Spiced Brown Sugar Pear Butter
Transform ripe golden Bartlett pears into a deliciously spreadable Spiced Brown Sugar Pear Butter that captures the essence of autumn in every bite. This rich and velvety butter infuses the natural sweetness of the pears with a medley of warm spices and the deep, caramel notes of brown sugar. Perfect for slathering on toast, drizzling over pancakes, or giving as a homemade gift, this pear butter is not only simple to make but also a delightful way to preserve the flavor of ripe pears at their peak. Follow this detailed recipe to create a heavenly spread that will elevate your breakfast and dessert game.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
8
Ingredients
Ingredients
Ripe Bartlett pears
3 lbs (Washed, quartered, and cored)
Water
1/4 cup (N/A)
Brown sugar
1 to 2 cups (N/A)
Ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon (N/A)
Ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon (N/A)
Ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon (N/A)
Ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon (N/A)
Vanilla bean
1/2 (Split lengthwise and seeds scraped)
Instructions
1
Begin by preparing your canning jars; sterilize them and have them ready for filling.
2
Rinse the Bartlett pears thoroughly. Cut them into quarters and remove the cores, placing the prepared pears into a heavy-bottomed preserving pan.
3
Pour 1/4 cup of water into the pan with the pears. It's important not to add more liquid at this stage as the cooking process will release moisture from the pears.
4
Place the pan over low heat and allow it to simmer gently. Cover it tightly with a lid to retain the heat and moisture, cooking for about 20 minutes or until the pears have softened.
5
Once softened, remove the pan from the heat. Use a potato masher to mash the pears until they reach a mushy consistency, which should take about 15 to 30 seconds.
6
Set up a food mill over a bowl and carefully transfer the mashed pears into it. Crank the food mill until only a small amount of skin remains in the mill; discard or compost the skins.
7
Measure the pear puree you have collected. Calculate the required amount of brown sugar by taking half of the total amount of puree. For example, if you have 2 cups of puree, you will add 1 cup of brown sugar.
8
If using a vanilla bean, split it now, and scrape the seeds into the pear puree mix along with the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. Stir well to incorporate all the flavors. (If using vanilla extract, save it for later.)
9
Cook the mixture over low heat for approximately one hour, maintaining a gentle simmer. Stir consistently to ensure even cooking and to prevent sticking. The mixture will thicken significantly.
10
Once you've reached your desired thickness, remove the pot from heat. If you used a vanilla bean, remove it now and scrape the seeds back into the butter. If using vanilla extract, stir it in at this stage.
11
Immediately fill the hot sterilized jars with the pear butter using a wide-mouth funnel, leaving about 1/4 inch of headspace.
12
Check for air bubbles trapped in the jars; if present, use a chopstick or a plastic knife to release these before wiping the rims with a clean paper towel.
13
Seal the jars with tight-fitting lids. You can refrigerate the jars for up to 3 months or freeze them for up to 6 months or follow the next steps for canning.
14
For canning, place the sealing lid on the jar and screw on a band until it's finger-tight. Clean any rim residue before placing the jars in the boiling water bath.
15
Process the jars in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes, ensuring they are fully submerged. Add hot water if necessary.
16
After processing, remove the jars carefully using a jar lifter. Place them on a towel on the counter in a draft-free area. Allow them to rest for 24 hours.
17
After resting, check each lid for a proper seal: if the lid stays down when pressed, it's sealed. Unsealed jars should be refrigerated and consumed within 3 months.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Spiced Brown Sugar Pear Butter?
It is a rich and velvety spread made from golden Bartlett pears, warm spices, and caramel-noted brown sugar, perfect for toast or pancakes.
What variety of pears should I use for this recipe?
Ripe golden Bartlett pears are recommended for their natural sweetness and ideal texture when cooked.
How many pounds of pears are required?
You will need 3 pounds of ripe Bartlett pears for this recipe.
Do I need to peel the pears before cooking them?
No, you only need to rinse, quarter, and core the pears; the skins are removed later using a food mill.
How much water is added to the pears initially?
Only 1/4 cup of water is added to prevent the pears from sticking while they release their own moisture.
Why is only a small amount of water used?
Adding too much liquid will result in a watery butter; the pears provide most of the liquid during the simmering process.
How long do the pears simmer in the first step?
The pears should simmer gently in a covered pan for about 20 minutes until they have softened.
What is the best way to mash the cooked pears?
Use a potato masher to mash the softened pears for 15 to 30 seconds until they reach a mushy consistency.
How do I remove the skins from the pear puree?
Transfer the mashed pears to a food mill and crank it until only the skins remain, which can then be discarded.
How much brown sugar should I add to the puree?
Calculate the sugar by using half of the total amount of pear puree you collected; for example, 1 cup of sugar for 2 cups of puree.
What spices are included in the pear butter?
The recipe calls for ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground allspice, and ground cloves.
What is the measurement for ground cinnamon?
You should use 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
What is the measurement for ground nutmeg?
The recipe requires 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg.
What are the amounts for allspice and cloves?
The recipe uses 1/8 teaspoon each of ground allspice and ground cloves.
How do I prepare the vanilla bean?
Split a 1/2 vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape the seeds into the pear puree mixture.
Can I use vanilla extract instead of a bean?
Yes, but if using extract, stir it in at the very end after removing the pot from the heat.
How long does the mixture cook after adding sugar and spices?
The mixture should cook over low heat for approximately one hour until it thickens significantly.
How often should I stir the pear butter while it thickens?
Stir consistently to ensure even cooking and to prevent the sugar and fruit from sticking to the pan.
What do I do with the vanilla bean once the butter is finished?
Remove the bean and scrape any remaining seeds back into the butter before filling the jars.
How do I fill the jars for storage?
Use a wide-mouth funnel to fill hot sterilized jars, leaving exactly 1/4 inch of headspace.
How do I ensure there is no air trapped in the jars?
Use a chopstick or a plastic knife to release any air bubbles before wiping the rims and sealing.
How long does the pear butter last in the refrigerator?
It can be refrigerated for up to 3 months if properly sealed.
Can Spiced Brown Sugar Pear Butter be frozen?
Yes, it can be frozen for up to 6 months.
What is the processing time for canning the jars?
Process the jars in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes, ensuring they are fully submerged.
How long should jars rest after the water bath?
Allow the jars to rest on a towel in a draft-free area for 24 hours after processing.
How do I check if the canning jars sealed correctly?
Press down on the center of the lid; if it stays down and does not pop, it is successfully sealed.
What should I do with jars that didn't seal?
Unsealed jars should be stored in the refrigerator and consumed within 3 months.
Is this pear butter suitable as a gift?
Yes, it makes a delightful homemade gift that captures the essence of autumn.
What are some ways to serve this pear butter?
It is delicious on toast, drizzled over pancakes, or used to elevate various desserts.
How do I ensure the jars are ready for the butter?
Begin by sterilizing your canning jars and having them hot and ready for the filling process.