Easy Crockpot Pear Butter

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Sweet and comforting, this easy Crockpot Pear Butter only requires 5 ingredients and it cooks overnight in your slow cooker! You'll love spreading this on your toast in the morning, using it for baking, and more.

Vertical shot of slow cooker pear butter spread on toast with jars of pear butter in the background.

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I love a nice homemade spread to add some life to an ordinary breakfast. Just like my scuppernong grape jelly and slow cooker fig jam, this Crockpot Pear Butter is a tasty spread for toast, biscuits, scones, and more!

You can make this small batch and keep it around in the fridge for a couple weeks, or hunker down and make lots of spiced pear butter to preserve by using the water bath canning method.

However you make it, you'll love this simple recipe for pear butter in a crock pot. The hands off approach to making it allows you to worry about other things while it cooks!

Shortcuts

Making pear butter in the crock pot can be done in 7 to 8 hours on the low setting, but if you need it faster, it will only take 4 or 5 hours on high.
I recommend removing the peels for a smooth slow cooker pear butter, but if you like some texture you can leave them on.

What is pear butter?

Pear butter is a sweeter, thicker version of pear sauce (think applesauce) with added spices typically spread on biscuits and toast like jam.

Ingredients

What you will need to make this recipe for pear butter in a crock pot:

Scroll down to printable recipe for exact ingredient quantities.

Labeled ingredients for slow cooker pear butter on a marble counter.

Pears - I recommend Bartlett or Anjou pears for this recipe. Try to get nice big ones if you can! I friend gifted me these Bartlett pears.
Lemon juice
Brown sugar - Light brown sugar and dark brown sugar both work fine.
Pumpkin pie spice - If you don't have this, you can either make your own by combining cinnamon with nutmeg and ground ginger, or just use cinnamon.
Salt- It really does enhance the flavors of the spices and brings out the sweetness of the pears.

How to make Pear Butter in the crock pot

This small batch pear "jam" recipe easily doubles in an 8-quart slow cooker.

Scroll down to the bottom for the printable recipe with detailed instructions.

Start by peeling (peeling is optional) and coring your pears, then cut into eight roughly even segments.
Toss pear chunks with lemon juice in the slow cooker with brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.

Mix until pears are coated evenly.
Cover and cook for 7 to 8 hours on low or 4 to 5 hours on high.

Using an immersion blender to blend pear butter in a slow cooker.

Using a masher to break up cooked pears in a slow cooker.

Allow the pear butter to cool for about half an hour, then use an immersion blender or potato masher to get it nice and smooth or leave it slightly chunky. It thickens up a bit as it completely cools.

Using a ladle to transfer slow cooker pear butter to jars.

Use a ladle and canning funnel to transfer slow cooker pear butter to glass jars.

Pro Tips

This slow cooker pear butter can be blended three different ways: with an immersion blender, a stand blender, or by hand with a potato masher. You could even use a couple forks if you don't have any of those items!

Substitutions & Variations

Trade "this" for "that" in this crockpot pear butter recipe.

Pumpkin pie spice - If you don't already have pumpkin pie spice, make your own by combining cinnamon with nutmeg and ginger. You could also add cloves and allspice for even more warm flavor.
Other kinds of pears - I like to use Anjou pears or Bartlett pears, but other tasty varieties include Bosc, Seckel, and Comice.
Add honey - For a sweeter result, add about a tablespoon of honey to your pear butter.
Crock pot pear sauce - For a simple side dish, similar to apple sauce, just reduce the amount of sugar to ½ cup... or none at all!
More flavors - Add even more dimension to your pear butter with star anise, lemon zest, more ground ginger, or vanilla bean paste.
Add molasses - If all you have is light brown sugar but you want more molasses flavor, add about a tablespoon of molasses.

Square featured image of pear butter spread on triangular pieces of toast with two mason jars of pear butter in the background.

Helpful Information

What if my slow cooker pear butter is too thin?

Return the blended mixture to the crock pot, turn it on HIGH, and continue cooking with the lid off until it reaches the desired consistency. Stir often while you do to prevent any burning.

Why is my pear butter gritty?

This is a natural part of some pear fruit. They have a bit of a gritty texture. If you want to remove that from your pear butter, try running it through something fine like cheese cloth or a fine mesh bag.

Close up of pear butter spread onto two triangular slices of toast.

What to Serve with Slow Cooker Pear Butter

Storage Tips

How long does pear butter last?

To Store. Transfer pear butter to mason jars or airtight containers and keep in the fridge for up to two weeks.
To Preserve. Use the water bath canning method to preserve your pear butter for up to 2 years. See detailed instructions in the recipe notes below.

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If you make this recipe I'd love to see it! Tag me on social media with #gritsandgouda or @gritsandgouda. Leave a comment below the printable recipe if you have questions or tell me how you liked the recipe. Don't forget to rate it 5 stars if you love it!

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