Prepare the peaches: Ensure your peaches are ripe, peeled, pitted, and diced into small, bite-sized pieces. You should have about 4 cups of diced peaches.

Combine wet ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, add the diced peaches, maple syrup (or honey), freshly squeezed lemon juice, and vanilla extract.

Add dry ingredients: Sprinkle in the ground cinnamon (if using) and a pinch of salt. The salt helps to enhance the sweetness and other flavors.

Gently mix: Stir all the ingredients together gently until everything is well combined. Be careful not to mash the peaches too much; you want to retain some texture.

Let it macerate: Cover the bowl and let the mixture sit at room temperature for at least 15-30 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld and the peaches to release some of their juices, creating a compote consistency.

Serve or store: Once macerated, the compote is ready to be served. For best results and a slightly thicker consistency, you can also refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes before serving.