Apple and Pear Butter

Name: Apple and Pear Butter
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 4 h
Yield: 64
Ingredients: 8 apples, peeled and chopped; 8 ripe pears, peeled and chopped; 1/2 cup raw honey; 4 cups apple cider; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 3 tablespoons lemon juice; 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder; 1/2 teaspoon ground clove

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Prep 30 min
Total 4 hr 0 min
Ingredients 8
Servings 64

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A few years ago my mom had a neighbor, Sharon, who loved preparing a homemade apple butter and giving it as a Christmas present to family and friends. I was one of the lucky ones who got this lovely gift one year, which was beautifully packaged in a mason jar with a colorful label. When I asked for the secret recipe (how could I not ask for the secret recipe?!), she generously shared it with me, but asked me not to spread it around. I loved Sharon’s apple butter, but what I liked even more was all the work that went into the prepara-tion of this homemade gift. When asked to create a value gift idea for Qué Rica Vida a few weeks ago, this gift was the first that came to mind. Since I promised Sharon I wouldn’t share her family’s recipe, which has been passed down through the generations, I created my own apple butter with the addition of pears. Now that I don’t eat sugar, having this butter over rice crackers with peanut butter has been a delicious, sweet treat. I hope you enjoy making it, eating it, and sharing it as a gift as much as I do!

by Morena Escardó

Updated Sep 9, 2015

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Ingredients

8 apples, peeled and chopped
8 ripe pears, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup raw honey
4 cups apple cider
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
1/2 teaspoon ground clove

Directions

1

Preheat the oven to 275°F.
2

Put the apples, pears, honey, apple cider, and salt in a pan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, lower the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 20 minutes, partially covered.
3

Process the apple and pear mixture in a blender, carefully and in batches so you don’t burn yourself.
4

Add the lemon juice and spices, and mix well. Transfer to a large baking pan (about 13 x 9 inches).
5

Bake for 3 – 3 1/2 hours, stirring well every 30 minutes, until it acquires a deep golden brown color, and has thickened quite a bit.
6

Let it cool completely, and then transfer to gift jars.
7

Keep refrigerated for up to 5 days.

Expert Tips

tip 1
A delicious way to enjoy this product is to spread some brown rice crackers with peanut butter, and then add this butter on top.
tip 2
You can make this butter using only apples or only pears if you prefer. You can also try a different version, sweetening it with maple syrup instead.

Nutrition Information

No nutrition information available for this recipe

More About This Recipe

A few years ago my mom had a neighbor, Sharon, who loved preparing a homemade apple butter and giving it as a Christmas present to family and friends. I was one of the lucky ones who got this lovely gift one year, which was beautifully packaged in a mason jar with a colorful label. When I asked for the secret recipe (how could I not ask for the secret recipe?!), she generously shared it with me, but asked me not to spread it around. I loved Sharon’s apple butter, but what I liked even more was all the work that went into the prepara-tion of this homemade gift. When asked to create a value gift idea for Qué Rica Vida a few weeks ago, this gift was the first that came to mind. Since I promised Sharon I wouldn’t share her family’s recipe, which has been passed down through the generations, I created my own apple butter with the addition of pears. Now that I don’t eat sugar, having this butter over rice crackers with peanut butter has been a delicious, sweet treat. I hope you enjoy making it, eating it, and sharing it as a gift as much as I do!