Winter Pear Butter Recipes

Steps:

• Wash 8-10 pint jars in hot soapy water or in dish washer.
• Keep hot until needed.
• Prepare lids as manufacturer directs.
• Place in a 6-quart pot.
• Pour orange juice over fruit.
• Stir in orange peel, sugar, spices and seed of vanilla bean.
• Use a hand blender if need be to get a nice smooth puree.
• Stirring constantly over medium heat, bring to a boil.
• Ladle into hot jars 1 at a time, leaving 1/4 inch headspace.
• Release trapped air.
• Wipe rim of jars with a clean damp cloth.
• Attach lid.
• Place in canner.
• Process in a boiling-water bath.
• For 15 minutes.

Steps:

• Place the pears and water into a pot or large saucepan. Cook over medium heat until pears are soft, about 30 minutes. Sterilize six half-pint jars and keep warm.
• Transfer pears to a food processor and pulse until they reach your desired consistency. Return to the pan, and stir in the brown sugar, lemon zest, nutmeg, almond extract and limoncello. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture reaches a thick consistency like butter, about 1 hour.
• Ladle the pear butter into the sterile jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Seal with lids and rings. Process in a hot water bath for 10 minutes to ensure a seal.

Steps:

• Place pears into a large pot over medium heat, and add just enough water to cover the bottom of the pot and keep them from sticking, about 1/2 cup. Cook until the pears are soft, about 30 minutes. Press pears through a sieve or food mill, and measure out 2 quarts of the pulp.
• Pour the pear pulp and sugar into a large saucepan and stir to dissolve sugar. Stir in the orange zest, nutmeg and orange juice. Cook over medium heat until the mixture is thick enough to mound in a spoon. When the mixture begins to thicken, stir frequently to prevent scorching on the bottom. This will take about 1 hour.
• Ladle the pear butter into hot sterile jars, leaving 1/4 inch of headspace. Remove air bubbles by sliding a metal spatula around where the pear butter touches the glass. Wipe jar rims clean, and seal with lids and rings. Process for 10 minutes in a boiling water bath. The water should cover the jars by 1 inch. Check with your local extension for exact processing times for your area.

Steps:

• Peel, quarter and core the pears; chop in 1/2-inch pieces.
• Put all the ingredients in a large heavy pot; bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat and cook, stirring often, for 15 minutes, or until the pears are soft.
• Puree the mixture in a food processor or blender.
• Return the puree to the pot.
• Cook uncovered over very low heat, stirring often, for 1 to 1-1/2 hours, or until the pear butter is very thick.
• Be careful not to let it scorch.
• Remove from the heat.
• Stir the hot pear butter for a minute or two to release more heat.
• Spoon into clean hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch of space at the top of each jar.
• Wipe the rim of each jar.
• Cover and allow to come to room temperature. (You'll notice that the pear butter is a rather gray-green color; this is the correct color.)
• Label the jars and refrigerate for up to three weeks.
• (Remember: The label should include the name of the recipe and the date by which it should be eaten. Be sure the recipient stores the pear butter in the refrigerator.).

Steps:

• Simmer pear halves and brandy in a saucepan for 20 minutes over medium heat. In a separate saucepan, combine sugar, zest, and orange juice. Set aside. When pears are soft, transfer to a blender and puree*. Add puree to saucepan and simmer for 1 1/2 hours over low heat, stirring occasionally. Pear butter is ready when all the liquid has evaporated and the consistency is very thick. If canning, follow USDA guidelines for canning.
• *When blending hot liquids: Remove liquid from the heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes. Transfer liquid to a blender or food processor and fill it no more than halfway. If using a blender, release one corner of the lid. This prevents the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Place a towel over the top of the machine, pulse a few times then process on high speed until smooth.

Steps:

• Combine sugar, vinegar, pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper in a bowl. Mix well to incorporate. Let stand for 15 minutes.
• In the meantime cut the pears (skin on) into thin wedges with the seeds and stem removed. A good trick is to halve the fruit then use a melon-baller to scoop out the seeds then trim away the small bit of stem.
• Place pears in a mixing bowl and carefully mix. When the balsamic-sugar mixture is ready, pour over the fruit and mix gently to coat evenly. Gently crush the biscotti into 6 serving bowls. Divide the pears into each dish then top with a dollop of the mascarpone cheese or a scoop of caramel or cinnamon flavored gelato or ice cream. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Add the first 4 ingredients to the slow cooker; stir to combine.
• Cover and cook on LOW for 8 hours.
• Remove the lid and stir in the fresh and ground ginger.
• Increase temperature setting to HIGH; cook, uncovered, 1-2 hours, to thicken and blend, stirring occasionally.
• Let cool completely, then transfer to glass jars or other containers with tight fitting lids; store in the refrigerator where they will keep for several weeks.

Steps:

• Place diced pears into slow cooker. In mixing bowl, combine sugar, cornstarch, spices, vanilla, and champagne, stirring to dissolve slightly. Pour mixture over pears, cover, and cook on high 2 hours, stirring occasionally until syrup starts to form. Turn to low setting and cook approximately 6-8 hours.
• Ladle into blender in small batches, blending until smooth and pouring out into bowl, repeating until all the pears have been processed and you have bowl full of fruit butter. I then ladle mine into jelly jars and can them using the water bath canning method.

Steps:

• Place pears in a food processor or blender; puree until smooth.
• Measure 3 cups pureed pears into a saucepan. Add sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, until bubbling, about 15 minutes. Stir in cinnamon. Cook, stirring frequently, until thick, about 15 minutes more.
• Immerse a 1-pint jar in simmering water for 5 minutes. Wash lid and ring in warm soapy water. Fill hot jar with pear mixture. Seal and store in the refrigerator.