Vanilla Pear Butter

Slow-cooked pears and fragrant vanilla bean become a smooth, velvety butter. Spread it on pancakes, stir it into yogurt or use it as a cake filling.

Ingredients

• 6 lbs pears, peeled and chopped
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
• 1/4 cup lemon juice

Instructions

1. Combine pears, sugar, vanilla bean seeds and pod, and lemon juice in a heavy pot. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
2. Cook until pears are very soft, then purée with an immersion blender.
3. Continue cooking over low heat, stirring frequently, until thickened to a butter-like consistency.
4. Remove the vanilla pod. Ladle butter into sterilized jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace.
5. Process jars in a boiling-water bath for 10 minutes.

This vanilla-scented pear butter adds elegance to breakfasts and desserts. Try it layered in crepes or spread between cake layers.