Peach schnapps is a sweet, fruity liqueur made from peaches. It has a rich, peach aroma and flavor that makes it a popular ingredient in cocktails and desserts. But what exactly goes into making peach schnapps? Let’s take a closer look at the key ingredients and production process for this sweet spirit.
Main Ingredients
There are three primary ingredients that go into making traditional peach schnapps:
- Peaches – Peach schnapps gets its signature flavor from peaches. Either fresh or canned peaches can be used, but most commercial distilleries rely on canned peaches for efficiency and consistency.
- Sugar – A considerable amount of sugar is added to peach schnapps, which contributes to its sweet taste and viscous texture.
- Grain neutral spirits – This refers to a high-proof and flavorless spirit that serves as the base. It’s usually made from grains like corn, wheat, or rye.
Some recipes also include supplemental fruit juices, herbs, spices, or coffee beans to add extra depth of flavor. But peaches, sugar, and a neutral spirit are the core components.
Production Process
Commercial peach schnapps is made through a straightforward multi-step process:
- The peaches are pureed or mashed to extract the juices and flesh.
- The peach puree is combined with sugar and possible supplementary flavors.
- This mixture then infuses for 1-3 weeks to allow the flavors to meld.
- After infusion, the solids are filtered out leaving a flavored peach syrup.
- The syrup is mixed with neutral spirits and distilled.
- Once distilled, the peach schnapps is bottled, aged, filtered, and proofed down to 15-20% ABV.
So while the ingredient list is short, carefully infusing, distilling, and filtering the peach syrup with spirits produces the final sweet, fruity liquor.
Nutritional Content
Since it’s distilled, peach schnapps itself has minimal nutritional value. But its carb and calorie content comes primarily from added sugar.
Here is the typical nutrition data for a 1.5oz (44ml) serving of peach schnapps:
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 166 |
| Carbs | 14 g |
| Sugars | 14 g |
| Protein | 0 g |
As you can see, a standard serving provides 166 calories, all of which come from the 14 grams of sugar. The sugar content is comparable tomany liqueurs, which helps explain the sweet taste.
Calories and Carbs in Different Servings
Calorie and carb content will vary based on serving size. Here’s how it stacks up in different serving amounts:
| Serving Size | Calories | Carbs |
|---|---|---|
| 1 ounce | 110 | 9 g |
| 1.5 ounces | 166 | 14 g |
| 2 ounces | 221 | 18 g |
| 3 ounces | 332 | 27 g |
A larger 3 ounce serving provides over 300 calories and 27 grams of carbs, demonstrating how calorie intake can climb with increased consumption.
Peach Schnapps Brands
There are many major brands producing peach schnapps with slightly different tastes and alcohol contents:
DeKuyper
- One of the most popular commercial brands
- Made with grain spirits, peach essence, and sugar
- Smooth and intensely peachy in flavor
- 15% ABV
Hiram Walker
- A top-selling peach schnapps
- Infused and distilled from real peaches
- Sweet and vibrant peach taste
- 15% ABV
Marie Brizard
- Made in France using Cognac as the base
- Aged in oak casks for richer flavor
- Natural peach aroma with hints of almond
- 17.5% ABV
Arrow
- One of the first commercial peach schnapps
- Lightly flavored with a clean peach taste
- Lower in sugar than many brands
- 15% ABV
The alcohol content ranges from 15-20% for most brands. DeKuyper, Hiram Walker, and Arrow tend to have lower 15% ABV, while small batch brands may reach up to 20%.
Cocktail Recipes with Peach Schnapps
The sweet peach flavor of schnapps makes it an excellent addition to fun, fruity cocktails. Here are 3 popular peach schnapps cocktails:
Fuzzy Navel
- 1 oz peach schnapps
- 6 oz fresh orange juice
Blend schnapps and orange juice over ice. Garnish with an orange slice.
Sex on the Beach
- 1 oz vodka
- 1 oz peach schnapps
- 2 oz cranberry juice
- 2 oz orange juice
Mix ingredients over ice and garnish with an orange slice.
Fruit Punch
- 1 oz peach schnapps
- 1 oz rum
- 2 oz pineapple juice
- 1 oz lime juice
- Grenadine
Combine liquids over ice. Drizzle grenadine to top.
Uses in Desserts
For an extra pop of sweet peach flavor, a splash of schnapps can enhance many desserts:
| Dessert | How to Use Peach Schnapps |
|---|---|
| Milkshakes | Add 1-2 ounces to vanilla or peach milkshakes |
| Cakes | Brush peach schnapps syrup over pound cake or sponge cake |
| Pudding | Stir a splash into instant vanilla pudding mix |
| Fruit salad | Toss chopped fruit with schnapps-infused syrup |
Always keep portions small, as too much can result in overwhelming sweetness. But just a dash of peach schnapps can give desserts a tasty fruity twist.
Is Peach Schnapps Gluten Free?
Most major commercial peach schnapps brands are gluten-free. They’re distilled from corn, potato, grapes, or other gluten-free grains.
However, some small-batch schnapps may contain wheat, barley, or rye. Check the label to confirm gluten content if you have an allergy or sensitivity.
Here are some popular gluten-free peach schnapps brands:
- DeKuyper
- Hiram Walker
- Paramount
- Arrow
- UV
As long as you stick to commercial-made schnapps from gluten-free grains, peach schnapps can typically be enjoyed gluten-free.
Gluten-Free Cocktails
Peach schnapps is ideal for gluten-free cocktails. Try these gluten-free recipes:
- Fuzzy navel – peach schnapps + orange juice
- Bellini – peach schnapps + prosecco
- Fruit punch – peach schnapps + rum + fruit juices
- Peach daiquiri – peach schnapps + rum + lime juice
Just confirm any additional mixers like juice or rum are gluten-free as well.
Conclusion
While simple in ingredients, peach schnapps delivers a sweet fruit flavor that’s integral to cocktails and desserts. It provides a concentrated peach taste thanks to real peach puree and significant added sugar. And major commercial schnapps are typically gluten-free. So next time you sip a fuzzy navel or nibble peach dessert, you can better appreciate the fruity peach liqueur that makes it possible.