Old-Fashioned Spiced Pear Butter (To Freeze or Can)
You’ll love the smooth texture of this pear butter and how sweet and spicy your kitchen smells as it bubbles away. You just dump everything in a pot, simmer, and blend. If you don’t want to can it, it freezes beautifully.
Every year when the pears start piling up, I make this homemade pear butter. It’s smooth, gently spiced, and makes the whole kitchen smell like fall in the best way. If you’ve got a few pounds of ripe pears and a little time, this recipe is a lovely way to use them up.
Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need
Canning this recipe is totally optional, but make sure you have a stick blender (or regular blender or food processor).
Heart’s Content Farmhouse is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This means that when you click on certain links on this site and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely believe in and would use in my own kitchen. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Equipment
- 3 half-pint mason jars
- Waterbath canning equipment (optional)
- Stick blender or food processor
Ingredients
- 3 pounds Bartlett pears (peeled, cored, and sliced)
- ¼ cup lemon juice (use bottled if canning)
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ground mace (replace with nutmeg or cinnamon if you can’t find it)
- ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup water
How to Make Pear Butter
Step One: Cook All Ingredients. In a large pot or Dutch oven, stir all the ingredients together and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for about 50 minutes. Cover it so that the lid is still slightly opened and stir occasionally.
Step Two: Blend. Once reduced and thickened, remove the pot from the heat. Then, use an immersion blender to blend the mixture until smooth. (You can transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.)
Step Three: Store. Using a spoon or ladle, transfer the pear butter into canning jars or other airtight containers. Put the lids on and let the jars cool to room temperature on the counter. Store in the fridge or freezer, or proceed with water bath canning if desired.
To water bath can this recipe, ladle it into hot jars, wipe the rims clean, put the lids on fingertip tight, and process in a boiling water canner for 15 minutes.
Storage Instructions
Once the butter has cooled to room temperature, store it in the fridge for up to a week. You can also freeze it (right in the mason jars, just leave a little room) for 4-6 months.
If you choose to can your pear butter, it will keep for up to a year.
What to Serve with Pear Butter
- Homemade biscuits, of course! This recipe is easy as can be.
- You’ll love this white farmhouse loaf if you’re more of a toast person. It’s hearty and delicious.
- Need a good pancake recipe? These sourdough discard pancakes would be delicious with a little pear flavor added.
More Pear Recipes
- To have fresh fruit in the winter, learn how to can pears.
- For more of a jam consistency, try spiced pear preserves.
- Everyone will love this cinnamon sugar pear cobbler.
- Cozy up on a fall evening with a glass of apple pear sangria.
Printable Recipe
Homemade Pear Butter
Equipment
- 3 half-pint mason jars
- Waterbath canning equipment (optional)
- Stick blender or food processor
Ingredients
- 3 pounds Bartlett pears (peeled, cored and sliced)
- ¼ cup lemon juice (use bottled if canning)
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ground mace
- ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup water
Want To Save This For Later?
I’m email you a link so you can find it when you need it.
You'll join my email list which you will love. And if you don't, unsubscribe in one click. ❤️
Instructions
- Cook all ingredients. In a large pot or Dutch oven, stir all the ingredients together and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for about 50 minutes. Cover it so that the lid is still slightly opened and stir occasionally.
- Blend. Once reduced and thickened, remove the pot from the heat. Then, use an immersion blender to blend the mixture until smooth. (You can transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.)
- Store. Using a spoon or ladle, transfer the pear butter into canning jars or other airtight containers. Put the lids on and let the jars cool to room temperature on the counter. Store in the fridge or freezer, or proceed with water bath canning if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
By Katie Shaw
Katie shares simple, reliable recipes from her home in Virginia, where she lives with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens.
