Pear Butter

Directions

1. 1
   Place pears in a large crock pot and cook on low for about 12 hours, or until very soft (i.e.
2. 2
   you can easily mash them with a fork or large spoon.)
3. 3
   The low and slow cooking of the crock pot allows the pears to cook without added water.
4. 4
   To cook on a stove top, add water and decrease cooking time as needed.
5. 5
   When pears are done, drain them (the pears have a very high water content and even though there was no water added to the crock pot, a lot will cook out of the pears).
6. 6
   Add sugar and spices and cook for an additional 1 to 2 hours.
7. 7
   Mash to desired consistency before packing into half-pint jars (this recipe will make about 8 half-pints).
8. 8
   Process in a boiling water canner for 20 minutes.