This slow cooker salted caramel pear butter is a treat that will knock your socks off. The sweet and mellow taste of pears slow-cooks down with brown sugar and vanilla into a flavor that is out of this world.
📝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
- 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!
- 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.
- 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.
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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.
If you love this recipe...
Please let me know in the comment section below!
😉Hints & hacks
- For thicker pear butter, cook for an additional hour in your slow cooker with the lid off.
- This is a great canning recipe if you have a water bath canner.
- 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.
- 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!
- 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.
- 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.
- In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine!
- Always check to confirm that your slow cooker has been plugged in and properly turned on!
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📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Salted Caramel Pear Butter
(Click on the stars to leave a rating)
Print Pin Rate SaveAll nutrition information shown here is automatically generated and should be considered an estimate. If you follow a specific diet, please calculate your own values to ensure accuracy.
Equipment
- Knife and cutting board
- Mixing Spoon
Ingredients
- 4 - 5 lbs ripe pears quartered and cored. (I use 12 pears)
- 2 cups dark brown sugar
- ½ cup lemon juice
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- grease slow cooker with non-stick agent of choice
- cut pears into quarters. remove core and stem. You do not need to remove the skin
- add 4 - 5 lbs ripe pears, 2 cups dark brown sugar, ½ cup lemon juice, 2 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 2 teaspoon sea salt to slow cooker
- Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours until pears are super soft.
- use an immersion blender to fully blend into a butter-consistency
Final Step
If you love this recipe, please let everyone know by giving it a star rating and leaving a comment. This will help my business to grow and allow me to keep on testing and sharing free recipes with you.😊
Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information shown here is automatically generated and should be considered an estimate. If you follow a specific diet, please calculate your own values to ensure accuracy.
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Jenni says
This is amazing. I just made a batch and am in love!!! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
The Lazy Slow Cooker says
I am so happy to hear that you love this recipe (I do too!!!). Thank you so much for taking the time to share this.
Sarah Moore says
Do you know headspace measurement and canning time for water bathing? Thanks!
The Lazy Slow Cooker says
Hi Sarah, I don't do any canning. Sorry I can't help out with that..
Susan
Angela says
About how many cups does this recipe make? I would like to make this recipe and can it for christmas gifts. I'm trying to figure out if I need to double, triple or quadruple the recipe. Thanks!
Susan says
I have never actually measured, but I am generally able to fill about 5 Bonne Maman type Jars which are 13oz each. I hope this helps!!
Stephanie says
I made this recipe yesterday and it's so yummy, especially as a sauce on a cream cheese pastry! Thank you for sharing this easy and tasty recipe!
Question: I'm wondering if the same recipe would work if using apples because I like the salted caramel uniqueness. Do you think it would work as well? If so, would you recommend peeling the apples or leave the skin on like the pears?
Susan says
Hi Stephanie, So glad to hear you love the recipe as much as we do! I think this would be delicious with apples. When I make apple butter, I do peel them first because apple skin can be much thicker than pear skin (especially if you pick your own apples). However, If you want to try it with the skin on...I would suggest cutting the apples into smaller pieces before cooking and then just making sure to blend it all really well.
You have inspired me....I am going to make this too!!
Colleen Dolan says
Curious is this refrigerated? Wanted to see how far ahead I can make and how long it lasts.
Susan says
Hi Colleen, I do store this in the refrigerator and it stays fresh and delicious for 2-3 weeks. However, it can also be frozen for up to six months.
Susan