Like a super concentrated pear sauce, pear butter is packed with flavor but takes only a few ingredients to make. Making pear butter in the slow cooker is especially easy — it’s a true dump-and-go recipe. And the next thing you know, your house will smell amazing.

The best thing about this sweet-tart spread is that, just like apple butter, it's delicious on all sorts of things. You can spread it on toast or muffins, slather it on pancakes or even add it to a cheese sandwich or cheese plate. It also makes an ideal hostess or holiday gift — put it in a canning jar and tie a pretty ribbon around it, and you’re good to go.

5 pounds pears, peeled, cored and chopped
¼ cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger

1. Combine the pears, sugar, cinnamon and ginger in the slow cooker.

2. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for eight hours.

3. Using an immersion blender, puree the mixture until smooth.

4. Serve immediately or store, covered, in the refrigerator, for up to three weeks.

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