Pear Sauce

This pear sauce is a perfect substitute or switch-up from typical applesauce. Use it with sweet or savory dishes or all on its own.

What is Pear Sauce?

Pear sauce is basically the same thing as apple sauce, but with pears! Ripe pears are simmered and softened, then spiced and mashed. Then, it’s chilled for a refreshing and delightful sauce.

If you like a chunky fruit sauce that is super versatile to use on savory or sweet dishes, this is the sauce for you.

What Types of Pear to Use

For this delicious sauce, I used Bartlett and Bosc pears to create layered texture and taste profiles. However, you can use any pear varieties you like.

You can get green, red, yellow, or even bronze colored pears. They can range from vanilla tones to citrusy-sweet — some tarter versions are great to pair with fatty or sharp cheese while others are amazing sweet snacks on their own.

From Comices with their soft, creamy flesh and juicy inside to cinnamon-spicy Forelles there are an abundance of pear varieties. Seckels are perfect for snacking (but not baking), and Red Concords are amazing accompaniments for cheese and charcuterie boards (and Bartletts and Boscs are clearly great for cooking and baking).

Ingredients

You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this spiced pear sauce.

• Large pears – Make sure these are peeled and coarsely chopped. Check the section above for which types of pears to use.
• Sugar – Although pears themselves are slightly sweet, we need a little granulated sugar to sweeten this sauce a bit.
• Lemon juice – Lemon juice adds a little bit of tang and acidity to this otherwise sweet sauce.
• Ground cinnamon – just like applesauce, cinnamon adds delicious flavor and warmth to pear sauce.
• Vanilla extract – I like to use a good quality vanilla extract to add some warmth and flavor to this sauce.

Variations

Pear sauce is a perfect side all on its own, particularly in the fall. But there are plenty of ways to dress it up, too.

• Spices – Cinnamon channels that natural fall flavor, but you can also experiment with ground ginger, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, or anise.
• Lower carb – Try using your favorite sugar substitute to lower the sugar and carbohydrates.
• Apple cider – To impart some apple flavor, replace some or all of the water with apple cider or apple juice.
• Cornstarch – Make your pear sauce a little thicker by adding cornstarch. Make sure to make a slurry before adding it to ensure that it doesn’t clump.
• Pear butter – Simmer the pears for about twice as long. Then, use a food processor, blender, or immersion blender to smooth the mixture.
• Slow cook – Instead of simmering, try combining all ingredients in the slow cooker or make an instant pot pear sauce.
• Nuts – Crushed pecans, pistachios, and walnuts all pair well with pears and add texture.
• Sweetener – Change up the flavor profile by replacing some or all of the sugar with maple syrup or honey.
• Lemon zest – Try adding lemon zest for added citrus flavor.

How to Make Pear Sauce

Just like applesauce, this delicious pear sauce is ready to go in just a few steps!

1. Combine ingredients. In a medium saucepan, combine the pears, water, sugar, lemon, cinnamon and vanilla, stir to combine cover and heat over low heat.
2. Allow to simmer until soft. Simmer, stirring occasionally until fragrant and pears and soft.
3. Pulse in food processor. Allow the mixture to cool before transferring to a large food processor. Pulse until no large chunks remain.
4. Chill before serving. Transfer to an airtight container and chill until ready to eat. Stir before serving.

How to Use Pear Sauce

You can eat it straight out of a bowl, but you can pair it perfectly with plenty of dishes!

• Vanilla ice cream – Spoon pear sauce, either still chilled or even warmed, over ice cream.
• Asian food – Try incorporating it into teriyaki style dishes.
• Pork chops – Instead of applesauce, try using this pear sauce.
• Cookies – Thicken the sauce just a bit and then put pear sauce in thumbprint-style cookies.
• Sweet potatoes – Make your sweet potatoes sweeter by covering them with this sweet sauce.
• Substitute for oil – Instead of oil, use pear sauce to add texture, moisture, and flavor to muffins and cakes.
• Yogurt – Mix this into your yogurt for a healthy breakfast. 
• Granola – Toss granola with pear sauce for a crunchy, sweet treat.
• Cheese board – Add a dish of pear sauce to your cheese and charcuterie board for a twist on your typical jam or other fruit.
• Ricotta or cottage cheese – Mix the pear sauce into your ricotta or cottage cheese for a sweet dip or treat all on its own.
• Cranberry sauce – Kick up your holiday cranberry sauce by mixing it with this sauce.

Some of our favorites swap with applesauce are applesauce muffins, applesauce cake and applesauce cookies.

Storage and Freezing

How to Store Pear Sauce

After bringing the sauce to room temperature, you can refrigerate it for up to 10 days in an airtight container.

Can I Freeze Pear Sauce?

Pear sauce can be frozen in freezer safe containers, an ice cube tray, or ziplock bags for up to 6 months. It can also be canned in pint jars or quart jars. 

More Fruity Sauces

While I love a good savory sauce to pair with meals, a fruity sauce is always welcome to add to a dessert or eat on it’s own!

Cranberry Orange Sauce

5 from 4 votes

Fresh Raspberry Sauce

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Salted Caramel Sauce Recipe

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Butterscotch Sauce

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Pear Sauce Recipe

This pear sauce is a perfect substitute or switch-up from typical applesauce. Use it with sweet or savory dishes or all on its own.

4.89 from 9 votes

Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!

Course: Sauce

Cuisine: American

Keyword: pear sauce

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 59kcal

Equipment

• food processor

Ingredients

• 4-5 large pears* peeled and coarsely chopped
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

• In a medium saucepan, combine the pears, water, sugar, lemon, cinnamon and vanilla, stir to combine cover and heat over low heat.
• Simmer, stirring occasionally for 20-25 minutes or until fragrant and pears and soft.
• Allow the mixture to cool before transfering to a large food processor. Pulse until no large chunks remain.
• Transfer to an airtight container and chill until ready to eat. Stir before serving.
• If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.

Notes

I used a combination of Bartlett and Bosc pears for variations in texture and taste. 

Nutrition

Calories: 59kcal, Carbohydrates: 15g, Protein: 0.3g, Fat: 0.1g, Saturated Fat: 0.02g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g, Sodium: 1mg, Potassium: 106mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 23IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 11mg, Iron: 0.2mg