Slow Cooker Salted Caramel Pear Butter

📝Shopping list

To make this incredible fruit butter, you will need these simple ingredients available in all grocery stores:

• fresh pears - the recipe calls for 4-5 pounds of pears
• brown sugar - dark is my preference for this recipe
• lemon juice - can be fresh squeezed or from a bottle
• vanilla extract
• sea salt

Preparing your slow cooker

Prepare your slow cooker by coating it in a non-stick agent.  Any nonstick cooking spray or oil will work. Olive oil and avocado oil are my go-to coatings. 

 NOTE: some slow cooker inserts come with a nonstick surface.  Use of a non-stick agent is still suggested. However, oil is sometimes recommended rather than spray to protect the longevity of the non-stick surface.  Check the manual for your slow cooker if you have any concerns. 

Alternatively, you can choose to use a slow cooker liner.  

Preparation of the pears

To start, rinse all pears and remove stems.  Next cut sweet pears into quarters and remove the core.  

That's it!  There is no need to remove the skin for this pear sauce recipe.

Cooking

Add all ingredients to your slow cooker. Stir with a wooden spoon to lightly coat pear quarters.  Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. You are ready for the next step when your pears are easily pierced with a fork.  

Use an immersion or stick blender right in your slow cooker to fully blend all of the ingredients.  Blend the mixture for longer than you think you need to. This will ensure that your hot pear butter is as smooth as possible.  

Allow the mixture to cool prior to serving.  The hardest part is waiting for it to cool enough to dig in.  

NOTE: Pears have a natural gritty consistency.  If this bothers you, try running your pear butter through a food mill for a smoother outcome.  

🍽Serving suggestions

This recipe is amazing served so many different ways.  It can, of course, be spread on crackers or bread.  And its rich flavor makes it perfect for a charcuterie board.  

It is great mixed into oatmeal and yogurt.  Or for topping French toast.  It is also perfect on top of vanilla ice cream!

I like to serve homemade pear butter in a trio right next to homemade pumpkin butter and homemade apple butter.    

🔁Substitution ideas

1. If you don't have an immersion blender,  a traditional blender or a food processor works too. Just be very careful when transferring the pear mixture out of your crock pot.  It will be very HOT!
2. I use Bartlett pears when I make this particular recipe.  However, any type of pears would work. The key is to use ripe pears for the best flavor.  This recipe is a great choice when deciding what to do with a bunch of pears that are a little too ripe.
3. This recipe doesn't have much of a salty flavor.  If you like your salted caramel heavier on the salt, you will want to add more than the recipe calls for.  

Storing

Store this wonderful recipe in an airtight container.  It will stay fresh for 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator and up to 6 months if stored in the freezer.  

😉Hints & hacks

1. For thicker pear butter, cook for an additional hour in your slow cooker with the lid off.  
2. This is a great canning recipe if you have a water bath canner.
3. This recipe can also be made stove top. However, you will need to keep a much closer eye on it to make sure it doesn't burn or boil over.  
4. This old-fashioned pear butter recipe makes great gifts! I like to fill small mason jars with it and tie them up with ribbon. Nothing is better than a homemade gift made with love!
5. I am generally a big fan of slow cooker liners. However, I do not recommend using them for recipes involving an immersion blender. The blade of the blender can too easily catch on the liner and shred it into the food.
6. If you live anywhere near an orchard - pick your own pears!! It is fun, nutritious, and educational. Grocery store pears are great but nothing beats slow cooking freshly picked pears.
7. In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine!
8. Always check to confirm that your slow cooker has been plugged in and properly turned on!