This easy crockpot pear applesauce with ginger 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.
Crockpot Pear Applesauce Recipe with Ginger
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:
Maple Pear Salad with Goat Cheese
Turkey, Brie, Pear & Cherry Chipotle Panini
Spiced Pear Coffee Cake with Brown Sugar & Oat Streusel
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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
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 ½ teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger
- ¼ 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
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Monet
I 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!
Cooking Creation
I must try this! I bet it tastes amazing!
Nancy@acommunaltable
Well, 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!!
Barbara | Creative Culinary
I just love the story of the little tree that could. The wheelbarrow is mighty cute too!
a spoonful of yumm
i like this recipe....simple and yummy !
Brooks at Cakewalker
Dara, 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!
Liz
Look at your beautiful pears!!! I adore homemade applesauce...and the additions of pear and ginger just make it more fabulous~
Clinton
Homemade apple sauce is delicious with salt and pepper pork chops. Fall is such a wonderful time of year.
Katelyn Weissinger Sherman
Ooooooh. 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)
Katelyn, 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.
Shirley @ gfe
Sweet 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)
Thanks so much, Shirley. I'm thrilled that this recipe will be a good option for those following a GF diet.