If you love apples and pears, you sure are going to love this Crock Pot Apple and Pear Sauce!
For years I made applesauce in a saucepan on the stove, the same way my late mom did, and it was delicious. Then one day several years ago, I came across a Homemade Crock Pot Applesauce recipe on Comfy in the Kitchen by Janelle Nehrenz. I had lots of apples on hand, but I also had quite a few pears as well – so my Crock Pot Apple and Pear Sauce was born! It first appeared on the blog back in 2016.
Crock Pot Apple and Pear Sauce
Although there is nothing like biting into a crisp apple or eating a pear with the juice dripping down your chin, there is such an abundance of apples and pears that sometimes I end up with a few more than I know what to do with. (There are only so many pies and crumbles you can eat!) Crock Pot Apple and Pear Sauce is also a great way to use up fruit that is almost past its best or that is a bit rough round the edges – particularly fruit that has fallen on the ground from the tree and has rough skin.
Using pears as well as apples makes the sauce sweeter so you don’t have to use as much sugar, making my Crock Pot Apple and Pear Sauce a healthier snack. I also serve apple and pear sauce as a side dish, as a condiment on pulled pork sandwiches or slightly warmed with a generous scoop of rum and raisin ice cream for dessert. It’s also a fantastic baking ingredient, perfect in my Apple Pear and Pecan Streusel Muffins as well as any other recipe that calls for apple sauce.
Can I Adapt the Spices To Suit My Family’s Tastes?
The recipe is ripe for adaptation depending on what spices you enjoy. You may prefer to stay traditional and just use cinnamon. Ginger works well as a substitute especially with the pears. I’ve also been known to add just a tiny bit of almond flavouring or even a glug of Amaretto to replace part of the water. Around Christmas I like to use cinnamon, ginger and cloves for a really wonderful festive flavour.
Experiment until you find your family’s favourite spice combination. Whatever flavours you choose, Crock Pot Apple and Pear Sauce is sure to become a real family favourite!
Crockpot Apple and Pear Sauce – Printable Recipe
Crock Pot Apple and Pear Sauce
Ingredients
- 5 to 6 apples, peeled and sliced
- 4 to 6 pears, peeled and sliced
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ginger
- ¼ teaspoon cloves, optional
- ¼ cup water or apple juice I also use apple and pear juice
Instructions
- Place the peeled and sliced apples and pears in the crock pot.
- Sprinkle with the sugar and spices.
- Pour the water or juice over top.
- Stir lightly and cover.
- Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours, stirring once or twice.
- If you like your Apple and Pear Sauce very smooth, cool a little before blending with an immersion blender.
- If, like me, you like your Apple and Pear Sauce a bit chunkier, simply mash with a potato masher until the desired consistency is reached.
Notes
did you make this recipe?
Make sure to tag #apriljharris on Instagram and follow @apriljharris for more.
More Delicious Recipes with Crock Pot Apple and Pear Sauce
Whether you serve it as a side dish, or just with a spoon, Crock Pot Apple and Pear Sauce is always a good idea! You can also use it in these delicious recipes:-
Apple Pear and Pecan Streusel Muffins
Comments & Reviews
Wonderful combination of flavors April. I would love this sauce over my roast beef ! Your apple-pear sauce sounds so good!
Thank you so much, Hadia! It would taste lovely over roast beef 🙂
G’day What a great sauce recipe April! Love the simplicity! YUM!
Cheers! Joanne
G’day and thank you, Joanne. I love simple recipes that taste great 🙂
Wow, what a terrific crock pot recipe. Not only is it delicious but the entire house will have the most wonderful scent of fall and warmth. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe. Pinned/shared.
Thank you so much, Joanne, and thank you for pinning and sharing as well 🙂
Hi April,
I just love the combination of your apple and pear for your delicious sauce. I just love a great fruit sauce for the winter. Hope you are staying warm and cozy on this cold day and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Thank you, Miz Helen, and thank you for hosting! I’m all about comfort food when it comes to the winter 🙂
Looks fabulous, April and I have a feeling it would be a huge hit here! And I love that you make it in the crockpot!! Thanks for sharing this yummy recipe with us at Foodie Fridays!
I hope you enjoy it when you try it, Michelle! I make it regularly this time of year 🙂
Beautiful apple and pear sauce, April! I love using the natural sweetness of pears to reduce the amount of sugar needed. I’ve added them to pumpkin butter before and loved the results.
Shirley
Thank you, Shirley. I like the idea of adding pears to pumpkin butter too!
April, I am so happy you shared this recipe as it reminded me of how much I want to try it! Living n Florida, we rarely get a taste of autumn, and your apple and pear sauce will definitely help me satisfy my cravings. 🙂
Thank you so much, Linda! I hope you love it as much as we all do 🙂
This sounds delicious, April. I’ve never cared much for plain ole applesauce, but I bet the pears give it a depth of flavor that I’d enjoy. I already have enough apples, so I’ll look for some pears. Thanks!
Thank you, Kathi! The pears really do add a wonderful depth of flavour. I hope you enjoy it!
Hi April,
Your Apple and Pear Sauce looks perfect for fall and I love this combination. Hope you have a great week and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Miz Helen
Thank you so much, Miz Helen. I hope you have a great week too.
I am always intrigued with recipes that can be made in the crock pot- what a time saver ! and I love your tip about using pears to cut down on sugar. Looks delicious
I love using my crock pot too, Judee 🙂 Thank you so much!
Wish I’d found this recipe six weeks ago when we were overloaded with so many pears that would not keep! 🙂 I’ll have to try and remember it for next year; thanks, April!
It really would have come in handy, Hilary! Are you on Pinterest? It’s a great way to save recipes and things for later – you could even have boards for recipes you want to make month to month. If I can help, please let me know 🙂
April,
I love cooked spiced apples which I haven’t made in quite sometime. I need to remedy that because DH loves fresh buttermilk biscuits with spiced apples. His late mother used to can spiced apples that they grew using them in pies but also served with biscuits. Boy, was that a treat, too! Anywho, your recipe definitely looks wonderful and I may have to save it to try. Thanks for the share and please feel free to join my #WildWednesdays linky party!
What a beautiful apple sauce. We always make a homemade pear/applesauce for our potato pancake latkes on Hannukah..I’ll give your recipe a try.. thanks
Thank you so much, Judee. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
How to store? Can this recipe be frozen or canned? How long to process-10minutes?
Hi Patricia
I have neither frozen nor canned this recipe – it always disappears too quickly! I would think it freezes well as most apple based recipes do, but I have not tested it.
Unfortunately I do not do any canning so I cannot give advice on canning the recipe. I would think you could follow processing instructions for apple sauce, but I cannot speak from experience. I’m sorry not to be more help.
I plan on making this for Thanksgiving. How long will the sauce last in the refrigerator or should this be placed in jars and put through a can I g process in a water bath?
Hi Linda,
It should keep 4 or 5 days in the refrigerator.
Unfortunately I have no experience with canning, however I am sure that it could be canned just like applesauce.
I hope this helps a little, and that you have a very Happy Thanksgiving!