The Best Pear Butter Recipe You'll Ever Make! (2024)

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The Best Pear Butter Recipe You’ll Ever Make

The best pear butter recipe you’ll ever make?!

Yep – I’m standing by that bold statement!

Since, I’d never made a pear butter before this one, this pear butter recipe is the best I’ve ever made!

I’m gonna bet it will be for you, too.

I’m always on the hunt for delicious and nutritious fun foods (have you tried OMT’s Strawberry Smoothie yet?).

Pear Butter

Pear butter, or pear spread recipes, are very similar to apple butter recipes.

Apple Butter is one of Sweet E’s all-time favs.

He eats it with peanut butter in a sandwich, as a dip for pancakes or right off of the spoon as, well, apple saucy buttah!

If you’ve never made it: Go – Make!

PRO TIP: You can freeze apple butter! Pour what you need into a mason jar (< that’s what those jars are for!) and pop into the fridge, then pour the remaining into more mason jars, leaving about an inch from the top for expansion, then freeze for later use!

This year, as the pears came into season, I thought I’d shake things up a bit and attempt to make pear butter.

Use Your Crock Pot Or Slow Cooker To Make Pear Butter

What makes this pear butter recipe even better is you use a Crock Pot or slow cooker.

Don’t have a slow cooker or Crock Pot? You could definitely use an Instant Pot, too.

Either way, this recipe is so stinkin’ easy!

And, um…delicious!

Oh, momma.

It. Is. AH-MAZING.

Look at it!

All yummy and waiting patiently to be spread on thangs or eaten right off the spoon!

So simple to make and soon to be a favorite gift to be given (holidays, birthdays, your-hair-looks-perfect days).

Real Talk: When I was taking these shots and rearranging the jar and spoon, I had to stop several times to grab a new spoon, because each time I rearranged, I ate the contents of said spoon.

Irresistible!

Crock Pot Pear Butter

The crock pot pear butter recipe is so incredibly easy, you’ll feel like I’m holding something back.

I assure you, I’m not.

Note: there is a printable version of the recipe at the end of the post.

OMT!’S PEAR BUTTER RECIPE

Ingredients:

10 ripe pears, quartered and cut into large pieces, skin on
1 cup dark brown sugar
2 tsp all spice
1/4 tsp fresh ground nutmeg
1-2 tsp of homemade vanilla (to your liking)
1 tbsp fresh-squeezed lemon juice

Directions:

Place pears, sugar, all spice and nutmeg into slow cooker and mix.
Turn on high and cook for 4 -5 hours, until pear pieces are very soft.
Once cooked, cool enough to mix with immersion blender, or pour into regular blender.
Blend to desired texture.
Add vanilla and lemon juice.
Mix thoroughly.
Pour into jars to store in fridge or freezer.

Notes On Pear Butter:

Cool pear butter before adding to glass jars.

Is Pear Butter Vegan?

For my vegan friends, this easy pear butter recipe is a delight for you, too!

You can easily add it to your rotation of fruit spreads.

Pear Butter Uses:

Spread on your favorite bread.
A dip for crackers or crudites.
Pour over softened cream cheese for a holiday or party table. Elegant and delicious.
Topping for waffles or pancakes.
Dipping side for pork – trust me!
Eat straight from the jar! I won’t tell your mother!

I’ll be spreading it a’top a circle of brie for the holidays.

I’ll be offering it to Sweet E for his approval.

I’ll continue to eat it right out of the jar and go through as many spoons as necessary to satisfy my pear-loving sweet tooth.

How Long Does Pear Butter Last?

Once refrigerated, pear butter will last a solid 7-10 days.

I can’t imagine that it would last that long though – SO GOOOOD!

Can You Freeze Pear Butter?

Absolutely! Just like apple butter, pear butter freezes beautifully.

When I make a batch, I put some in canning jars, leaving at least a half an inch (you can do an inch) from top, and cover with a lid and freeze.

The butter will last months in the freezer, which means you can make it months before an event – a party or a holiday gathering – and simply thaw before using.

How To Thaw Frozen Pear Butter:

I simply place a frozen jar on a small plate and stick in the fridge for about 24 hours to thaw.

Easy peasy.

Pear Recipes

There are so many recipes for pear butter. We have the delicious pear butter that tastes like a butter pear (yum!), but what if you want something a bit different?

What if you’d like a more spiced pear butter?

Again – so easy.

You can add a bit of ground ginger powder to the pear butter recipe to give it some added zing.

Easy (adaptable) Recipe For Pear Butter

While I use brown sugar to sweeten, you can use pretty much any sweetener you love.

If can even omit the sweetener, but know the last and texture will be altered.

Sweeteners For Pear Butter

What other sweetener can you use for pear butter?

Brown sugar adds a bit of depth. To go deeper, use dark brown sugar, as it has a molasses undertone.
Coconut sugar
Refined sugar
Monk sweetener can be helpful for those watching carb intake.

It’s dealer choice! Experiment to see what you love the most.

Pear Butter Gifts

Jars of Pear Butter are wonderful homemade gifts for teachers.

Teachers, workmates, neighbors, besties…pear butter is a wonderful gift – and so easy to make! – for anyone you can think of.

When my FIL ate his gifted pear butter, he called to say it was delicious and then we reminisced about the pear tree that used to grow in our backyard.

He said it tasted like an old fashioned pear butter recipe his mom made.

Best seal of approval, evah!

Printable recipe for Pear Butter below.

Ingredients

10 ripe pears, quartered and cut into large pieces, skin on
1 cup dark brown sugar
2 tsp all spice
1/4 tsp fresh ground nutmeg
1-2 tsp of homemade vanilla (to your liking)
1 tbsp fresh-squeezed lemon juice

Instructions

Place pears, sugar, all spice and nutmeg into slow cooker and mix.

Turn on high and cook for 4 -5 hours, until pear pieces are very soft.

Once cooked, cool enough to mix with immersion blender, or pour into regular blender.

Blend to desired texture.

Add vanilla and lemon juice.

Mix thoroughly.

Pour into jars to store in fridge or freezer.

Notes

Cool pear butter before adding to glass jars.

Leave expansion room at top of jar when freezing.

Make sure to use glass jars that are intended for canning.

Best Pear Butter I’ve Ever Made

Yep, still is the best I’ve ever made to date.

What will you do with it?

How will you enjoy it?

Happy pear buttering, y’all!

If You Liked This Pear Butter Recipe, You May Like These:

Slow Cooker Apple Butter Will Make You a Fanatic

Apple Butter was our first love, then came pear butter. This is Sweet E’s favorite topping on toast and his “Choochie” waffles (linked below).

Portuguese Sweet Bread (Pao Doce)

Simple cut fresh or toasted, this sweet bread is brought to new heights with a schmear of pear butter!

Joy Bella The Waffle Recipe Maker

Who doesn’t love fruit toppings on a Belgium waffle? The best pear butter is sooo good in the nooks and crannies of a waffle (as is the above Apple Butter). Trust!

Thank you for reading and drooling (ain’t no shame, y’all!) over the Best Pear Butter Recipe and all others linked!

Get to makin’!

The Best Pear Butter Recipe You'll Ever Make! (2024)

FAQs

Do you have to peel pears for pear butter? ›

Do I need to peel the pears? You can make this recipe with either canned pears, which require no prep (you just need to drain them), or you can use fresh. If using fresh core them and cut them into chunks. You don't have to peel fresh pears as we do blend them after cooking to get a smooth butter.

Why is my pear butter not thickening? ›

If your pear butter isn't thick enough after the cooking time, prop the lid open and cook for an additional hour or until desired consistency is reached. Ladle in to mason jars. Keep refrigerated for up to a month.

Read On ›

Which pear makes the best preserves? ›

Bartlett, Bosc and Seckel are good varieties to preserve, however Anjou, Comice, Nelis and Forelle may also be preserved, depending on the end product. It is important to harvest pears at the correct time. Pick them when they are mature in size but not yet fully ripe.

Learn More ›

What is a butter pear in French? ›

The French Butter pear earned the name Beurre Hardy from beurre, which is a description of its buttery texture and Hardy, after M. Hardy, the Director of Arboriculture at the Luxembourg Gardens.

Know More ›

Why is my pear butter grainy? ›

Some varieties are more grainy or gritty than others but peeling any pear will help reduce that graininess. As pears ripen on the tree, they develop stone cells, and most of these lie just under the skin. Most pears are harvested before they're fully ripe for this reason.

Learn More ›

Does pear butter go bad? ›

Introduction: Pear Butter (and How to Can It!)

Contrary to the name, we aren't actually making "butter", per se; there are no dairy products in this recipe. Prepared this way, the jars should have a shelf life of about 18 months to 2 years...and possibly even longer depending upon the conditions.

Learn More ›

How do you make body butter more fluffy? ›

How do you make body butter soft and fluffy? The oils are first melted together and then chilled. Once chilled you can use an electric mixer or hand whisk to whip the mixture and incorporate air. This will make it soft and fluffy.

What is the sweetest pear in the world? ›

Comice pears were originally cultivated in France. They're known as the sweetest pear variety, and are often the variety shipped in gift boxes. Because of this, they're sometimes given the nickname “the Christmas pear.” Comice pears have light green skin with a blush of pinkish red.

Tell Me More ›

What happened to pear butter? ›

The most commonly accepted theory for Pear Butter's death is that she died giving birth to Apple Bloom. Theories for Bright Mac range from Timber wolves, suicide, farming accidents, and more.

What do they call pears in the Caribbean? ›

They are avocados. The Caribbean call them pears, they call our pears (when they find them) either American pears or by their full proper names. In north America we tend to get our avocados overripe but other than that they are the same. If you hear pear in Ja its an avocado.

Keep Reading ›

What is pear butter made of? ›

Place pears in a food processor or blender; puree until smooth. Measure 3 cups pureed pears into a saucepan. Add sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, until bubbling, about 15 minutes.

Show Me More ›

Do you need to peel pears for cooking? ›

Step 2: Cut and Cook Pears to Prep Pear Sauce

The greatest part of pear sauce is that there is no need to peel the pears. The skins are soft enough to leave on. Cut the cores and any bad spots out of the pears and place remaining (good) cut pieces in a large stock pot.

Should pears be peeled before cooking? ›

Pears can be left unpeeled for eating fresh, but be sure to peel them before cooking. Although the peel is edible, some fruits may have tough skins with a slightly bitter flavor that is accentuated when cooked. Prevent premature browning by dipping cut pears in water mixed with a little lemon juice or vinegar.

Know More ›

Do you have to peel pears for baby puree? ›

No. Pear skins are totally safe and easy to digest for the stomach. In fact, a lot of the pear's nutrients are found on the skin or just below the skin. If you do keep the skin on you may need to cook the pears for longer and the puree will not be as smooth (unless you have a powerful blender).

Learn More ›

Do I need to peel pears before dehydrating? ›

Most of the scleroids are just under the skin, so peeling the pears before dehydrating them results in a better texture. After peeling the whole pears with a vegetable peeler, cut them into quarters and remove the cores and stems. Cut the pears into 1/2-inch slices.

Learn More ›

The Best Pear Butter Recipe You'll Ever Make! (2024)