This easy to make slow cooker apple pear butter is full of warm spices and will make your house smell amazing while it cooks! There are so many ways to use it, great for gifting, and it’s freezer friendly too!
Looking for more ways to use all those apples and pears? Try these apple cinnamon pancakes or this pear crisp!
Why you’ll love it
Hands-off recipe – Since this is a recipe that’s made in the slow cooker, that means you can just do the prep and then set the slow cooker and go about with the rest of your day.
Great way to use up apples and pears – If you have a bunch of apples and pears on your hands or if you’re like me and have an apple and a pear tree, this is a great way to use up a bunch of them.
Versatile – There are so many ways to use apple butter and pear butter. See a full list of ideas below.
Great for gifting – Homemade butters are great for gifting. They make excellent hostess gifts, teacher appreciation gifts, or something to share with your neighbors and friends.
What is apple butter?
Contrary to it’s name, apple butter isn’t actually butter nor does it contain butter. Instead, it’s actually fresh apples or in this case apples and pears, that are slowly cooked until they break down into a jammy consistency.
The ingredients
- Apples – I recommend using Honey crisp, Golden delicious, Gala, Fuji, Pink Lady, Granny Smith or a mix of them. Personally, I like to use a mix.
- Pears – Bartlett pears are best because they tend to be softer, sweeter, juicier, and more readily available than other varieties.
- Lemon – Fresh squeezed lemon juice enhances the flavor of the fruit.
- Maple syrup – Used to sweeten the apple pear butter.
- Cinnamon, ginger, cardamom – The spice blend for the butter. Warm, sweet, and fragrant.
- Vanilla – Don’t skip it! It brings all the flavors together.
How To Make Slow Cooker Apple Pear Butter
To make the apple pear butter all you need to do is peel your apples and pears, then core them and cut them into large cubes. Add the fruit to the slow cooker along with some water, lemon juice, maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and vanilla extract.
Cover it with the lid and set it to low, letting it cook for about 6 hours or until the apples and pears are soft and broken down.
Once the fruit is broken down use an immersion stick blender or regular blender to process the fruit until it is smooth. As the fruit cools it will continue to thicken and you will be left with a perfectly sweet, fall spiced apple pear butter.
Ways To Use Apple Pear Butter
- Spread it over toast, english muffins, or these pear ginger muffins.
- Add it on top of a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Use it as a topping for pancakes, like these apple cinnamon pancakes or these cinnamon waffles .
- Serve it alongside or on top of pork chops.
- Swirl it into Greek yogurt or oatmeal.
Can apple pear butter be frozen?
Yes. Cool the apple butter completely and then store it in a freezer same container for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to use it, let it defrost in the refrigerator overnight. It can be served warm, room temperature, or cold.
More Apple and Pear Recipes
Did you make this slow cooker apple pear butter? I’d love if you’d leave a recipe rating and review below.
Slow Cooker Apple Pear Butter
Ingredients
- 2 pounds apples (5-6 apples), I used Galas, Golden Delicious, and Granny Smith, peeled, cored and cut into about 1 inch chunks
- 1 pound ripe pears (3-4), I used Bartlett, peeled, cored, and cut into about 1 inch chunks
- 1/2 cup water
- Juice of 1/2 of a lemon
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients in a slow cooker, then stir to coat them evenly in the spices.
- Cover the slow cooker and set it to low.
- Cook the apples and pears for about 6 hours stirring them a couple times and mashing the fruit with the back of a spoon.
- When the fruit is very soft and the mixture has thickened, use an immersion stick blender or regular blender to puree the fruit until it is smooth.
- Cool the butter before adding it to jars or an airtight container to store in the refrigerator or freezer. If you choose to can the apple pear butter follow proper instructions to prevent contamination.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
20Amount Per Serving: Calories: 65Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 25mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 2gSugar: 12gProtein: 0g
Nutritional information is an estimate. Please consult a registered dietician for the most accurate nutritional information.
Do you peel the fruits?
I generally do. However, if you have an immersion stick blender or high speed blender it isn’t necessary as they’ll get puréed into the mixture.
Does this recipe call for 3 pounds of pears
Hi Linda. The recipe uses 2 pounds of apples and 1 pound of pears.
I love the idea of adding pear to apple butter! Genius! Your house must have smelt awesome…
My house did smell awesome Johlene, thank you!
This makes me want to take my slow cooker out!
Dust it off and plug her in Julianne, you’ll love the apple pear butter! :-)
We just went apple picking so I have a ton of apples to use. I love pears and never thought to pair them in an apple pear butter–love the idea!
Thanks Julia! I have yet to go apple picking, but I really want to. Nothing says fall like heading to an orchard to pick your own apples!
I agree, pears need more attention! Love that you make this in the slow cooker!
Glad I’m not the only one who thinks pears need more attention! Thanks Jessica!
I totally agree about pears getting the shaft at fall. I love that you paired the pears and apples in this creamy butter! It looks amazing!
Thanks Jocelyn! The pears were a great addition to the usual apple butter. :-)
I totally agree that pears are overlooked! Plus, your food styling is spot on!!!
Thanks Beth!
Oh my gosh, I can practically SMELL my house already while this is cooking! I am loving how easy this is, and I could just snack on it all day long! Pinned!
Thanks Taylor! It does make the house smell wonderful!
I do like pears, but you’re right, they are often forgotten…by myself as well. I tend to put them in salads when I think of it. I love your recipe…can’t wait to try it!
Thanks Michelle! I love adding pears to salads too. :-)