Caramel Pear Butter
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If you’re an apple butter fan you’ve got to try this with pears. A fuss-free recipe utilizing the slow cooker, simply dump in the ingredients and let the slow cooker work its magic. The result is a wonderfully deep, caramelized flavor that comes from slow cooking the pears with brown sugar for hours and hours.
Use this Caramel Pear Butter on your favorite scones, muffins or toast; stir some into your favorite barbecue sauce; use it as a glaze for ham, pork and chicken; add some to your apple pie; use it in place of oil in your cakes, muffins and cookies for added sweetness, flavor and moistness; spread some on your ham & cheese sandwiches for a tasty twist!
Let’s get started!
Wash and quarter the pears. Discard the cores and stems. There’s no need to peel them. Place them in a slow cooker.
I’ve been using my Hamilton Beach Stay or Go Slow Cooker for several years and love it. Since buying mine they’ve come out with a programmable version which, for just an extra $10, is a super convenient feature to have.
Add the brown sugar and the spices.
Close the lid and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or on HIGH for 5-6 hours.
Use an immersion blender (or transfer to a countertop blender) and puree until smooth.
I’ve had my Cuisinart Immersion Blender for 7 years and it’s still going strong – I love it!
The pear butter will be very watery. Leave the lid open and continue to simmer on LOW for 6+ hours (or on HIGH for 4+ hours) until the pear butter has thickened to the desired consistency.
Taste the pear butter and if you’d like it sweeter you can add more brown sugar and let it simmer for another 30 minutes or so.
Optional: Pears have a bit of grittiness to them and if you want a smoother pear butter you can run it through a food mill before canning it. They’re not cheap but you can often find them in your local thrift shops. I picked up two of them at Goodwill for about $6 each.
At this point you can either simply ladle the pear butter into jars and keep it in the fridge for up to two weeks or give it away as gifts, OR can it for long-term storage.
To can you Caramel Pear Butter ladle the hot pear butter into sterilized jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace from the top.
Screw on the washed lids and rims.
Now it’s time to process them in a water bath.
I use and recommend the Granite Ware Enamel-on-Steel 9-piece Canning Kit
Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. Be sure the jars are covered by 1-2 inches of water.
Remove and let sit undisturbed for 24 hours before moving them. Store in a dark, cool place for up to a year. For best flavor consume within 4-6 months.
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Caramel Pear Butter
Ingredients
- 6 pounds ripe pears ,quartered and cores and stems discarded (no need to peel the pears)
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 cup apple juice
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on LOW for 8-10 hours or on HIGH for 5-6 hours. Use an immersion blender (or transfer to a countertop blender) and puree until smooth.
- Leave the lid of the slow cooker open and continue to simmer on LOW for 6+ hour, or on HIGH for 4+ hours, or until the pear butter has thickened to the desired consistency.
- Taste the pear butter and if you prefer it sweeter add some more brown sugar and let it simmer for another 30 minutes or so.
- Optional: Pears tend to be a little gritty. For a smoother taste, process the pear butter in a food mill.
- If you're not canning the pear butter, it will store in the fridge for about 2 weeks.
- To can for long-term storage: Ladle the hot pear butter into sterilized jars and screw on the washed lids and rims. Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. Remove and let sit undisturbed for 24 hours before moving the jars. Store in a dark, cool place for up to a year. For best flavor consume within 4-6 months.
Nutrition
Hi, I’m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet where you'll find delicious originals, revitalized classics, and simply downright good eats from around the world! Originally from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now living in the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world through your taste buds!
I have a question about the cooking time before starting this recipe. Do I leave the lid on during the first step? Also, is this a combined cooking time of 16 plus hours on low? Or 10+ hours on high?
Hi Roberta, yes, leave the lid on for the first step. Then leave it off for the second step to allow the moisture to evaporate. That’s an estimated cooking time, it will vary depending on the types of pears you use and their moisture content. But yes, that 16+ hour estimate is for the LOW setting.
Yes and till it’s the thicknesses u like
Oh my gosh! How have I never thought of this before! Divine!
I can’t wait to try this! I would literally put it on everything. And I can only imagine how wonderful your house smells while this is cooking! Yummy!
Dear Kimberly,
I have used apples so far but this is a great idea ! Have to try ! Thank you for this creation !
My husband loves pear! This is a perfect spread for his morning toast!
This looks perfect. I love pear butter. I could slather this on everything.
This sounds delicious! I would love to put this on top of some sort of breakfast goodie.
WHOA! I make apple butter every year, but this recipe has me wanting to switch over to caramel pear butter!
Oh my WORD, this sounds delicious! I’ve never made pear butter before, and the caramel twist has me drooling. So good!
sitting here thinking of all the delicious things I can do with this.
I bet this was amazing! I love pears and the idea of pear butter sounds so good for fall baking and slathering on to some toast!
I bet your house smells amazing!! I love this!
I wish I were brave enough to can! I’d love to have some of this throughout the year. :)
I put some into small plastic containers (I use the cheap Ziploc ones, small round), close well, and put in the freezer. Thaw in the fridge, then keep stores in the fridge. Perfect! And so heavenly to have that fruity goodness in February.
Great tip, Karen, thanks for sharing and so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
My family loves apple butter, but this apple pear version looks even better! Gotta try it!
Oh, my goodness…this caramel pear butter looks so good! I would love some on a slice of toast and a hot cup of coffee right now!