Caramel Pear Butter

Caramel Pear Butter! This dreamy spread made with cooked, pureed pears tastes like fall in a jar! Spread on toast, crackers, biscuits and more for a delicious autumn treat.

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Note: This recipe was originally published on October 23, 2012 and updated on October 7, 2021.

I don't know about you, but I find myself wanting to infuse fall flavors into just about every meal during the autumn months. A sprinkle of cinnamon here, a hint of apple there... those warm and cozy vibes find their way into almost every dish I serve this time of year.

This Caramel Pear Butter is a sweet and delightful way to enjoy some of fall's bounty! Made with fresh pears, sweet brown sugar and whatever spices your heart desires, this is a recipe that will become a must-make every year. Serve it up in a variety of ways or package it in pretty jars and gift to family and friends.

This recipe is naturally dairy-free and gluten-free.

Jump to:

• What is Pear Butter?
• Ingredients
• Directions
• Slow Cooker Pear Butter
• Pear Butter Uses
• Variations and Substitutions
• Other Pear Recipes
• Caramel Pear Butter

What is Pear Butter?

Pear butter, and all fruit "butter" in general, is basically just a sweetened, concentrated fruit spread. Fruit is cooked down with sugar and spices until it is very tender, then pureed and cooked down even further into a smooth, silky spread.

Despite its name, pear butter actually contains no butter or dairy! The "caramel" part of this particular pear butter comes from the sweet, rich flavor from the addition of brown sugar.

Ingredients

Pear butter is made with just a handful of easy-to-find ingredients. There are variations and different ways to flavor it; see below in the "Substitutions and Variations" section. Here's what's in mine:

• Pears. While the original recipe calls for Bartlett pears, I've had success making pear butter with Bosc pears as well.
• Apple juice or cider. If you don't have apple juice or apple cider (not apple cider vinegar, which is different) on hand, feel free to use water or even pear nectar.
• Brown Sugar. Using brown sugar adds a deep, caramelized flavor.
• Lemon Juice. Lemon juice helps fruit not to oxidize, but also lends a hint of tang to help cut through the sweetness.
• Spices. This recipe only calls for a tiny bit of nutmeg, but feel free to experiment with any of your favorite spices. I have some ideas in the variations section below.
• Sea salt. A pinch of salt helps to balance out super sweet recipes.

Directions

While the difficulty level of making pear butter isn't too advanced, I'd say the hardest part is the patience it takes to let everything simmer and cook down slowly -- especially with the intoxicating smell filling the air in your kitchen!

Start off by tossing all of the ingredients in a medium, heavy-bottomed pot. Give it a stir to combine everything. Cover the pot with a lid.

Cook the pears over medium heat for about 15-20 minutes or until they start to release their juices. (This could take more or less time depending on the ripeness and type of pears you use.)

Stir and reduce the heat to medium-low, continuing to cook until the pears are very tender, about 20 more minutes.

Scoop softened pears into a blender or food processor (a stick blender is also great for this) and blend until smooth. (Note: Be careful blending anything hot. It's always best to let things cool a bit before blending to avoid blowing the top off the blender!)

Return pear puree to the pot, set over low to medium-low heat. Simmer the mixture, stirring frequently, until the it has thickened to desired consistency. I like to test the thickness by using a spatula to draw a line down the center of the pot. If the divide remains after a second or two, then it's thick enough.

Tip: Make sure the heat isn't turned up too high or your mixture will scorch. Simmer on low heat and stir every so often to scrape up any bits that may be starting to stick to the bottom of the pot.

Scoop the pear butter into clean jar and allow to cool before sealing.

Slow Cooker Pear Butter

I've always made this recipe on the stove top, but you can also make pear butter in the slow cooker! The nice part about this method is that you don't have to babysit it as much since the slow cooker provides a low, even temperature that will keep the sugar from burning.

To make pear butter in the slow cooker, follow the recipe as directed until it is blended. Then, instead of returning it to the pot on the stovetop, pour the mixture into the slow cooker. Cook on low for about 6 hours, stirring about half way through cooking.

The cook time will depend on the ripeness and type of the pears used, so keep an eye on the mixture and gauge for each batch. Pear butter will be darker and thicker when it's done cooking.

Pear Butter Uses

Pear butter can be used in the same way that you would use jam or preserves; spread onto breads, muffins and sandwiches, dolloped on top of breakfast foods like waffles, pancakes, and oatmeal, served with cheese and crackers on a charcuterie board, or eaten straight up off a spoon!

You can also fill cupcakes, donuts or other desserts like macarons and thumbprint cookies for a sweet surprise.

Variations and Substitutions

Caramel Pear Butter is absolutely delicious as is (take it from me, who has enjoyed more spoonfuls than I care to admit!), but with a few minor adjustments you can create even more tasty versions.

• Try other spices such as cardamom, cinnamon or cloves.
• Make a mélange by tossing in some apples along with your pears for a cross between apple butter and pear butter.
• Add a hint of citrus by stirring in some grated lemon zest or orange zest.
• Stir in some vanilla bean paste or extract at the end of cooking.
• Add a tablespoon or two of fresh grated ginger for a spicy twist.

Other Pear Recipes

Enjoying pears this season? Give these other pear-infused recipes a try:

• Spiced Pear Oatmeal Bake
• Roasted Acorn Squash & Pear Quinoa Salad
• Pear-Chardonnay Compote
• Cardamom-Vanilla Pear Applesauce

Caramel-Pear Butter
Adapted from Epicurious