Wednesday 9 March 2022

Apple Pear Butter

 Last year was our first year of a fairly bountiful harvest of pears from our miniature tree.  The fruit was hard and not too flavoursome for fresh eating so I had to find a way to use it up.  After searching YouTube ( as you do ),  I found general instructions for pear butter.

This year we had the pears again but I was also given small green apples from a friend.  I decided to combine the two fruits and made this recipe up as I went along.

The result was a fruity yet slightly tangy spread.   It makes a delicious spread on toast,  crumpets and muffins.   Maybe you will find some other uses for it too.  Perhaps spread it on  dry crackers with a little Camembert cheese.


8 large Pears or 1 - 1.5 kilos

4 medium Green Apples or 0.5 - 1 kilos

1/2 cup of tap Water

Juice of 2 Lemons

1/2 cup of Brown Sugar

2 teaspoons of dried Cinnamon

1 teaspoon of dried Nutmeg 


Turn your slow cooker on low ( if it runs very hot ) or high if it's a very slow cooker 

Peel,  core and slice the pears and apples.

Place in the slow cooker.

Add all the other ingredients to the slow cooker.

Cook for 8 - 10 hours or overnight

Lift the lid and give it a good stir.

Use a stick blender to blitz the fruit until it's smooth.

Leave the slow cooker lid off and continue to cook for another 4 hours or so until some of the liquid has reduced.

Spoon into hot ,  sterilised jars and seal.

Store in the fridge for 2 - 3 weeks or freeze for longer storage.


The finished product

Getting the fruit ready

Cooking in the slow cooker









8 comments:

  1. That sounds delicious, and looks very healthy with the sugar to fruit ratio.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes the sugar is really there to help offset the lemon juice.

      Delete
  2. Looks luscious! However did you get green apples and pears to turn such a lovely shade of red?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oxidisation. The fruit was starting to turn brown as I was cutting it up.

      Delete
  3. I have only made apple butter once because we do not really eat spreads on breads. I had so much of it that I had to think of another way to use it. I would up making a pie crust, cutting mini circles out of the dough then putting a generous dollop of apple butter, folding the dough in half then crimping the edges ( I used a toothpick) before baking. They were so delicious I eventually used all the apple butter I had made.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Such a great idea Anne.

      Darren and I have toast for breakfast every morning so jam and fruit butters get used up. The butter can be frozen too.

      Delete
  4. Wendy,
    I am so grateful for your steady posting. Your constant encouragement is a true blessing.
    Hopeful your husband finds steady work. Much love, Patti

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thankyou for your kind words Patti. Things are starting to look up for Darren.

      Delete

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