I am deeply in love with this CrockPot Pear Butter Recipe! I already loved the CrockPot, but I fell deeper into adoration with this recipe that infuses the sweet smell of pears into my kitchen!
Crock Pot Pear Butter Recipe
Do you ever find yourself with a ton of pears you need to use up? The last time I did, John was sick, and I needed to use stockpiled pears I had bought for his lunches. I decided to try my hand at making pear butter. I, of course, had to use the CrockPot to make the recipe.
It’s no secret that CrockPot recipes are a staple in my kitchen.
There is nothing quite like getting the Crock-Pot set up and walking away from it. The Slow Cooker does all the work, and you get the satisfaction of a fantastic meal for your family.
Are you ready to make your taste buds very happy?
CrockPot Apple Butter usually gets all the attention, but you will love this pear butter recipe made in the CrockPot!
We also have this peachy-keen peach butter recipe if you need a bit of summer goodness to help you slowly move toward Fall and Winter.
Don't worry, I get it! I am holding on to every warm day and summer memory I can while still using way too much Pumpkin Spice in everything I make right now.
- Ingredients
Here is a quick overview of the simple ingredients needed to make an epic CrockPot Pear Butter! The printable recipe card at the bottom of the post includes specific measurements and step-by-step instructions.
- Pears - your choice of type!
- Orange Juice
- Granulated Sugar
- Ground Cinnamon
- Pumpkin Pie Spice
Additional flavors - nutmeg, ginger, cardamon,
Equipment Needed
- Knife
- Vegetable Peeler
- Mix n Chop - We use the mix n chop to break up the pears and love it.
- Spider Strainer - to help get the pears out of the slow cooker. I find that it handles the weight of the pears easily.
- Crockpot - We suggest using a crockpot that has a digital timer that automatically switches the slow cooker to warm after a set amount of time. This helps make sure your dinner cooks perfectly and you don't have to stress about what time it is going to be done.
- Immersion Blender - For super smooth slow cooker pear butter you can use an immersion blender.
How to Make CrockPot Pear Butter
I've included complete instructions in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, but here's a quick version.
- Peel and quarter pears, place them in your slow cooker, and add orange juice.
- Cover and cook on low
- Drain and discard the liquid.
- Mash pears to your desired consistency.
- Add sugar and spices to the pear mix.
- Cover and cook on high for 1 hour.
- Transfer pear butter to sealed jars for storage.
Preparation and Storage
Make-Ahead + Storage: Pear butter is the perfect homemade make-ahead spread! Refrigerate your CrockPot Pear Butter in an airtight container. We like using mason jars to keep up the rustic theme.
Freezing/How to Freeze: Freeze any leftovers in an airtight, freezer-safe container and enjoy within three months.
How to Reheat: Thaw your frozen slow-cooker pear butter overnight in the fridge or kitchen countertop until stirrable with a spoon or knife.
Recipe Variations
Substitutions:
I like pumpkin pie spice and add it to many sweet goodies, but you can use allspice if you have it in your pantry.
We’ve seen versions that add vanilla extract or replace the white sugar with honey or brown sugar. Give one or any of these additions a whirl if they sound yummy!
Vegetarian + Vegan Option: This recipe is 100 percent plant-based, making it vegetarian and vegan.
Gluten-Free: The ingredients in this recipe are typically gluten-free, but check for gluten-free labels on the packaged components if you are highly sensitive.
Alcohol-Free Option: We don’t use alcohol in our CrockPot Pear Butter, but Adamant Kitchen has a Maple Whiskey Pear Butter if you crave an adult-only fruit spread.
Smaller Serving Size + Larger Group/More Servings: The written recipe makes 12 servings. Scale it up or down to your desired yield, keeping in mind that you may need to work in batches if you scale up.
Make It Spicy: We haven’t seen any spicy pear butter recipes online.
Sugar-Free: The written recipe contains 25 grams of sugar per serving, some naturally occurring in the pears and orange juice. Opt for a sugar-free white sugar substitute and no-sugar-added orange juice to lower the sugar content.
Tips for the Best CrockPot Pear Butter
- This recipe initially called for 2.5 cups of sugar when I made it in 2013. When I updated it in 2020, I changed this to ½ cup of sugar. You can add the original amount of sugar, but it does make it super sweet.
- You can use a potato masher or handheld mixer to mash the pears if you don’t have a hamburger mix and chop. We recommend using a handheld mixer for a smoother, less chunky pear butter.
- I love gifting this pear butter in these cute Ball Jars labeled with Made With Love stickers. Use these canning labels to write personalized messages to giftees!
What to Serve with CrockPot Pear Butter
From a spread for freshly baked bread and muffins to a mix-in for warm oatmeal, there are infinite possibilities for incorporating CrockPot Pear Butter into breakfast, coffee, and tea time.
Here are some menu planning suggestions.
Sides: Homemade Apple Cinnamon Rolls, CrockPot Bourbon Banana Bread, Chocolate Chip Banana Bread, Tinta Port Wine Banana Bread, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins, CrockPot Pumpkin Bread, Apple Cider Bread, 3 Ingredient Banana Bread, Nutella Banana Bread
Main Dishes: Easy German Apple Pancakes, Muffin Mix Pancakes, CrockPot Blueberry Oatmeal, Cinnamon Roll Waffles, French Toast Casserole, Cinnamon Toast, CrockPot Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal, CrockPot Apple & Raisin French Toast, CrockPot Banana Bread Oatmeal
Check out these easy bread recipes perfect for pear butter
When to Serve
- Breakfast
- Snacktime
- Coffee or Tea Snack
- Over ice cream
- On yogurt
- On anything you love fruit butter and jam on.
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Crock Pot Pear Butter Recipe
Ingredients
- 10 large pears
- 1 cup orange juice
- ½ cup White Sugar
- 1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1 Teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
Instructions
- Peel and quarter pears, place in slow cooker add in orange juice
- Cover and cook on low for 10 – 12 hours, drain and discard liquid
- Mash pears
- Add sugar and spices to pear mix
- Cover and cook on high for 1 hour
- Store in sealed jars
Kitchen Tools
- Slow cooker
- Spider Strainer
- Hamburger Mix and Chop
Nutrition
Recipe originally shared on October 26, 2013. Updated September 2020.
Wendy Johanson
When you put these in jars do you do a water bath to process?
Rozana
What kid of pears do you recommend? Bosc? or another type? I have a lot of Anjou Pears.
Dee
When do add orange juice
Rob
So when do you put the oj in? At the end when you cook on high for a hour ?
Vicky
I'm making this with pears from my tree, when do you add the sugar to the pears ?
Paula
Do you use orange juice squeezed from a fresh orange or OJ like you drink at breakfast??
Micaela
Looks yummy! About how many cups would equal 10 large pears? Thanks!
Julie
So you just dump the liquid down the drain? Seems like something could be done with it.....any suggestions? I don't want to just dump it.
Thanks
Julie
Jeanette
My hens LOVE the juice
Jeanette
the compost goddess thanks you!
Tammie J. Coffman
I have made 4 batches, but have substituted apple cider for the orange juice (just because I had it on hand). It's delicious!
Mindy
I plan on making this and handing them out as a Christmas Gift with Cinnamon bread...just so I'm clear...with the pears you also add in the oj when cooking for that initial 10 hours? And then you drain it, add the spices and let it cook for another hour? (just didn't see the OJ listed in the directions 😉 Sounds like a delish recipe...thank you! Oh..and also, about how much does this batch make? I'm planning to use small mason jars. Thanks!
Tammilee
Hi, I added the OJ during the initial cooking section. The recipe made 2 of the mason jars pictured with a bit left over.
sue
Do you have to seal those jars like when canning other things?
Lexi
When do you put the sugar in?
Angi
I'm wondering when to put sugar in also.
Lori
I make Apple Butter in my crock pot. Have for years. I have done Pear Butter but I'm not as fond of the texture, love pumpkin butter though.
I will say I am not fond of your method, too much extra work and too much waste.
Here's my way.
Ingredients:
Apples, enough to fill your crock pot
1 cup apple cider, apple juice or water if you do not have cider or juice.
(optional)
sugar
spices
Wash apples removing any bad spots only, cutting into quarters.
Load into crock pot, add 1 cup cider,juice or water
Put on lid set crock on high for 4 hours or low for 8 (I set it up and go to bed)
Run the apples and any liquid through a food mill to remove seeds and skin, they have now done their duty imparting flavor and pecten.
rinse out crock and return strained apples (this is now apple sauce if you wish to stop here).
With the lid toggled a bit to let out steam but not splashed and sputters (it will cook down faster without a lid but you will have a mess), cook on low until the apple butter is the color and consistency you want.
NOW is the time to start tasting. cool a dab and taste. Sometimes (more often than not) you will not need to add sugar. If you do add by 1/4 cups letting it cook in 10 minutes or so. Taste another dab, repeat as needed. Each addition needs time to blend in or you could end up with it too sweet.
Same goes for spices. Add by 1/4 teaspoon. I use just a dab of cinnamon but apple pie spice, nutmeg are also good additions.
Actual work time for a batch of Apple butter this way is 10 to 15 minutes if you can find your food mill 30 if someone moved it since it's last use.
Torry
I have to say, I am not fond of your abrasive nature, Lori. How rude are you? Get your own blog if you want to post your recipes and for goodness sakes, if you have a suggestion, be nice about it. My apple butter recipe is even easier than yours and is delicious. A true crock pot recipe that doesn't need tasting or adjusting. Turns out perfectly every time.
So there. Put that in your slow cooker and let it simmer.
Nancy E All
I made this today and it's really good. I treated it like my apple butter. I just dumped everything in and let crockpot do it's thing. Last end of the cook time I removed the lid and cooked it for about 2 more hours.