I’m often amused at myself and how I’ve changed as a baker. I’ve gone from someone who used to rely heavily on things like pre-made pie crusts to someone who makes homemade marshmallows. When did that happen?
And now, I bring you Apple-Pear Butter.
I’ve baked with prepared apple butter, but it never really occurred to me until the last month or so that I could just make my own. I blame it on our CSA. For a while, there were bags of apples and pears waiting on us every week. When you have that many apples and pears, you start thinking outside the usual baking suspects. And, that’s how you end up making Apple-Pear Butter.
It really couldn’t be much simpler to make something this incredibly good. If you can slice fruit, measure, stir, and turn on the stovetop, you’ve got this. And a big plus is how amazing your kitchen will smell while it’s cooking.
Serve this delicious spiced sauce on biscuits or waffles or a baguette or pound cake or whatever else you can imagine. I highly recommend making a quick batch of Cinnamon Sugar Biscuits. That’s what I did, and we very much enjoyed an ultra-cinnamon treat.
Apple-Pear Butter
Apple-Pear Butter is so simple to make and so versatile! Serve it with waffles, biscuits, pound cake, and more.
Ingredients
- 4 pounds total of cooking apples and pears, peeled, cored, and cut into chunks
- 1 cup apple cider
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
Instructions
- Place the apples, pears, and apple cider in a large heavy pot. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Cover and continue cooking 20 to 30 minutes, or until the fruit is well softened.
- Place about half of the fruit mixture in a blender. Purée until smooth. Pour into a medium bowl. Repeat with the remaining fruit mixture.*
- Return the fruit mixture to the pot. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Stir in the sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice. Continue to simmer for 1 to 2 hours, or until the mixture thickens and turns deep brown. Stir frequently.
- Cool to room temperature. Then, transfer to airtight container(s) and refrigerate for up to 3 weeks.
Notes
*If you don't have a blender, you can use an immersion blender or try using a potato masher. It might not be completely smooth, but it will be fine.
Recipe slightly adapted from Serious Eats.
20 Comments on “Apple-Pear Butter”
The apple-pear butter looks delicious! I would love some on my toast this morning.
I really like that you used both apples AND pears, that is something I have never seen before!
I love apple butter with clove in it! Then add the pear…this can only be delicious! Great recipe!
That looks so awesome! I really want to sign up for a CSA because I feel like it forces you to be creative with your food. Your photography is gorgeous also! 🙂
Thanks for the recipe – in the UK apple butter is very hard (if not impossible!) to find so this will be great for me =)
Apples and pears in a butter, oh my! Sounds too delish!
It is pretty funny to look back at the early days of my blog and see how many shortcuts I took then…and now it’s almost all homemade all the time! I still haven’t gone the homemade fruit butter route yet…but you have quite a convincing argument for it right here.
I’m still all about the shortcuts; I love them especially when money is tight.
And homemade fruit butter is really cheap to make, and can be used in so many different ways when you think about it. Not to mention the amount of flavor it brings in just a little bit.
I never thought I liked apple butter until I learned to make it in the slow cooker. It also makes the house smell so good!
i can’t find apple cider where I live–would apple juice be ok?
Apple juice would likely be the closest thing to substitute.
I love your recipes, thank you. Will try this on the weekend.
The apple pear butter is on the stove … the taste and aroma is amazing!! I am going to can this … canning it should be okay, right?!? Thanx sooo much for this recipe!!
Hi, Donna. I’ve never canned this recipe, so I can’t tell you for sure. But, if prepared properly, my guess is that it would be fine. Sorry I can’t be more help!
I’ve made this twice now and it’s such a great recipe! I love that I can try different combinations of types of apples and pears and still the result is delicious on anything and everything! Also makes a great holiday gift
I’m glad you like it, Sandra. I am anxious to make my first fall batch!
I have made a half dozen double batches of this recipe and everyone loves it.  I’ve given it to friends and family and people have offered to buy it. I take it a step further and can it, so I can mail it to friends.  I also just used a potato masher instead of blending it because  I like the thicker texture.  Wonderful recipe.Â
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed making and sharing it, Carol!
Hello how many cups of butter does dis recipe make?
About 3 cups.