Preserve the Harvest Series: Spiced Ginger Pear Butter

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Preserve the Harvest: Spiced Ginger Pear Butter PRESERVE THE HARVEST SERIES: LET’S TALK PEARS

Preserve the Harvest Series presents a new fruit or vegetable every Tuesday with the goal of helping you get the most out of fresh fruits and vegetables harvested during peak season. Whether you grow your own fruits and vegetables, buy them at the Farmer’s Market or your local grocery store, it is good to remember the best time to preserve your bounty is when it is plentiful. Preserving the harvest stocks your pantry shelves and freezer with whole foods that you can feel good about, foods that taste great, and this approach saves you money.  A sane approach to sustainability! Next up…pears and Spiced Ginger Pear Butter.

LET’S TALK PEARS

WHEN TO BUY PEARS

The best time to buy pears is late August through October depending on the area you live in. Warmer climates will have pears available earlier and cooler climates have pears that mature later in the season.

WHERE TO BUY PEARS

When buying pears it is best to buy local. The best tasting pears are those that have been picked prior to maturity. Pears that have been left to ripen too long on a tree tend to be grainy and/or mushy. Just the opposite of most fruits where staying on the tree until maturity is more beneficial. 

HOW TO CHOOSE PEARS

Pears are the one fruit that tastes better when picked prior to maturity. Pears ripen from the inside out, if your pear is soft on the outside it is already too ripe. To tell if a pear is ripe, gently apply pressure at the edge of the stem. If the pear gives slightly it is partially ripe and perfect for poaching, roasting and baking. If the area easily yields to pressure but doesn’t feel mushy it is ready to eat or puree into sauces. 

Pears should also be pleasantly aromatic with a fresh sweet smell. Organic pears will have the best taste.

STORING PEARS

Store pears at room temperature until ripe. To hasten ripening place in a paper bag or leave in a cool place covered with a towel. Once ripened, place in the refrigerator where the pears will keep for up to a week.

PRESERVING PEARS

Pears lend themselves well to canning, freezing, drying, and making wonderful butters.  When freezing it is best to use pears that are partially ripened and still firm.  

Preserve the Harvest: Spiced Ginger Pear Butter SPICED GINGER PEAR BUTTER

Spiced Ginger Pear Butter is a wonderful spread to have around. Much like apple butter it can be used as a spread on biscuits or toast, a filling for a tart or an accompaniment for savory meat dishes. I also like to use it with chicken or turkey on sandwiches for a gourmet twist. No matter how you choose to spread it, the spiced ginger flavor is sure to be a favorite.

5.0 from 4 reviews
Spiced Ginger Pear Butter
 
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Ingredients
  • 5 cups pears, peeled, cored and sliced
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tbsp chopped candied ginger
  • 1 cinnamon stick, broken into 1 inch pieces
  • 4 whole cloves
  • sugar
Instructions
  1. Place sliced pears and 1 cup water into non reactive medium sized pan and bring to a boil over high heat.
  2. Once boiling, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until pears have softened.
  3. With stick blender, (or food processors) blend pears until smooth.
  4. Measure puree and return to pan.
  5. For each cup of puree add 1¼ cups sugar.
  6. Place cinnamon, ginger and cloves in a spice bag or tied into cheesecloth and add to puree mixture.
  7. Return mixture to boil, reduce heat and simmer until mixture is thickened, stirring as needed to prevent sticking. (this may take 1-2 hours)
  8. Once thickened, remove spice bag.
  9. Ladle into hot sterilized jars and process for 10 minutes.
  10. Makes about 3 cups.

Recipe adapted from The Complete Book of Small-Batch Preserving: Over 300 Recipes to Use Year-Round

SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED

The following recipe is processed using a water bath canning process. If you have never canned before or need a refresher the National Center for Home Food Preservation is the gold standard of information. I would encourage you to head over and read their general canning information.

Resources: The Splendid Table: When to Buy Pears

Spiced Ginger Pear Butter shared with:

*Back to the Basics: Tuesdays with a Twist  *The Ultimate Linky: Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop *Creative K Kids: Tasty Tuesdays *Savvy Southerner: Wow Us Wednesday’s  *My Paper Craze: Creative Spark *Organic For Green Livings: Real Food Fridays *Jordon’s Onion: Thank Goodness it’s Thursday * The Pin Junkie: Pin Junkie Pin Party * Juggling Real Food and Real Life: Let’s Get Real *Feathers in the Woods: Green Thumb Thursday *Weekend Wind-Down *In the Kitchen with Jenny: Foodie Friends Friday *Natasha in Oz: Say G’day  *Raia’s Recipes: Savoring Saturday’s *Our Rosey Life: Share it Sunday *Pebbles and Piggytails: Saturday Dishes *The Ultimate Linky: Bloggers Brags *Plucky’s Second Thoughts * My Pinterest Adventures: Merry Monday Link Party * Mrs. AOK: Mommy Monday *Yesterfood: Treasure Box Tuesday *April J Harris: Hearth and Soul Blog Hop *Lou Lou Girls: Lou Lou Girls

Disclosure of Material *Simply Sweets: Party in Your PJ’sConnection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

 

Comments

  2. says

    Good morning, Shari,
    I was just at the farmer’s market yesterday but it looks like I’m going back for some pears this weekend. This looks divine and sounds delicious. You are always coming up with such fabulous creations! Thanks for a great recipe. :)

    Reply

  11. says

    This pear butter sounds amazing!! And I really appreciate the tip on how to tell if the pear is ripe… I always have a hard time with them and usually they go bad before I get a chance to enjoy them. Thank you for linking up to Creative K Kids Tasty Tuesdays! I’ll be pinning this on my personal sauces board as well as the Tasty Tuesdays Pinterest Board
    Sydney @ Tastefully Frugal recently posted…Friday Pie Day With A Little BaconMy Profile

    Reply

    • says

      It is funny how pears do the opposite of what most other fruits do by ripening from the inside out. I think once I learned this the pear began to make sense for me. Thanks for coming by and have a wonderful weekend.
      Blessings,
      Shari

      Reply

  13. says

    I love pears and this is a very unique recipe. Thanks for sharing on Real Food Fridays blog hop. Have a healthy happy weekend! Will pin & twitt.

    Reply

    • says

      Thanks Rhonda. I am looking forward to enjoying this pear butter on a roasted turkey sandwich with all the fixings and a bit of Gouda cheese. What time can I expect you? Have a great weekend.
      Blessings,
      Shari

      Reply

  20. says

    Shari,

    Great information about pears. I have never had spiced pear butter, but I would LOVE it. I really enjoy pears and everything they are in. Thanks for sharing!
    Blessings,
    Diane Roark

    Reply

    • says

      A perfectly ripe pear is the best! I love figuring out ways to keep the delicious taste so I can enjoy it year round. This recipe is a fun one. Thanks for stopping by.
      Blessings,
      Shari

      Reply

    • says

      Thanks Suzanne. I enjoy apple butter too. Pear butter is a little lighter and smoother than apple butter. kind of a cross between butter and jelly. Love it!
      Blessings,
      Shari

      Reply

  23. says

    I never would have thought to make Pear Butter (usually apple butter), but this sounds so yummy and definitely think I might need to try for Emma, especially who just loves all things fruit! Thanks Shari and have pinned, as well as shared, too :)
    Janine Huldie recently posted…Great Pin Scheduling CaperMy Profile

    Reply

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