🍐 Homemade Pear Butter
First Batch of the Season!
📌 In This Article
🍐 The Pear Tree Story
"First batch of pear butter going in! (Love my pear tree!)"
Having a fruit tree in your backyard is a blessing, but when harvest time hits, it can also be overwhelming! When life gives you buckets of pears, you make Pear Butter.
Pear butter is similar to apple butter, but it has a delicate, sweet flavor all its own. It's slow-cooked until it's thick, smooth, and caramelized, with warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg mixed in.
It is absolutely incredible spread on toast, biscuits, or even swirled into oatmeal. Getting the first batch of the season into the canner is always a great feeling!
💬 The verdict: "Love my pear tree!" — The best kind of kitchen project starts in the backyard.
💪 Why Make Pear Butter?
Pure Comfort in a Jar!
🍞"The perfect way to use up a harvest."
Deep Pear Flavor
Slow-cooked perfection
Warm Spices
Cinnamon and nutmeg
Shelf Stable
Up to 1 year
The ultimate way to preserve a pear harvest.
📦 Ingredients
This recipe is flexible, adjust the sugar and spices to your taste.
🍐 For the Pear Butter
- 🍐 4 lbs ripe pears – peeled, cored, and chopped
- 🍚 1 to 1½ cups granulated sugar – (depending on sweetness of pears)
- 🍚 ½ cup brown sugar – packed
- 🍋 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 🍂 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 🌰 ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- 🌿 ¼ tsp ground cloves
- 🍦 1 tsp vanilla extract
🫙 For the Jars
- 🫙 Pint or half-pint jars
- 🧴 New lids and rings
💡 Pro tip: "Use ripe pears! They are sweeter and break down much faster when cooking."
📝 Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1 – Prepare the Pears
- Wash, peel, and core the pears.
- Chop them into chunks and place them in a large pot or slow cooker.
Step 2 – Cook Down
- Add the sugar, brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves to the pears.
- Stir to combine.
- If using a slow cooker, cook on low for 8-10 hours (or high for 4-5 hours).
- If using the stovetop, simmer on low for 1 to 2 hours, stirring frequently to prevent scorching.
Step 3 – Blend
- Once the pears are very soft and dark, remove from heat.
- Use an immersion blender to puree the mixture until completely smooth.
- Stir in the vanilla extract.
- If the butter is too thin, continue cooking (uncovered) until it reaches a thick, spreadable consistency.
⚠️ Important: "Be careful when blending hot liquids. Keep the immersion blender at the bottom of the pot to avoid splashing."
Step 4 – Water Bath Can
- Ladle the hot pear butter into hot pint or half-pint jars.
- Leave ¼ inch headspace.
- Wipe rims clean with a damp cloth.
- Add lids and rings — finger-tight.
- Place jars in a water bath canner, ensuring water covers jars by 1-2 inches.
- Bring to a full rolling boil.
- Process pints and half-pints for 15 minutes (adjust for altitude).
- Turn off heat, remove lid, and let jars sit in the water 5 minutes.
- Remove jars and cool on a towel for 12-24 hours.
- Check seals — the lid should be concave and not flex.
⚠️ Important Safety Warning
Always use tested recipes and proper canning procedures. Follow USDA or local extension service guidelines for water bath canning.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
❓ What is the difference between pear butter and pear sauce?
Pear sauce is similar to applesauce—chunky and lightly sweetened. Pear butter is cooked down much longer until it's thick, smooth, and caramelized.
❓ Do I have to peel the pears?
Yes, peeling is highly recommended. The skins can make the pear butter grainy and gritty.
❓ How long does pear butter last?
Up to 1 year in a cool, dark place when properly water bath canned.
❓ Can I reduce the sugar?
Yes, you can reduce the sugar or leave it out entirely if your pears are very sweet. However, sugar helps with preservation and caramelization.
📄 Printable Recipe Card
╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ HOMEMADE PEAR BUTTER ║
║ First Batch of the Season! ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
YIELD: ~4-6 pints | TIME: 8-10 hrs (slow cooker) | PROCESS: 15 min
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
INGREDIENTS
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
- 4 lbs ripe pears, peeled, cored, chopped
- 1 to 1½ cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
INSTRUCTIONS
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
1. Combine pears, sugars, lemon juice, and spices in a
slow cooker or large pot.
2. Cook on low for 8-10 hours (slow cooker) or simmer
for 1-2 hours on the stove, stirring often.
3. Blend until smooth with an immersion blender.
Stir in vanilla.
4. Ladle into hot jars, leaving ¼ inch headspace.
Wipe rims. Add lids and rings.
5. WATER BATH PROCESS:
- Pints/Half-pints: 15 minutes (adjust for altitude).
6. Cool, check seals, and store.
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
"First batch of pear butter going in!" 🍐🍞
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
© CanningRebels — Homemade Pear Butter
Comments