Homemade Spiced Pear Sauce With Cranberry
The flavor of this spiced pear sauce is the perfect way to create your own tastes for Christmas dinner, Thanksgiving dinner, or any time of year. The best part about making this delicious sauce is that it’s so much better than the canned variety at the store! If you want to make good food, this simple recipe gets rave reviews!
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This is one of the best pear sauce recipes because of the fresh cranberries and ripe fresh pears – and don’t forget the fresh ginger! Plan ahead for your next holiday meal, and be sure that you have this as a side dish!
Table of Contents
What Is Pear Sauce?
This homemade Pear sauce recipe is a delightful, fruity condiment similar to apple sauce but made primarily from ripe pears. It’s sweet, slightly tangy, and can be infused with various spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg or even Homemade Apple Pie Spice for extra flavor.
Pear sauce is often used as a side dish or topping for desserts, but it’s also fantastic as a spread for toast and pancakes. Its versatility makes it a favored accompaniment in many meals, adding a unique, sweet twist to traditional recipes.
This Spiced Pear Sauce Is…
- It’s the perfect way to combine cranberries and flavor.
- The tart flavor is perfect with the added sweetness.
- Everyone will crave this at all the holiday dinners moving forward, and quickly become one of everyone’s favorite recipes!
Ingredients For Cranberry Pear Sauce
- Cranberries: Key to this recipe, fresh cranberries provide a perfect balance of tartness that complements the sweetness of the pears. They are also packed with health benefits, including high antioxidant and vitamin C levels.
- Ripe pears: The star of the show, ripe pears give this sauce its unique, fruity flavor. There are many health benefits of pears, including essential vitamins and dietary fiber; they add a natural sweetness and chunky texture to our easy pear sauce.
- Fresh ginger: A secret ingredient that imparts a spicy kick and enhances the overall flavor of our sauce. Ginger also boasts numerous health benefits, from aiding digestion to reducing inflammation.
- Rosemary: Finely diced rosemary adds a fragrant, earthy touch to the recipe, creating an intriguing depth of flavor. This aromatic herb also has a variety of health benefits, including improving digestion and reducing anxiety.
- Maple syrup: Authentic maple syrup lends a complex sweetness that contrasts beautifully with the tart cranberries. A better alternative to processed sugars, it contains numerous antioxidants and a decent amount of minerals.
- Water: Ties everything together, helping to achieve the desired consistency. It is also essential for proper cooking and blending of our ingredients.
- Sea salt: Used sparingly, it enhances flavor and adds a subtle savory note to balance the sweetness. Sea salt also contains necessary minerals like sodium, potassium, and calcium.
The complete list of ingredients, quantities, and instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.
Substitutions And Variations
- Cranberries: If fresh cranberries aren’t available, you can use dried cranberries or even cranberry sauce. Keep in mind the tartness may vary, and adjustments may be required.
- Ripe Pears: Apples can be used as an alternative to pears. They offer a similar texture and sweetness, although the flavor profile will slightly differ.
- Fresh Ginger: Ground ginger can be used if fresh isn’t available. Use 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger as a substitute for every 1 tablespoon of fresh ginger.
- Maple Syrup: If you don’t have maple syrup, honey can be a great alternative to provide the desired sweetness.
Variations
- Spices: To add more warmth to the sauce, consider incorporating spices like cloves, ground cinnamon, or star anise.
- Aromatics: Add a vanilla bean during the cooking process for a sweet, fragrant touch.
- Citrus: A squeeze of lemon or orange juice can provide a refreshing twist to this fruit sauce.
- Herbs: Experiment with other herbs like thyme, basil, or another spice blend for a unique flavor profile.
How To Make Spiced Pear Sauce With Cranberries
- Combine pears, cranberries, ginger, rosemary leaves, maple syrup, and water in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, occasionally stirring until the mixture starts to boil and the cranberries burst open approximately 5 minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for another 5-10 minutes. While cooking, mash the cranberries and pears with a wooden spoon. Season with a pinch of sea salt and stir to combine.
- Remove from heat and allow the sauce to cool for 15-20 minutes before checking the consistency. Add a little water if the sauce is too thick. Taste and add more maple syrup for a sweeter sauce, if desired.
- Optional: For a smoother finished pear sauce, blend one-half of the cranberry mixture in a food processor or blender until smooth. Stir puree back into the remaining sauce before serving.
- Serve immediately or chill before serving. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Choosing the Right Pears: Choose ripe but firm/hard pears for the best results. Overripe pears can make the sauce too sweet and mushy. Bartlett pears or Anjou pears are ideal for this and many pear recipes.
- Adjusting Sweetness: The sweetness of your sauce will largely depend on the ripeness of your pears. Taste your sauce before adding the maple syrup, and adjust the quantity as necessary.
- Leftovers: This pear sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months and thawed in the fridge before use.
- Blending: If you prefer a smooth sauce consistency, you can blend the entire sauce instead of half. If you like a chunkier sauce, simply skip the blending step.
Storing Tips
This will make enough to have leftovers which means that you’ll get to eat this fresh flavor again! All you need to do is store this in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for next time.
Eat within 2-3 days for the best flavor and taste.
This recipe is also freezer-friendly and perfect for making ahead. To freeze, allow the sauce to cool to room temperature before transferring it to freezer-safe plastic containers or bags. It can be frozen for up to 3 months.
When you’re ready to use it, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and warm it up on the stovetop or in the microwave. This way, you can enjoy this delightful sauce at any time of the year!
What To Serve With Pear Sauce
This cranberry pear sauce is so versatile the entire family will love it. It can be served as an accompaniment to savory dishes like turkey or pork chops, as a dessert topping over vanilla ice cream or pancakes, or used as a spread on toast or muffins.
Recipe FAQs
For the best flavor of this homemade cranberry sauce, fresh is best. However, if you have only frozen cranberries, you can use them.
I love adding this to a pretty dish and sitting it out on the holiday table!
Anything really. Turkey, ham, pork tenderloin, or even side dishes like sweet potatoes are all a great addition. Any easy recipes that you love will pair just fine, and that is what makes this recipe a great idea!
Of course! A single Pear tree can produce an abundance of pears, which is great for those who love this juicy and flavorful fruit. If you have a pear tree in your backyard, you may find yourself with extra pears each year. Some popular pear varieties include Bartlett, Anjou, Comice, and Bosc pears. Many delicious pear recipes can be made with little effort, including this pear sauce.
More Side Dishes We Love
- Savory Bacon Cheddar Scones Recipe
- Copycat Chickfila Coleslaw
- Cheddar Biscuits with Chilis
- Rosemary Olive Oil Bread
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze
- Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes
- 3 Ingredient Sour Cream Biscuits
- See all our tasty side dishes!
More Basic Essentials and Kitchen Tips
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Pear Sauce Recipe
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 oz (340 ⅕ g) cranberries fresh
- 2 medium ripe pears peeled and diced
- 2 tsp fresh ginger peeled and grated
- 3 Tbsp rosemary finely diced
- 3 Tbsp maple syrup real
- ¾ cup (177 3/7 ml) water
- Sea Salt to taste
Instructions
- Add cranberries, pear, ginger, rosemary leaves, maple syrup, and water in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, occasionally stirring until the mixture starts to boil and the cranberries burst open approximately 5 minutes.12 oz cranberries,2 medium ripe pears,2 tsp fresh ginger,3 Tbsp rosemary,3 Tbsp maple syrup,¾ cup water
- Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for another 5-10 minutes. While cooking, mash the cranberries and pears with a wooden spoon. Season with a pinch of sea salt and stir to combine.Sea Salt
- Remove from heat and allow the sauce to cool for 15-20 minutes before checking the consistency. Add a little water if the sauce is too thick. Taste and add more maple syrup for a sweeter sauce, if desired.
- Optional: For a smoother sauce, blend one-half of the cranberry mixture in a food processor or blender until smooth. Stir puree back into the remaining sauce before serving.
- Serve immediately or chill before serving. Enjoy!
Notes
- Choosing the Right Pears: Choose ripe but firm/hard pears for the best results. Overripe pears can make the sauce too sweet and mushy. Bartlett pears or Anjou pears are ideal for this and many pear recipes.
- Adjusting Sweetness: The sweetness of your sauce will largely depend on the ripeness of your pears. Taste your sauce before adding the maple syrup, and adjust the quantity as necessary.
- Leftovers: This pear sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months and thawed in the fridge before use.
- Blending: If you prefer a smooth sauce consistency, you can blend the entire sauce instead of half. If you like a chunkier sauce, simply skip the blending step.
Nutrition Information
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