Nothing in the pastry chef’s art can compare to a perfect peach—the melting texture, the heady perfume, the complex interplay of sweet and tart. But just how many times in a summer do you find perfection? Face it: most of the fruit we buy can use a little help. That’s why desserts were invented in the first place. An assist can come in the form of something as tricky as puff pastry or as basic as a simple syrup.
Few things are easier to make than a simple syrup—just boil sugar and liquid until clear—and few allow as much room for experimentation. One of my favorite summer desserts uses a simple syrup scented with mint and lime zest as a sauce for thinly sliced melon—just five ingredients, but you would not believe the complexity of flavor.
Playing with an assortment of flavoring ingredients, I came up with some surprising syrups perfect for giving a discreet boost to summer fruit while you’re waiting to find that perfect peach. Follow the directions in the recipe, substituting the following herbs, spices and fruits.
HERB/SPICE |
FRUIT |
|---|---|
Basil (2 tablespoons chopped fresh leaves) |
Cherries, strawberries, figs |
Black peppercorns (1 teaspoon crushed) |
Cherries, figs, blackberries |
Chamomile (½ teaspoon tea) |
Cherries, blackberries |
Jasmine (1 teaspoon tea) |
Cherries, figs, blackberries |
Lemon verbena (2 tablespoons chopped fresh leaves) |
Figs |
Rose geranium (2 tablespoons chopped fresh leaves) |
Nectarines, peaches |