Easy Sugar Free Spiced Instant Pot Pear Butter Recipe

If you have an abundance of pears or fresh apples, try my Easy Sugar Free Spiced Instant Pot Pear Butter Recipe with them and preserve their flavors with warm spices stewed in.

My homemade pear butter is a delicious way to enjoy the perfect flavors without white sugar.

It stews up in flash in your electric pressure cooker, stove top or in a crock pot and the best part is no matter which method you choose, it still makes your house smell amazing.

I will walk you through making this easy pear butter recipe, give you instructions for other methods, plus offer tips, substitutions and answer frequently asked questions.

Keep reading so you can turn your fruit bounty into a fruit butter recipe that is far better than the ones found at the grocery stores!

Choosing the Right Pears

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the star ingredient: pears. 

There are Bartlett Pears, Anjou Pears, and Bosc Pears to name a few types of pear fruit trees, but no matter which type of pears are used, make sure they are sweet ripe pears.

Whether you pluck them from your own pear tree or find them at your local grocery store, be sure to select pears that are firm yet yielding, with a fragrant aroma that hints at their ripeness.

I was able to salvage some red Bosc pears from the discount bin because they had some blemishes. 

I just cut the blemishes off the leftover pears and combine with non-blemished extra pears.

Since we are making the spiced Instant Pot pear butter where we will stew and blend into a fruit spread, it did not matter how they looked, as long as they weren’t moldy or smooshy!

This same principal applies to apples as well if you are wanting to make Instant Pot apple butter.

What you need to make this Easy Sugar Free Spiced Instant Pot Pear Butter

• Pears
• Lemon Juice
• Keto Brown Sugar
• Apple Pie Spice
• Cardamom
• Instant Pot 
• 16oz.(pint) jar with lid

Let’s make this Easy Pear Butter with Pear Puree

First step is to prepare the pears by peeling, coring, and chopping into small chunks. 

The easiest way to do this is to first cut the pear in half from stem end to bottom.

Now with a melon baller or teaspoon measuring spoon, scoop out the seed part of the pear half.

Dig it in slightly on the side and then twist around while pressing in gently.

This has been one of the best ways to remove the core without wasting too much pear.

Now slightly cut slits next to the stem part remaining and pull out.

Once you have done this to all of the pears, now its time to peel them.

Some recipes call for not peeling, but I prefer to peel mine for a super smooth apple pear sauce.

Starting at the narrow end, place the peeler under the edge of the skin and gently with slight pressure pull the peeler down the pear.

Repeat until all peeled then cut into small chunks.

Cut out any little knots or dark bits you may find revealed under the skin and discard.

Add the water to the bottom of the Instant Pot then add in the chopped pears, sweetener and spices.

Give it a good stir then cook on HIGH pressure for 15 minutes.

Once this time has ended, release the pressure manually instead of waiting for a natural release and stir the pears up.

Very gently mash the cooked pears with a potato masher or use a stick blender for the smooth butter consistency.

Use an immersion blender or transfer the cooked pears to a food processor or blender to puree until smooth.

A food mill is also another way to puree the pears, just like you would do with apple sauce.

Now that the pears are blended, turn your Instant Pot to SAUTE mode and set it for 5 minutes.

Stir occasionally to prevent it sticking to the bottom of the pot.

Once the 5 minutes are up, stir it and see if it is the desired consistency you like.

If you need more simmering to create the delicious spread, repeat the process in 5 minute increments to not burn the apple pear butter.

Once it is the thickness you prefer, spoon your freshly made pear butter into a clean pint-sized jar or airtight container. 

Allow it to cool to room temperature before sealing and refrigerating.

It will last in the fridge up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for 3 months.

It may be longer, but the taste will diminish with time beyond the 3 months.

If you are going to freeze in the jar you must leave at least a 3 inch of headspace for the pear butter to expand.

Make sure you run a butter knife up and down the insides to release any air bubbles that may spoil it early.

Clean the rims of the jars with a damp cloth before putting on the lid or it may freeze shut and become difficult to open later.

I will freeze for 3 hours without a lid then once it has expanded, I replace the lid.

This allows me to freeze in recycled jars without needing to buy plastic zip top freezer bags each time.

You can of course use any freezer-safe container that you want, just make sure to label it with the best by date.

How to make Stove top and Slow Cooker Pear Butter

If you have not taken the plunge into the Instant Pot world yet or it is being used for something else, you can always create my Easy Sugar Free Spiced Instant Pot Pear Butter in a large pot on the stove top or in your slow cooker.

Stovetop Method:

• In a medium saucepan or Dutch oven with a lid, combine the chopped pears, water, lemon juice, apple pie spice, and ground cardamom.
• Cook the pear mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the pears are soft and tender, about 20-30 minutes.
• Proceed with the remaining instructions to puree and simmer until thickened in 5-minute increments and store in an airtight container or jar.

Crockpot Method:

• First thing you need to do is wash, peel and chop the pears. Place them with water, lemon juice, apple pie spice, and ground cardamom into the crock of a slow cooker.
• Cook on low heat for 6-8 hours or on high heat for 3-4 hours, until the pears are soft and cooked down.
• Proceed with the remaining instructions to puree and simmer until thickened in 5-minute increments and store in an airtight container or jar.

Tips, Substitutions, and FAQs

• If you wish to can the pear butter in a water bath canner then you must take extra care to sterilize the jars before filling them up with a 2 inch headspace. Place them in a boiling water bath for 30 minutes then remove with canning tongs and let them cool for at least 24 hours. Once they are cooled, store in a dark place for up to 12-18 months. Ball jars and self sealing lids are the perfect way to ensure a proper seal for freshness.

• I would not recommend the slow cooker setting on the Instant pot as it does not deliver the same slow cooked old fashioned pear butter recipe taste a true slow cooker gives. The long cooking time in a crock caramelizes the natural sugars in the pears. The Instant pot is best used as a pressure cooker with the detailed instructions I gave to process the pear butter.

• If you would prefer to only have the more intense flavor of the spices versus the ground spices themselves, try a bouquet garni. This is a small package of whole spices tied up in a square of cheesecloth. Put in a few whole cloves, some cardamom pods, allspice berries and a cinnamon stick. Once you are done cooking the pears, simply remove the pouch of spices and discard. No straining required.

• Jazz up your pear butter when you add in 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract after simmering. You could also take the approach of using a whole vanilla bean split while it cooks then removing once done before pureeing.

• Try a smear of cream cheese or butter on your morning toast followed by a dollop of this easy sugar free spiced pear butter for a treat like no other!

• If you do not have apple pie spice, make some of your own. Mix together: 1 ½ tablespoons Ground Cinnamon, 1 ½ teaspoons Ground Nutmeg, 1 teaspoon Allspice. Store in an airtight jar up to 6 months in a dark cupboard. Use as needed for recipes calling for apple pie spice.

Can I use other types of pears for this recipe?  Absolutely! While Bartlett pears are a classic choice, feel free to experiment with Anjou, Bosc, or even Asian pears for a unique twist on traditional pear butter.

Do I need to add maple syrup or brown sugar for sweetness? No, the extra sweetener is not needed or required. The natural sugars in ripe pears provide plenty of sweetness on their own so that is why I only use a few tablespoons of Keto brown sugar for the whole batch to enhance the flavor and depth of the pear butter.

Do I need to process the jars in a water bath canner? Since this recipe yields a small batch of pear butter intended for immediate consumption, there’s no need for water bath canning. Simply refrigerate or freeze any leftovers for later enjoyment. If you wish to double the recipe then you would need to store it in the freezer long term, or process in a hot water bath for 30 minutes.

Can I use other citrus fruits instead of lemon for the acidic addition? Yes! You can substitute in some orange juice for the lemon juice to give it a nice flavor addition. You may also try grapefruit juice as well.

Why do I get the burn notice when my pears are cooking in the Instant pot? Your model of electric pressure cooker may be extra sensitive. Start off with one cup of water when you cook them to help prevent this from happening. You can always ladel the additional water off before pureeing if needed. You can also just simmer a bit longer to reduce the liquid after the initial pressure cooking.

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Whether its that time of year where apple pears and pears are plentiful, or you found a deal on some imperfect pears, crafting sugar-free pear butter is a great way to make use of them.

It does not matter if it is with the Instant Pot, the slow simmering stovetop, or the set-it-and-forget-it eases of the slow cooker, the result is sure to be a flavorful spread with a smooth consistency.

Move over cranberry sauce and pumpkin butter because fresh pears take the stage in this delightful spread! 

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 2 tablespoons
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories	53
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 0g	0%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 14.3g	5%
Dietary Fiber 2.9g	10%
Total Sugars 9.2g
Protein 0.3g
Vitamin D 0mcg	0%
Calcium 8mg	1%
Iron 0mg	1%
Potassium 109mg	2%

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