This easy pear and ginger applesauce takes very little effort when made in the slow cooker. It’s great when eaten on its own or as a condiment or ice cream topper.
There are times when it’s best not to mess with tradition. When it comes to our Family Crockpot Applesauce Recipe (care of my mother-in-law), that is typically a good rule to follow. My husband and his brother grew up begging their mum for another batch (and another) of her easy, homemade applesauce. Laced with cinnamon and a touch of sugar, it is a “must make” as soon as fall hits. So, why am I breaking tradition and changing the recipe? Well, it all has to do with the Charlie Brown pear tree in our backyard.
If a tree can be inspiring, then this little pear tree would fit right at the top of that category. When we moved into our house 10 years ago, we were thrilled to find the pear tree in our side yard. We imagined that, over the years, it would grow to be a mainstay in our garden, providing shade on hot summer days and delighting us with springtime blossoms. In those 10 years, however, it grew no more than a couple of feet taller. But it didn’t know that. It acts like a tree that is 15 feet high and wide, producing a large crop of pears every year. As you can see in the photo above, the pears weigh down the tree, threatening to snap the very branches that hold them. My husband fashioned a support system and the tree does not seem deterred in the least. It is truly the little tree that could.
The pears are always good eaten straight, but we like to toss them into coffee cakes and crisps as well. This pear applesauce is livened up with a bit of grated gingerroot.
The pear tree is only one of the reasons I enjoy spending time in our yard in the autumn. The rich oranges and yellows of dahlias and black-eyed Susans burst from the pots and beds as the leaves make their gradual change from green to gold. The picture below shows one of my favorite spots in the backyard, complete with a wooden wheelbarrow made by my father-in-law and pots planted by my mum.
The recipe:
Place all of the apple and pear pieces in a large bowl and stir in sugar, ground cinnamon and grated ginger.
Pour water or apple juice into the bottom of a large crockpot (slow cooker) and add the apple mixture.
Cover, turn the crockpot setting to Low, and cook for about 8 hours (or on High for 5 hours), stirring occasionally and breaking up the apple and pear slices with a wooden spoon as they soften.
Serve warm or room temperature.
Other recipes with pears:
Cookin’ Canuck’s Turkey, Brie, Pear & Cherry Chipotle Panini
Cookin’ Canuck’s Spiced Pear Coffee Cake with Brown Sugar & Oat Streusel
A Spicy Perspective’s Broiled Pear & Prosciutto Toasts
The Novice Chef’s Vertical Pear Salad
Crockpot Pear & Ginger Applesauce
Ingredients
- 5 medium-sized Gala apples peeled, cored, quartered, and sliced
- 5 medium-sized Bartlett pears cored, quartered, and sliced
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger
- 1/4 cup water or apple juice
Instructions
- Place all of the apple and pear pieces in a large bowl and stir in sugar, ground cinnamon and grated ginger.
- Pour water or apple juice into the bottom of a large crockpot (slow cooker) and add the apple mixture.
- Cover, turn the crockpot setting to Low, and cook for about 8 hours (or on High for 5 hours), stirring occasionally and breaking up the apple and pear slices with a wooden spoon as they soften.
- Serve warm or room temperature.
Nutrition
d.liff @ yelleBELLYboo says
Sep 19, 2011 at 1:58 pmI have loved making applesauce ever since I tried a rhubarb applesauce this summer (http://yellebellyboo.blogspot.com/2011/06/rhubarb-applesauce.html) I couldn’t believe how easy it was to make! I’ve never tried in the crockpot but I love the idea of trying this recipe out this fall!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Sep 19, 2011 at 2:34 pmWe love rhubarb, so I will definitely check out your recipe.
Jessica @ How Sweet says
Sep 19, 2011 at 2:21 pmlove that you can do this in a crock pot!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Sep 19, 2011 at 2:34 pmJessica, it makes it so easy to make!
Amanda says
Sep 19, 2011 at 2:32 pmYour yard is wonderful… all that color and texture!!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Sep 19, 2011 at 2:35 pmThanks, Amanda. All of the credit goes to my husband. I just get to enjoy it!
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc. says
Sep 19, 2011 at 2:43 pmThis one is definitely calling my name!
Belinda @zomppa says
Sep 19, 2011 at 3:27 pmThanks for sharing this family recipe! Love the combination – we really are entering my favorite season!
Bev Weidner says
Sep 19, 2011 at 3:51 pmOh my gosh, I could practice my backstroke through that applesauce.
Donna says
Sep 19, 2011 at 3:57 pmWarm cinnamon-y applesauce just screams out “Fall” to me! Yours looks yummy.
Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) says
Sep 19, 2011 at 4:02 pmMy grandparents had a pear tree in their tiny back yard in Brooklyn, NYC, and when I was growing up my grandmother made pear sauce. Since then, I’ve always liked it better than apple sauce. But I’ve never made it in a slow cooker! I’m going to try that, thanks to your recipe.
Helen @ Helen's Cooking says
Sep 19, 2011 at 4:17 pmLove this recipe, it’s the recipe straight from the heart, the combination of flavors is amazing! Thank you! will definitely try over the weekend!
Wenderly says
Sep 19, 2011 at 5:17 pmMmmmmmm, I can just smell “autumn” in this gorgeous recipe! Bet it makes the house smells divine too!
The Newlywed Chefs says
Sep 19, 2011 at 5:46 pmI bet the ginger really makes this dish fragrant! Can’t wait to try it!
Curt says
Sep 19, 2011 at 5:50 pmThat looks so good. I could use that for ice cream topping!
Kathy - Panini Happy says
Sep 19, 2011 at 6:12 pmWhat an absolutely idyllic yard you have! I can’t wait to have these wonderful aromas slow-cooking in my kitchen. 🙂
Katrina says
Sep 19, 2011 at 6:22 pmThis sounds perfect for fall. Yum!
Jeanette says
Sep 19, 2011 at 8:09 pmOh I wish I had a pear tree or any fruit tree in my backyard – you are so lucky! Love the idea of making applesauce in the crockpot!
Deborah says
Sep 19, 2011 at 10:15 pmYour yard is gorgeous, and so is this applesauce!! I love this change up to the “normal” applesauce.
Rachel @ Not Rachael Ray says
Sep 20, 2011 at 7:06 amInsanely jealous of your pear tree, how fun! This looks like a great way to switch up plain ol’ applesauce. Love the addition of ginger.
Pretend Chef says
Sep 20, 2011 at 7:28 amYour yard is so beautiful. I could spend hours out there. This applesauce sounds amazing.
Lisa {With Style and Grace} says
Sep 20, 2011 at 11:37 amThat’s it, I’m breaking in my crock-pot with this recipe, sounds amazing!!
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes says
Sep 20, 2011 at 11:49 amSounds like a great addition to your family applesauce recipe. My family loves your recipe too.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Sep 20, 2011 at 12:28 pmThank you, Barbara. It was fun to make a variation on our usual favorite.
Shirley @ gfe says
Sep 20, 2011 at 12:03 pmSweet post, Dara, and this recipe looks lovely! I love that it’s made in the crockpot and that it’s naturally gluten free. Will share with my gfe readers right away! We have pear trees on our mountain property, but there are no pears this year, so a late frost must have been the culprit. We–and the deer!–are sad about that. 😉
Shirley
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Sep 20, 2011 at 12:28 pmThanks so much, Shirley. I’m thrilled that this recipe will be a good option for those following a GF diet.
Katelyn Weissinger Sherman says
Sep 20, 2011 at 12:04 pmOoooooh. I bet this would be so good swirled into some oatmeal on a chilly morning.
Have you ever tried canning it? Would love the instructions if you have.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Sep 20, 2011 at 12:27 pmKatelyn, I’d imagine it would can really well – I know that it freezes well! Unfortunately, I am not someone who has done much canning (okay, I haven’t done any canning), so I’m not going to be much help here. You might want to do a Google search.
Clinton says
Sep 20, 2011 at 12:50 pmHomemade apple sauce is delicious with salt and pepper pork chops. Fall is such a wonderful time of year.
Liz says
Sep 20, 2011 at 1:00 pmLook at your beautiful pears!!! I adore homemade applesauce…and the additions of pear and ginger just make it more fabulous~
Brooks at Cakewalker says
Sep 20, 2011 at 1:17 pmDara, what a stupendous treat using homegrown ingredients! I’ve had fruit bearing trees similar to your Charlie Brown one…but with the gorgeous view of your backyard, I’d be inspired and productive if I were a Charlie Brown tree too!
a spoonful of yumm says
Sep 20, 2011 at 1:41 pmi like this recipe….simple and yummy !
Barbara | Creative Culinary says
Sep 20, 2011 at 4:06 pmI just love the story of the little tree that could. The wheelbarrow is mighty cute too!
Nancy@acommunaltable says
Sep 20, 2011 at 5:12 pmWell, it may not feel like autumn here but according to my calendar it is – and this is going to top my list of fall dishes to make!! Unfortunately I don’t have a gorgeous pear tree to provide me with pears – fortunately our farmer’s market is starting to get some beauties!!
Cooking Creation says
Sep 20, 2011 at 5:31 pmI must try this! I bet it tastes amazing!
Monet says
Sep 20, 2011 at 9:56 pmI can’t wait to make this. Fall in a bowl! Thank you for making me drool (I’m certainly going to need a midnight snack now!) I hope your week is starting off well. Many blessings from Austin. Hugs and love!
Sukaina says
Sep 21, 2011 at 4:03 amWow Dara, you are lucky indeed to have a pear tree in your garden, no matter the size! I have never made an appesauce with pear in it although it seems so natural to do so. Thanks.
Mark says
Sep 21, 2011 at 7:43 amPears and apples really do go good together. If I have them, I always use both when I make apple sauce. It makes a great light dessert topped with cinnamon whipped cream ( http://foodconstrued.com/recipes/desserts/applesauce-with-cinnamon-whipped-cream/ ).
Lana @ Never Enough Thyme says
Sep 21, 2011 at 8:15 amLove your little “Charlie Brown” pear tree! And love this recipe. That combination of flavors just shouts “fall” doesn’t it?
sippitysup says
Sep 21, 2011 at 11:53 amThis could help me get over my fear of crockpots. It’s not so much a fear of using one as it is a fear of sounding like a crackpot when I say the word crockpot! GREG
Denise @ Creative Kitchen says
Sep 21, 2011 at 1:10 pmThere is that gorgeous yard again!! 🙂
Maria says
Sep 21, 2011 at 3:15 pmHomemade applesauce is the only way to go!
Marla says
Sep 21, 2011 at 3:29 pmFor some reason I understand the plight of your teeny tiny pear tree 😉 How lucky you are to have such a gem in your back yard. Thanks for the great applesauce recipe. We always have a batch of some like this in the fridge. Will try your pear/ginger combo next!
Krista {Budget Gourmet Mom} says
Sep 21, 2011 at 4:04 pmThis looks great! And what a cute tree, small but mighty!
Jen at The Three Little Piglets says
Sep 21, 2011 at 8:56 pmI have never thought to try a fruit crisp in the crock pot! Definitely filing that one away for future use…
megan @ whatmegansmaking says
Sep 22, 2011 at 8:01 amlove this different version of applesauce! And I love that it’s in a crockpot. I plan on making a few batches of applesauce this fall – and this one is now included 🙂
Amy @ A Little Nosh says
Sep 24, 2011 at 5:14 amYum! I love homemade applesauce and this is an interesting twist on the original. That pear tree is adorable! Thanks for linking up at A Little Nosh!
Jon Melendez says
Sep 26, 2011 at 8:38 amWonderful recipe, so quick and easy. So glad autumn is finally here! Apple Season.
Samantha KT says
Sep 26, 2011 at 9:09 amI made this on the weekend and I can’t begin to tell you how fabulous this applesauce is! The aroma in my kitchen was divine and my husband loves it! Great recipe!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Sep 26, 2011 at 10:56 amSamantha, I’m so glad you enjoyed it! It really does make the kitchen taste great. If you make extra batches, the applesauce also freezes really well.
Shaina says
Sep 28, 2011 at 8:33 amI can just imagine how fantastic this smells.
juniakk @ mis pensamientos says
Oct 5, 2011 at 11:38 ami love the applesauce here with such great flavors – pear and ginger! thanks for submitting this recipe to our #applelove bloghop. unfortunately, it is only for recipe posts made in the month of october. feel free to submit a new one for this month! have a great day!
Jess says
Oct 12, 2011 at 9:05 pmI just made your Crockpot Pear & Ginger Applesauce Recipe.. So good! I had it with my Pork chops.. OMG!! Everyone was happy at supper tonight.. I just had to let you know how wonderful the applesauce was. Thank you for posting it.. ♥
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Oct 12, 2011 at 9:08 pmJess, I’m so glad you enjoyed this! Thanks so much for letting me know.
Rachel says
Oct 18, 2011 at 1:09 pmTried this recipe and loved it. So easy. Thanks!
Bonnie Banters says
Oct 25, 2011 at 2:47 pmMy brother has pear trees (among other fruit trees), and I’m going to pass this recipe along to him as I feel he’ll be delighted to have a nice way to use them! Thanks!