Vanilla Pear Butter Recipes

VANILLA SPICED PEAR BUTTER

Steps:

• In a large stainless steel saucepan, combine the pears, water, lemon zest and juice.
• Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and boil gently, occasionally stirring, for 20 minutes.
• Working in batches, transfer mixture to a food processor fitted with a metal blade and puree just until a uniform texture is achieved. Do not liquefy. Alternatively, you may use an immersion blender.
• Measure 8 cups of pear puree (I used the excess as Pear Sauce).
• In a clean large stainless steel saucepan, combine pear puree, sugar, orange juice, vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg.
• Stir until sugar dissolves.
• Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Reduce heat and boil gently, stirring frequently, until mixture thickens and holds it shape to a spoon and liquid does not separate. This will take 6-8 hours.
• Meanwhile, prepare canner, jars and lids:
• Wash and rinse the jars in hot soapy water. Drain the jars well of any excess water.
• Set the screw bands aside - they don't require sterilizing. Place the lids - the flat round portion of the two-piece closures - in a small saucepan, cover with water and bring to a simmer. Don't boil.
• Keep lids hot until you're ready to use them.
• Ladle hot butter into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch head-space.
• Remove air bubbles and adjust head-space, if needed, but adding more butter. Wipe rim.
• Center the lid on jar and screw band down until resistance is med, then increase to fingertip tight.
• Place jars in canner, ensuring they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil and process for 10 minutes.
• Remove canner lid. Wait 5 minutes, then remove jars, cool and store.

PEAR BUTTER

Steps:

• Wash 8-10 pint jars in hot soapy water or in dish washer.
• Keep hot until needed.
• Prepare lids as manufacturer directs.
• Place in a 6-quart pot.
• Pour orange juice over fruit.
• Stir in orange peel, sugar, spices and seed of vanilla bean.
• Use a hand blender if need be to get a nice smooth puree.
• Stirring constantly over medium heat, bring to a boil.
• Ladle into hot jars 1 at a time, leaving 1/4 inch headspace.
• Release trapped air.
• Wipe rim of jars with a clean damp cloth.
• Attach lid.
• Place in canner.
• Process in a boiling-water bath.
• For 15 minutes.

PEAR CRISPS WITH VANILLA BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Make topping:
• Pulse together flour, almonds, brown sugar, and salt in a food processor until nuts are finely chopped. Add butter and pulse just until blended. Coarsely crumble in a shallow baking pan and chill at least 1 hour.
• Make filling and bake crisps:
• Preheat oven to 425°F with rack in middle.
• Scrape seeds from vanilla bean into a small heavy saucepan, then add pod and butter and cook over medium-low heat, swirling pan occasionally, until butter is browned and fragrant, about 4 minutes.
• While butter browns, stir together sugars, flour, and a pinch of salt in a large bowl. Add pears and brandy and toss to combine.
• Discard vanilla pod, then toss butter with pear mixture. Spoon filling into gratin dishes and sprinkle with topping, mounding it slightly in centers. Put in a shallow baking pan and bake 30 minutes, then rotate baking sheet and bake until topping is golden brown and filling is bubbling, 10 to 15 minutes more. Cool to warm or room temperature on a rack.

ORANGE PEAR BUTTER

Steps:

• Combine pears and orange juice in a large Dutch oven. Stir in orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and vanilla bean seeds. Bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer until pears are tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Puree pears in a food processor or using a food mill. Return pear puree to the Dutch oven. Stir in sugar until dissolved. Cook and stir over medium heat, uncovered, until thickened, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Inspect 10 pint jars for cracks and rings for rust, discarding any defective ones. Immerse in simmering water until pear butter is ready. Wash new, unused lids and rings in warm soapy water.
• Pack pear butter into hot, sterilized jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a clean knife or thin spatula around the insides of the jars to remove any air bubbles. Wipe rims with a moist paper towel to remove any residue. Cover with metal lids and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower jars 2 inches apart into the boiling water using a holder. Pour in more boiling water to cover jars by at least 1 inch. Bring to a rolling boil, cover, and process for 5 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and let rest, several inches apart, for 12 to 24 hours. Press the center of each lid with a finger to ensure the lid does not move up or down. Remove the rings for storage and store in a cool, dark area.

BROWN SUGAR PEAR BUTTER

Steps:

• Note: Prepare canning jars before starting your preserving project.
• Wash, then quarter and core pears, placing them in a heavy-bottom preserving pan as you work.
• Add 1/4 cup water. Do not add more liquid, the pears will create liquid as they cook!
• Bring to a simmer over low heat, then cover tightly with a lid to keep heat and moisture inches.
• Simmer for approximately 20 minutes or until pears have softened, then remove pan from heat.
• Mash pears with a potato masher until they are mushy (approximately 15-30 seconds.).
• Place food mill over a bowl, then scoop pear mush into the food mill. Crank away until all that remains in the food mill is a small amount of pear skins/peels. Discard or compost the skins.
• Measure the pear puree back into the preserving pan, keeping track of the amount of pear puree you end up with because you'll want to add half that much brown sugar to the pear puree mixture. (For example, for 2 cups of pear puree, you'll add 1 cup of brown sugar.).
• If using a vanilla bean, add it now, then add the remaining spices into the pear puree mixture. Stir well to combine. (Note: If using vanilla extract instead of a vanilla bean, add it at the end of the cooking process, when you would normally be removing the vanilla bean. If you add the vanilla extract before cooking, much of the vanilla flavor will be diminished.
• Cook approximately one hour over low heat, simmering constantly. It will be more of a bubble than a simmer, because of the thickening nature of the pear butter.
• Once desired thickness has been achieved, remove the preserving pan from the heat and, if using the vanilla bean, remove it and split the bean down the middle with a sharp knife. Using the edge of the knife, scrape the tiny seeds back into the pear butter, and stir well. (Note: If using vanilla extract, add at this point.).
• Using a wide-mouth funnel, spoon pear butter immediately into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/4" headspace.
• Look for any air bubbles in the jars and if you see any, use a chopstick or plastic knife to pop them before wiping rims clean.
• At this point you can either cover jars with tight-fitting lids (and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 months or in the freezer for up to 6 months) or you can process by following these steps:.
• For Canning Process:.
• Place a sealing lid on the jar, screw on a band until finger-tight then wipe jar rims spotlessly clean with a dry paper towel.
• Process for 10 minutes in a Boiling Water Bath. (If needed, add extra hot water to be sure jars are completely submerged before covering Boling Water Bath Canner with the lid.).
• Remove jars with a jar-lifter and place on a towel on the counter in a draft-free place. Let rest for 24 hours, then check for proper seal before storing.
• If jars lids seal, store them in a cool, dark place for up to one year.
• Note: Check lids for a proper seal by pressing the middle of the lid with a finger or thumb. If the lid stays down, it is sealed and will easily keep for up to one year in a cool dark place. If the lid springs up when you release your finger, the lid is unsealed. Place unsealed jars in your refrigerator and eat within 3 months, or within one month after opening.

LATTICE PIE WITH PEARS AND VANILLA BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Melt butter in small skillet over medium heat. Scrape seeds from vanilla bean into butter; add bean. Cook until butter is golden brown, stirring often, about 3 minutes. Cool slightly. Remove bean. Gently blend pears, raisins, brown sugar, flour, and lemon juice in large bowl. Stir in vanilla butter.
• Roll out 1 dough disk on lightly floured surface to 12-inch round. Transfer to 9-inch pie dish. Trim overhang to 1 inch. Transfer filling to crust. Roll out second dough disk to 13-inch round. Using pastry wheel, cut dough into ten 1-inch-wide strips. Arrange 5 strips over filling, spacing evenly apart. Arrange remaining strips at right angle to first strips, weaving if desired. Fold lower crust overhang over strips and seal. Crimp edges decoratively. Brush lattice with 1 teaspoon milk and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar.
• Bake pie until crust is golden brown, pears are tender, and filling is bubbling, covering crust edges with foil collar if browning too quickly, about 1 hour 20 minutes. Cool at least 1 hour before serving. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.) Serve pie warm or at room temperature with ice cream.