Making fruit butter with apples and pears results in a flavorful, spiced, sweet spread that’s perfect on biscuits or toast.

This Apple Pear Butter recipe is flexible, allowing you to choose between the convenience of an Instant Pot, the slow simmer of a stove top, or the hands-off approach of a slow cooker.

a glass canning jar filled with apple pear butter. A spoon is in the jar, and a fresh pear and apple are next to the jar.

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Oh, do I love biscuits! And there in no more perfect pairing for warm biscuits than a big spoonful of apple pear butter.

It’s like a match made in foodie heaven!

You’re probably familiar with apple butter, and maybe even pear butter.

But this fruit butter with apples AND pears is a delightful spread that combines the two in the best possible way.

The warm spices added to this recipe bring out the natural sweetness of the fruits, creating something that is both comforting and indulgent.

This small batch recipe will yield a large jar full, which will keep in the fridge for a few weeks, so no canning supplies are needed.

What’s more, this apple pear butter recipe is incredibly easy to make. You can whip up a batch in no time using your Instant Pot, slow cooker, or stovetop.

Each method yields delicious results that will take your biscuits to a whole new level of deliciousness!

More Delicious Fruit Butter Recipes to Try:

overhead view of a spoon in a jar of apple and pear butter, scooping some out.

How to Use Apple Butter with Pears

One of the best things about this fruit butter is its versatility.

Its rich flavor and creamy texture make it a perfect complement to a variety of dishes.

You can spread it over biscuits for a simple yet satisfying treat, or use it as a topping for pancakes or dinner rolls.

Swirl it into oatmeal or yogurt, or spoon some over vanilla ice cream!

Pear apple butter can also be added to baked goods to enhance the flavor.

You can use it in recipes like my Spiced Apple Butter Bread, Apple Butter Snickerdoodles, or Apple Butter Bundt Cake.

If you want to can the butter for a longer shelf life, you can easily double or triple the recipe.

For canning tutorials and resources, check out Ball Canning or the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

Then you can enjoy the cinnamon-y sweet flavors of fall year round!

You might also want to try my apple pear sauce recipe for a simple side dish option.

pear apple butter spread on fluffy homemade biscuits served on a white plate.

How to Make Apple Pear Butter

It’s really easy to make this sweetly spiced fruit butter.

Ingredients You’ll Need:

Apples
Pears
Brown Sugar
Water
Lemon Juice
Ground Cinnamon
Ground Nutmeg
Allspice
Ground Ginger
Ground Cloves

glass jar of apple and pear fruit butter next to a ripe pear and apple.

How to Make It:

(Full printable recipe card is available below)

Cook the apples and pears. First you’ll add all ingredients to your cooking pot.

Stir well so the fruit slices are coated with sugar and spice.

Then you’ll either pressure cook, slow cook, or simmer, depending on your cooking method!

two photos; one shows all ingredients added to a pot, the other shows the ingredients stirred together to coat the apples and pears.

Puree the fruit. Next, you’ll carefully use an immersion blender to puree the mixture until smooth.

two photos; one shows the chunky apple pear butter mixture after initially cooking; the other shows an immersion blender in the pot to blend the fruit butter.

Cook down the fruit. Last, you’ll simmer it a bit longer, allowing some of the excess liquid to evaporate.

Transfer to jars and allow to cool.

overhead view of a pot of apple pear butter after simmering and blending, so it's smooth and ready to ladle into jars.

Notes and Adaptations:

If you don’t have lemon juice on hand, apple cider vinegar makes a fine substitute.
You can use any variety of apples you prefer. Granny Smith or Honeycrisp are some of my favorite options, or you can use a mix of different types. You can also use any variety of pear that you like. I most often use Bartlett.

a spoon scoops pear apple butter out of a glass jar. Next to the jar is a fresh apple and a fresh pear.

Recommended Equipment:

Instant Pot, Slow Cooker, or Medium Saucepan
Freezer-safe jars – I love these quilted half-pint jars
Funnel for transferring jam into the jars – I like this collapsible funnel because it stores in a drawer easily
Ladle
Dissolvable labels for jars – This are super handy because they wash right off of the jars
Immersion blender or potato masher

Yield: Approx. 2-2.5 cups

Easy Apple Pear Butter

Name: Easy Apple Pear Butter
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 1/2 lbs apples, peeled, cored, and sliced; 1 1/2 lbs pears, peeled, cored, and sliced; 1/3 cup brown sugar; 1/4 cup water; 2 TBSP lemon juice; 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon; 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg; 1/4 tsp allspice; 1/4 tsp ground ginger; pinch of ground cloves

This delicious apple pear butter is the perfect way to use up these flavorful fruits! You can make it on the stove top, in the Instant Pot, or in your slow cooker. Spread it over biscuits, pancakes, dinner rolls, and more!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Additional Time 30 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
1 1/2 lbs pears, peeled, cored, and sliced
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup water
2 TBSP lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp ground ginger
pinch of ground cloves

Instructions

Instant Pot Instructions:

Add all ingredients to the insert pot of the Instant Pot. Stir well so the fruit slices are coated with sugar and spice.
Close lid and set vent to the sealed position. Select a cook time of 20 minutes at high pressure. Once the cook time is complete, perform a quick release of pressure.
Carefully open the lid and use an immersion blender to puree the mixture until smooth. Use the
Saute button to simmer the pear butter for about 20 minutes, allowing some of the excess liquid to evaporate.
Transfer to jars and allow to cool.

Slow Cooker Instructions:

Place all ingredients in a slow cooker and close the lid.
Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.
Use an immersion blender to puree the mixture until smooth.
Transfer to jars and allow to cool.

Stove Top Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then decrease heat to medium low.
Cover partially with a lid and simmer for about 50-60 minutes, stirring occasionally so the bottom doesn't scorch.
Use an immersion blender to puree the mixture until smooth.
Transfer to jars and allow to cool.

Notes

If you don't have lemon juice on hand, apple cider vinegar makes a fine substitute.
You can use any variety of apples you prefer. Granny Smith or Honeycrisp are some of my favorite options, or you can use a mix of different types. You can also use any variety of pear that you like. I most often use Bartlett.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 41Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 2mgCarbohydrates: 11gFiber: 2gSugar: 8gProtein: 0g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and is not guaranteed for accuracy.