• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
She Loves Biscotti
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About Maria
  • My Store
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Condiments and Sauces » Crock pot Pear Butter Recipe

    Crock pot Pear Butter Recipe

    September 26, 2018 , Updated August 5, 2020 Maria 118 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
    The Vanilla Pear Butter is seen in a wide open canning jar, surrounded by fresh pears.

    This Crock pot Pear Butter Recipe is one of the best ways to preserve an abundance of pears. Not to mention they make the perfect hostess gifts. 

    A jar of pear butter, surrounded by fresh pears and vanilla beans.

    This recipe was originally published on September 18, 2016 and republished on September 26, 2018 with improvements to the recipe, updated content and a video.

    For most of my adult life, I never gave fruit butters any consideration. To be totally honest, I had a preconceived idea that fruit butters actually had butter in them (if you could see me now, I am blushing …)

    Vanilla Pear butter portioned in a jar.

    About a decade ago, I had a conversation with a colleague of mine who enlightened me on the subject of fruit butters.

    And that is how my obsession with fruit butters began…

    I started with this Easy Homemade Spiced Apple Butter, and this Crock pot Vanilla Pear Butter Recipe was the natural next step! I just recently published this recipe for Plum Butter which tastes out of this world!

    What exactly is a fruit butter?

    A fruit butter is a highly concentrated form of pureed fruit (apple, pear, plum, etc…). It has a smooth consistency and silky texture, which can easily be spread, like butter. Spices are often used to highlight the fruity taste and they are usually made without any pectin.

    How is a fruit butter made?

    Fruit butter is simply made by chopping fruit into chunks and cooking it so that it softens. It is then pureed and cooked again until all the moisture has evaporated and transformed into a smooth, silky fruit spread. Fruits butters can easily be made in a slow cooker.

    Fresh pears hanging from a pear tree.

    I have previously mentioned that I have a wonderful pear tree growing in my backyard that was planted by my dad. It truly is a privilege to watch the May blossoms slowly develop into actual pears.

    A recent weather warning of thunderstorms and risk of high winds left us no choice but to go pear picking in our own backyard – we didn’t want to end up with pears splattered everywhere, blown around by the wind!

    So we picked the pears… about 40 pounds worth!

    Now, my dilemma. What to do with two bushels of freshly picked pears? I considered making this Almond Pear Tart. But there are only so many tarts one can make. I also have a recipe for a wonderful pear cake, but then again, that would only have used up three pears out of the two bushels that we had…

    That’s the thing with fruit trees – the fruit ripens all at the same time, and then you are left scrambling, trying to find ways to use or preserve it for the long winter months.

    So if you are wondering how to preserve pears, I have the perfect solution… make this perfectly spiced pear butter! It really is so easy to make in a crockpot!

    How to make Slow Cooker Pear Butter:

    The first thing we are going to do is give the pears a good rinse. Once that is done, we need to peel and core the pears. Feel free to use a variety of pears for this recipe.

     

    An overhead shot of dozens of blush pears.

    Pro Tip: Use a melon baller to remove the core of the pear.

    Sliced pears, orange peel and a vanilla bean placed in a slow cooker, about to be transformed into pear butter.

    Next, we need to add the peeled and cored pears to the slow cooker along with a scraped vanilla been, some orange peel, a few tablespoons of brown sugar, orange juice and a little bit of water.

    Pro Tip: The water is added to prevent the pears from scorching so it is important not to skip this addition.

    A picture of the consistency of the cooked pears.

    Set your crockpot on high and cook for 3-4 hours. The total time will depend on the ripeness and the type of pears. As soon as the pears have softened enough to be pureed, remove the vanilla bean and the orange peel.

    With a handheld immersion blender, process the pears until smooth. You will notice that this is a very wet mixture. Alternatively, the cooked pears can be transferred to a food processor and pureed.

    Next, cook it down until there is no liquid that seeps out when a teaspoon of the fruit puree is placed on a dish.

    A close up of the smooth consistency of the Crock pot Vanilla Pear Butter Recipe.

    How to use

    • Spread it on toast, muffins, breakfast buns, bagels, french toast, waffles or pancakes;
    • Swirl it in yogurt, oatmeal, cottage cheese or even ricotta;
    • Makes a great topping for ice cream and parfaits;
    • Makes a great sandwich spread, especially with cheese

    Nutrition Note: This pear butter can be a great fat-free alternative for butter. But remember, fat-free does not mean calorie-free. Moderation is key!

    As I was looking for some fruit butter inspiration, I was surprised to see that some recipes actually had up to 4 cups of sugar added to 4-5 pounds of pear. I think that would be appropriate for a jam or jelly, but for a fruit butter? I’ll let you decide.

    It’s definitely too sweet for me. I opted for just a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar, due to the fact that my pears were not yet fully ripened.

    Recipe origins

    My daughter-in-law and daughter are just as obsessed as I am when it comes to fruit butters. And so they became my taste testers for this recipe. After some tweaking, we decided to simply enhance the flavor of the pears with some vanilla bean and just a hint of orange.

    Just in case you are wondering, we tried adding different “warm” spices to the pears (cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice). As you probably know, spices have the wonderful ability to complement and add a little bit of depth to the fruit.

    We felt the delicate flavor of the pear was overpowered by the spices, despite the fact that we used very little amounts.

    The Vanilla Pear Butter is seen in a wide open canning jar, surrounded by fresh pears.

    We then attempted a lemon and vanilla bean pear butter, followed by an orange and vanilla bean pear butter. Ultimately, we decided that it was best with a hint of orange. The inspiration for this pear butter came from a recipe found on this site.

    It really is one of the best ways to preserve an abundance of pears. Not to mention they make the perfect hostess gifts.

    Enjoy!

    THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

    Ciao for now,

    Maria 

    ★★★★★ If you have made this Pear Butter recipe, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

    Vanilla Pear butter portioned in a jar.

    Crock pot Pear Butter Recipe

    This Crock pot Vanilla Pear Butter Recipe is one of the best ways to preserve an abundance of pears. Not to mention they make the perfect hostess gifts.
    4.89 from 17 votes
    Print Save RecipeSaved! Pin Rate
    Course: Condiments
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 hours
    Total Time: 10 hours 10 minutes
    Servings: 32 tablespoons
    Calories: 22kcal
    Author: Maria Vannelli RD
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 2 ½ pounds ripe pears peeled, cored and cut into pieces
    • 1/3 cup water
    • ½ vanilla bean split lengthwise and scraped to release seeds
    • 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar
    • 2 tablespoons orange juice freshly squeezed
    • 1-2 strips of orange peel
    • pinch of salt

    Instructions

    • Combine all of the ingredients in a slow cooker.
    • Cover and cook on the high setting for about 3 -4 hours (Total time will vary based on ripeness of pear).
    • Stir occasionally.
    • When the pears have softened, remove the vanilla bean and the orange zest.
    • With a handheld immersion blender, process the pears until smooth. Alternatively, the cooked pears can be transferred to a food processor, pureed and transferred back to the slow cooker.
    • Set the slow cooker on low and cook for an additional 6-8 hours. The total time will depend on the total moisture of the fruit. The pear butter is done when there is no liquid that seeps out when a teaspoon of the butter is placed on a dish. 
    • Ladle the pear butter into sterile canning jars. Always leave about ¼ inch of head space. Try to remove as many air bubbles as possible.
    • Seal with sterile lids and rings.
    • Process in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes.
    • Remove jars from the pot.
    • Allow to cool to room temperature.
    • Check the lids by pressing on the center of each seal. If it springs back, the jars need to be refrigerated. Otherwise, they can be stored in a cool dark place for about 1 year.
    • Once the jar is opened, it can be stored for about 3 weeks in the refrigerator.
    Scroll UP for the STEP by STEP PhotosDon't miss the process shots and videos included in most posts. Simply scroll up the post to find them. Those were created especially for you so that you can make the recipe perfectly every single time you try it.

    Video

    Notes

     
    • I used Madagascar Natural Bourbon Vanilla Beans;
    • This recipe works well with any variety and/or combination of pears;
    • To freeze the pear butter: Allow the pear butter to cool to room temperature; place in containers which are freezer safe (always leave about 1-inch headspace) and freeze. They will keep for about 6 months in the freezer. Once thawed and opened, they should be stored in the refrigerator.
    Total yield: 2 half-pint jars or 2 cups
    1 serving = 1 tablespoon
    Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used. 
    *recipe lightly adapted from food.com

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 22kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Potassium: 43mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 10IU | Vitamin C: 2.1mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.1mg
    SIGN UP for Email updates!YES! Send me FREE RECIPES!

     

    The Vanilla Pear Butter is seen in a wide open canning jar, surrounded by fresh pears.

     

     

     
     

    • Facebook
    • Yummly
    • Reddit
    • Email

    Filed Under: Condiments and Sauces

    About Maria

    Maria Vannelli is a registered dietitian who lives in a suburb just outside Montreal, Canada. She's the founder of the food blog She Loves Biscotti. Maria hopes to inspire you and bring you and your loved ones closer together at meal times enabling you to create some memorable moments.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Andy

      October 09, 2022 at 9:47 am

      Tastes great, but mine has not set still quite runny any ideas ,?

      Reply
      • Maria

        October 09, 2022 at 10:11 pm

        Thanks for reaching out Andy. I would continue to cook it until the liquid evaporates a little more. Removing the cover might speed up the process. Total time depends on pear variety and model of the slow cooker. Enjoy!

        Reply
    2. Maryellen Zalev

      November 13, 2021 at 4:24 pm

      This is my first time making pear butter, super easy, smells and taste great. I didnt measure and winged it also added a couple of apples to that pear butter. Its so yummy. Thanks

      Reply
      • Maria

        November 14, 2021 at 9:26 am

        So thrilled to read this! Thanks for sharing Maryellen.

        Reply
    3. Debbra Starkey

      October 20, 2021 at 3:43 pm

      Should I leave the lid off while this is cooking

      Reply
      • Maria

        October 22, 2021 at 10:09 pm

        Thanks for your interest Debbra. Depending on the amount of moisture the pears have, it might be necessary to remove the cover towards the end of the cooking time. Enjoy!

        Reply
    4. Sue

      October 08, 2021 at 4:12 pm

      Question,
      I don’t have vanilla beans. What would the real vanilla in liquid amount be? Also, do I add it while cooking or wait until end of cooking time? Thank you! I’ve got 2 crock pots cooking without vanilla and they smell great!

      Reply
      • Maria

        October 08, 2021 at 8:32 pm

        The aroma really is so intoxicating! I would add it toward the end of the cooking time. I would humbly suggest starting with a small amount, say 1-2 teaspoons, taste and adjust. Enjoy Sue!

        Reply
        • Brenda

          November 11, 2021 at 7:00 am

          I don’t have vanilla bean either so glad to hear your alternative!

        • Maria

          November 14, 2021 at 9:26 am

          Enjoy Brenda!

    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Maria from She loves biscotti

    Hi, I'm Maria! a dietitian and full-time content creator. Join me as I share traditional Italian recipes from my youth to modern twists on classics using fresh and seasonal ingredients.

    More about me →

    Subscribe and Follow

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    Italian Easter Recipes

    • Braided Easter loaves on a cooling rack.
      Italian Easter Sweet Bread Recipe: Pane di Pasqua
    • A slice of ricotta pie dusted with icing sugar and decorated with a slice lo lemon.
      Ricotta Pie: Perfect for Easter!
    • Rice ricotta Easter pie in a cake stand surrounded by oranges and lemons in the background.
      Rice Ricotta Easter Pie
    • Italian Easter Grain Pie on a cake stand.
      Pastiera Napoletana: Italian Easter Grain Pie
    Banner of sites featuring She Loves Biscotti including Buzzfeed, Huffpost, etc.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • About
    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 She Loves Biscotti

    Copyright © 2023