How to Make Homemade Apple Butter and Pear Honey: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you're looking to preserve the flavors of fall or create thoughtful homemade gifts, making apple butter and pear honey is a perfect place to start. These cozy, sweet spreads are not only delicious but also incredibly satisfying to make at home. In this guide, Sandoval from Homesteading Ways shares her personal recipe and canning process for both of these pantry staples, starting with a delicious apple butter.

Choosing the Right Apples for Apple Butter
When it comes to making apple butter, any apple will work, but softer apples cook down faster and blend more easily. Sandoval recommends using a mix of two to three varieties for a more complex flavor. For this batch, she used:

Zestar apples – juicy, flavorful, and locally grown

Jonamac apples – a tender and tasty cross between Jonathan and McIntosh

Both types break down beautifully during cooking, which is exactly what you want for smooth apple butter.

Ingredients for Homemade Apple Butter
Here’s what you’ll need for this batch, which yields about 4 pints (or 8 half-pints):

6 lbs of peeled, chopped apples

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 cup apple cider (or water as a substitute)

4 cups brown sugar (packed)

1 ½ tbsp ground cinnamon

¼ tsp ground nutmeg

¼ tsp ground cloves

Pro tip: Chop your apples smaller than you think necessary—it helps them cook down faster and more evenly.

Cooking Instructions
Start cooking on medium heat with a lid on for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Check for softness after 30 minutes—apples should be fork-tender.

Use an immersion blender to puree the apples directly in the pot. A blender or potato masher will work too.

Reduce heat to low and continue cooking uncovered, stirring frequently, for another 20-30 minutes until thickened.

Once your apple butter reaches your desired consistency, it’s time to jar it!

Canning Apple Butter
Fill sterilized jars with a ¼ inch headspace. Remove air bubbles, wipe the rims, and place the lids on. Process the jars in a boiling water bath for 5 minutes (same for pint or half-pint jars).

How to Make Pear Honey
Pear honey is another fabulous recipe for preserving ripe pears in a sweet, spreadable form. Sandoval recommends using Bosc pears for their flavor, but Bartlett or any ripe variety will work.

Ingredients for Pear Honey
8 ripe pears, peeled and chopped

Juice of 1 lemon

1 (20 oz) can of crushed pineapple (with juice)

4 cups white sugar

Cooking Pear Honey
Combine all ingredients in a pot over low to medium-low heat.

Stir frequently and simmer for about 1 hour, or until the mixture has thickened.

Optional: use a fork to break up large chunks, or blend if you prefer a smoother texture.

Canning Pear Honey
Ladle the hot pear honey into half-pint jars, again leaving ¼ inch of headspace. Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.

Homemade Gifts from the Heart
Both apple butter and pear honey make fantastic homemade gifts for holidays, birthdays, or just because. They’re perfect for spreading on toast, pancakes, or stirring into oatmeal or yogurt.

Happy canning, and may your pantry always be full of good things!