Fresh fruit is a real treat with breakfast, but on cold winter mornings when there is no fresh fruit to be had, home canned fruit is the next best thing. These honey spiced pears have been a canning staple of mine for a few years now, and I always look forward to those weekend mornings when we get a jar of them out of the cellar.
I have always used foraged fruit for this recipe and even with some imperfections, they still turn out great. I imagine if one were to use nice pears from a well-tended tree they would be lovely. Our pear tree is only a year old and won’t be producing fruit for a while, but I’ve got a couple abandoned pear trees that I’ve been picking from around town and they had a decent amount of fruit on them this year.
My favorite thing about this recipe is the longer the jars sit, the more the spice flavors soak in. If you eat a jar later in the spring, be prepared for some serious cinnamon!
Now for my recipe:
Mountain Hearth Honey Spiced Pears
(makes 6 quarts)
10 Lbs pears
12 cups water
3 cups honey
6 cinnamon sticks
12 star anise
6 tsp whole cloves
6 tsp whole allspice
Follow basic canning preparation directions outlined in a canning guide. I prefer the Ball Blue Book of Preserving because it’s inexpensive and covers all the basics.
Core pears and cut into quarters. Peeling is optional. Create a simple syrup combining the honey and water. Once boiling, add 1/4 of the pears and boil for three minutes. Pack pears, 1 cinnamon stick, 2 star anise and 1 tsp each of the cloves and allspice to each clean, hot quart jar and ladle syrup over leaving 1/2 inch head space. Repeat with the rest of the pears.
Put caps and rings on jars and process in a hot water bath for 25 minutes.
Enjoy on a cold winter morning!
Ohhhh! I was offered a bushel of pears once they're ready. I hope it pans out because I really want to try this. I've never canned pears.
I hope it pans out for you too. Canned pears are the best!
Oh my they sound decicious, my boys are going to love them!
Do you have a special machine for your hot water bath?
We got a single propane burner for home brewing, and have been using it on our porch for the water bath for canning. I spent a lot of hot summer days canning on my stove top, so I am loving the new setup.