Pear Butter

Sweetened with honey and warm spice, this homemade pear butter is a fall staple you’ll want to put on everything! It’s great for canning and storing to enjoy with all of your favorite baked goods year-round.

Fruit butters, jams, and jellies are some of my favorite things to make because of how incredibly delicious they turn out! There’s nothing you can buy from the store that compares. Making fruit butter from scratch just tastes better and it’s free of artificial flavors and preservatives! Try this strawberry jam, peach jam, or mango chutney next for some fresh, fruity goodness.

Homemade Pear Butter Recipe

If you’ve never tried fruit butter before, prepare to be amazed. It’s one of my favorite fruity condiments! It’s similar to jams and jellies but is made by cooking down the liquid in the fruit until it thickens instead of adding pectin. If you really want your homemade fruit butter to shine, I recommend making it with fruits and berries that are in season for the best flavor! Since pears are in season from August to October, now’s the perfect time to make this insanely good pear variety!

I can’t get enough of this pear butter. I mean, there’s not much that can beat a juicy pear on its own, but cooking it into a smooth, warm, perfectly spiced spread is easily one of the best ways to prepare it. This pear butter is lightly sweetened with honey and brown sugar, then mixed with delicious spices for the best fall flavor! You can use it on toast, sandwiches, pound cake, cookies, and so much more! (I have some delicious ideas listed below!) It’s also great for canning so you can enjoy it all year long!

Ingredients for Pear Butter

Using fresh pears is key to making the most delicious pear butter. The nice thing about this recipe is that you likely have everything else needed to make it ready to go in your kitchen right now! It’s time to break out the spice rack and make this delicious fall treat. If you’re looking for measurements, they can all be found below in the recipe card.

• Ripe Pears: Since pears are the star of the show here, you want them to be fresh! I used Bartlett pears because they’re soft, sweet, and juicy.
• Lemon Juice: Adds a hint of tart flavor and keeps your pears from oxidizing.
• Honey: This acts as the main sweetener for your pear butter. Some substitutes you can use as well are maple syrup and agave!
• Brown Sugar: Brown sugar adds a delicious sweetness that pairs perfectly with all of the warm spices!
• Vanilla Extract: Adds a deeper flavor.
• Spices: I used a blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom for the perfect fall flavor!
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the pear butter.

Equipment for Canning

If you want to store your pear butter long-term, you’ll need a few extra supplies to do so!

• Canning Pot: You’ll need a canning pot to completely submerge your jars. If you don’t have a pot specifically made for canning, a pot deep enough to cover your mason jars by an inch will work, too.
• Canning Rack: Using a canning rack is a must to keep your jars elevated. This lets the heat circulate properly.
• Mason Jars: I typically use 8-ounce mason jars to store my fruit butters. Make sure to use new seals!
• Tongs: This makes taking your jars out of the boiling water a breeze.

How to Make Pear Butter

Making homemade pear butter is a cinch! You’ll love having it around to use on toast and all of your other favorite baked goods!

1. Add Ingredients to Saucepan: Combine all of the ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring to combine.
2. Simmer: Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 50 minutes. Stir occasionally to make sure the bottom doesn’t burn.
3. Cool: After the mixture has cooked down and the pears are very soft remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes before blending.
4. Blend: After a few minutes of cooling, transfer to a food processor or blender. Blend until completely smooth.
5. Store: Store in a mason jar and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

How to Can Pear Butter

If you can your pear butter it can stay good for up to a year! This is a great way to enjoy a little fall comfort food no matter the season!

1. Prepare Canning Pot: With canning rack inserted, fill your canning pot with enough water to cover your mason jars with an inch to spare. Bring to a boil.
2. Heat Jars: Heat your mason jars by submerging them in the boiling water bath. Remove and let dry.
3. Add Pear Butter: While the jars are still warm, use a ladle or large spoon to fill them with pear butter. Leave ½ inch of space between the top of your jar and the pear butter.
4. Wipe Jar Clean: Use a paper towel to wipe the tops of your jars clean. Make sure is no residue.
5. Add Seals and Lids: Place seals and lids down on your jars and tighten them as much as you can.
6. Boil: Use tongs to place jars of pear butter into your canning pot and onto the rack. Process for 10 minutes at a full boil.
7. Cool: Remove your jars of pear butter and place on a towel to cool. You want to make sure that the seals make a popping sound, as this means the canning process is complete. You can also check this by pressing down on the top of the lid. If the seal moves when you press down on it, it hasn’t sealed properly. It can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour before you hear the popping sound indicating that your jars are completely sealed. If your jars never completely seal, you’ll need to keep them in the fridge for the normal storage time of 3 weeks.
8. Store: Jars of pear butter that are properly sealed can be stored in a cool, dry place for up to 1 year.

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