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Ultimate Spiced Pear Butter: Stovetop, Slow Cooker, and Instant Pot Methods

Close-up of rich, dark brown spiced pear butter served in a small, white, fluted ramekin.
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Make thick, smooth spiced pear butter using your preferred method: stovetop, slow cooker, or Instant Pot. This recipe uses ripe pears and warm spices for a perfect homemade spread.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 5 lbs ripe pears (Anjou or Bartlett recommended)
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Pears: Wash, core, and quarter the pears. You do not need to peel them if you plan to blend the mixture thoroughly later.
  2. Combine Ingredients: Place the prepared pears, brown sugar, water, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt into your chosen cooking vessel (large pot, slow cooker insert, or Instant Pot liner).
  3. Cook on Stovetop: Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the pears are very soft.
  4. Cook in Slow Cooker: Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours, until the pears are very soft.
  5. Cook in Instant Pot: Secure the lid and set the valve to sealing. Cook on High Pressure for 15 minutes. Allow for a Natural Pressure Release (NPR) for 15 minutes, then manually release any remaining pressure.
  6. Blend: Carefully transfer the cooked pear mixture to a blender or use an immersion blender directly in the pot. Blend until completely smooth. If the mixture seems too thin, return it to the heat (stovetop or slow cooker on high) and simmer uncovered for 15 to 30 minutes, stirring often, until the butter thickens to your desired consistency.
  7. Finish: Stir in the vanilla extract. Taste and adjust spices or sugar if needed.
  8. Preserve or Store: Ladle the hot pear butter into clean jars for canning or transfer to airtight containers for refrigeration.

Notes

  • For a Salted Caramel flavor, add 1/4 cup of soft caramel candies or 2 tablespoons of caramel sauce during the last 10 minutes of simmering.
  • If you prefer a very smooth texture, peel the pears before cooking.
  • This pear butter is excellent for canning. Process filled, sterilized jars in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes for shelf stability.
  • Bartlett pears break down faster than Anjou pears; adjust cooking times based on the variety you use.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://hearthbite.com/easy-pear-butter-recipe-stovetop-slow-cooker-ip/