Apple-Pear Butter

Tangy-sweet apples and ripe orchard pears are slow-simmered until thick and bubbling-hot. Flavored with apple cider, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, this easy-to-prepare variation on traditional apple butter will be a hit with everyone.

Makes 8 pints.

Why try? You’ll fill the house with the comforting aroma of homemade apple pear butter simmering on the stove. What could be better on an early autumn day?

Foodie Bytes: Make sure pears are completely ripe to avoid a grainy texture. For maple-infused apple-pear butter, alternate 1 cup of cider in recipe with 1 cup of maple syrup and add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

Wonderful spooned over French toast or waffles.

Stir a dollop of apple pear butter into warm oatmeal for a comforting breakfast.

Read our article on the renewed popularity of pickling and preserving—more recipes, too!.