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    Home » Condiments & Sauces

    Caramel Pear Butter

    Published: Oct 7, 2021 · Modified: Apr 20, 2022 by thekitchenprep · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    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.

    Caramel Pear Butter in a small glass container with fall leaf in backgroud.

    This post may contain affiliate links, which means that, at no extra cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you click a link and purchase an item I’ve recommended. Thanks for your support in running this blog!

    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.

    A spreader scooping out a dollop of Caramel Pear butter from a small glass jar.

    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!

    Adding lemon juice to a small saucepan filled with pears, brown sugar, salt and nutmeg for Caramel Pear Butter.

    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.

    Pears tossed with brown sugar, lemon and nutmeg in a saucepan for Caramel Pear Butter.

    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.

    Pouring pureed cooked pears back into small saucepan while making Caramel Pear Butter.

    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.

    Finished Caramel Pear Butter in a small saucepan to show texture when done cooking.

    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!

    Caramel Pear Butter spread onto a cracker topped with a piece of brie and a candied pecan.
    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.

    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.
    Overhead shot of Caramel Pear Butter surrounded by fall leaves and pears.

    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

    Caramel Pear Butter in a small glass container with fall leaf in backgroud.

    Caramel Pear Butter

    The Kitchen Prep
    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.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 1 hr 45 mins
    Course Sauce
    Cuisine American
    Servings 2 cups

    Ingredients
      

    • 2½ pounds Bartlett pears peeled, cored, and cubed
    • 3 tablespoons apple juice, apple cider or water
    • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
    • 1 cup packed brown sugar
    • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt

    Instructions
     

    • Place all ingredients in a heavy-bottomed medium pot over medium-low heat. Stir to combine.
    • Cover the pot and cook for about 15-20 minutes or until the pears begin to release their juices and are very tender. This may take longer if the pears aren't very ripe.
    • Once the pears are tender, scoop them into the blender or a food processor and blend until smooth. (An immersion blender is good for this job, too.)
    • Return the blended pear puree into the pot and cover. Bring to a simmer over low to medium low heat, stirring every so often to avoid scorching.
    • Cook for about 45 minutes to an hour (depending on the amount of liquid in your pears) or until thickened to desired consistency. (To test, make a line down the center of the pot with a spatula or spoon. If the mixture
    • Cool before placing in an airtight jar or container.

    Notes

    Slow Cooker Instructions:
    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.
    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.
    Flavor Variations: 
    • Try Bosc pears in place of Bartlett pears.
    • 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.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Marie says

      October 24, 2012 at 1:33 pm

      It looks like an edible sugar scrub - fabulous!

      Reply
    2. The Kitchen Prep says

      October 24, 2012 at 9:45 pm

      Marie - It does, doesn't it! I wouldn't recommend trying it unless you're looking for a sticky scrub, but it does make a tasty treat! Haha! 😉

      Reply
    3. Shema George says

      October 25, 2012 at 6:47 pm

      look so yummy !!!

      Reply
    4. Sara Hamling says

      October 27, 2015 at 5:07 am

      Is it 3 tablespoons lemon juice total? Or 1 tbs and 2 tsp? The ingredients and the directions appear to be conflicting.

      Reply
      • thekitchenprep says

        October 27, 2015 at 10:42 am

        Hi Sarah, sorry for the confusion! Toss the pears with 2 Tablespoons of juice, not 2 teaspoons. Really, it doesn't have to be exact, just enough to coat them so they don't brown. Thanks for catching that!

        Reply
    5. Sara Hamling says

      October 28, 2015 at 2:30 pm

      Thanks Dianna! I made it last night! It tastes delicious but I ended up with between 3-4 cups worth even after cooling and it has more of the consistency of applesauce. Should I have kept cooking it longer or had the heat on higher perhaps? Trying to figure out why I ended up with so much more.

      Reply
    6. thekitchenprep says

      October 28, 2015 at 2:40 pm

      Sarah - That seems like a lot! It sounds like maybe cooking it down further would have produced a thicker result, which in turn would have meant less volume, too. If I remember correctly, mine was thicker than applesauce but slightly thinner than jam. I wouldn't turn up the heat too high because the sugars would invite the mixture to burn, but maybe a longer cook time would work. Either way, I'm glad you enjoyed it and hope you find a way to use up the rest! I bet it would go great swirled into a cheesecake, blondies or coffee cake, or poured over ice cream. If all else fails, jar up the extra & give it away to a lucky neighbor! 😉

      Reply
    7. Karen says

      October 04, 2016 at 2:39 pm

      Is this recipe able to be canned?

      Reply
      • thekitchenprep says

        October 04, 2016 at 3:38 pm

        Hi Karen, I'm not sure as I've never canned anything! However, since it's similar to Apple Butter, and Apple Butter is able to be canned, I would assume so. Let me know if you decide to give it a try!

        Reply

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    Hi! I'm Dianna. I used to think cooking had to be complicated to be good, so I never considered it "my thing." Now I know that's far from true, and my mission is to create & share easy, mouthwatering recipes - from weeknight dinners to simple bites for entertaining - that anyone can make! Join me in my South Florida kitchen and let's get cooking!

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