is necessary anyways so it fits well into our lifestyle. Every once in a while I go back to the piano or violin though and it also brings happy tears. :) Thanks for reminding me to do that more often. On a food note, mint and fruit is such the refreshing summer combination. Bet it’s so lovely in this syrup!
I took a class a number of years ago, six women plus a female teacher, using The Artist’s Way as a guide. It was really a wonderful experience, as we met once a week to share how the assignments in the book affected us, and talk about where we were at in our lives. There was about a 40-year age span in the group. I highly recommend Julia Cameron’s other books, including The Vein of Gold: Journey to Your Creative Heart, and Walking in This World, among others. Thanks for mentioning The Artist’s Way; I am going to dig out my copy and go through it again, as I need a spark.
What a great post, Sonja. Thanks for the inspiration to indulge our inner artist. I’m happy to hear you say creativity comes in different forms because it’s something I strongly believe too. I like how Kathryn said it, that creativity is self-expression. When I think of how to carry out both creative renewal and work/life balance, I always come back to this idea that priorities organically shift over a period of time. Balance to me isn’t about doing everything all at once, but trusting that everything will have a chance to come in and out of focus over the course of a week or month, or year. That there’s a season for everything and there will be time to cycle through the things I value and prioritize. Easier to say than to have patience for, sometimes. But it’s what I believe. ;-)
I love the idea of an ‘artist’s date’! What a great way to indulge yourself on rusty skills. Thanks for sharing that. And I love this simple and gorgeous fruit salad — definitely lets the fruit’s natural beauty shine through.
Along with other foods blogs I follow, yours is definitely an example of using ones creativity for self expression. Thanks for the recipes and lovely food photos!
I loved what you wrote about creativity and I agree with you, everyone has it. For me, creativity is equivalent to self-expression. What form your creativity takes is a reflection of who you are and that is why creating feels sssooo good. I actually have a lot to say on the matter. Creativity, accessing it, and expressing it is the main focus of my blog.
I loved your sharing that you’re starting to play music again. I have had the same experience of joy/sadness when I have been away from creating for too long. For me it is when I have been away from being ME for too long.
P.S. I have been craving mint lately and this looks absolutely perfect. I was going to make some chocolate muffins with mint, but I was not in the mood for something so heavy. Thanks for the inspiration.