Slow-Cooker Pear Butter

Name: Slow-Cooker Pear Butter
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 6 h
Total time: 6 h 25 min
Yield: 6 cups.
Ingredients: 1 cinnamon stick (3 inches); 4-5 star anise points (about 1/2 whole); 5 pounds pears, peeled and chopped (about 12 cups); 1 cup packed light brown sugar; 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

This is a tasty spread for toast, muffins, biscuits or any of your favorite breads. It is easy to make and has a rich pear flavor with hints of cinnamon, star anise and lemon. —Geraldine Saucier, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Ingredients

1 cinnamon stick (3 inches)
4-5 star anise points (about 1/2 whole)
5 pounds pears, peeled and chopped (about 12 cups)
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

Directions

Place spices on a double thickness of cheesecloth. Gather corners of cloth to enclose spices; tie securely with string. In a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker, toss remaining ingredients. Add spice bag, covering with pears.
Cook, covered, on low until pears are tender, 5-6 hours. Remove spice bag.
Puree pear mixture using an immersion blender. Or, cool slightly and puree mixture in a blender in batches; return to slow cooker.
Cook, uncovered, on high until mixture is thickened to desired consistency, 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally. Store cooled pear butter in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 1 week.
Freeze option: Freeze cooled pear butter in freezer containers up to 3 months. To use, thaw in refrigerator.

Test Kitchen Tips

For an intense licorice flavor, use whole star anise.

Liquids expand as they freeze, so leave extra room at the top of the freezer container.

To turn this into a pear sauce, which is thinner than spreadable pear butter, cook for a shorter time after pureeing.