Description
A smooth, spiced fruit spread that captures the natural sweetness of pears, perfect for toast, pancakes, cheese boards, or baking.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 pounds pears (about 12 medium Bartlett or a mix of varieties)
- 1/2 to 1 cup granulated sugar, brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup (to taste)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Pinch of ground cloves (optional)
- 1/2 cup water or apple juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
- Wash, core, and optionally peel pears; cut into chunks.
- Place pears, water or juice, sugar, lemon juice, and spices in a large pot, slow cooker, or Instant Pot.
- Cook until pears are soft: stovetop 20–30 minutes, slow cooker 4–10 hours, Instant Pot 8 minutes high pressure.
- Puree with an immersion blender or transfer to a blender in batches.
- Return puree to pot and cook uncovered, stirring often, until thick and spreadable.
- Test by spreading a small amount on a chilled plate—if no liquid seeps out, it’s ready.
- Adjust sweetness and spices as desired, then stir in vanilla if using.
- Store in jars; refrigerate for up to 3 weeks, freeze for up to 6 months, or process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes for long-term storage.
Notes
Mixing Bartlett and Bosc pears adds both sweetness and structure. Cook low and slow for deeper flavor. Skins can be left on for more fiber and color if blending well.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Condiment
- Method: Stovetop or Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: pear butter, fall recipe, fruit spread, preserving, canning