Learn how to make spiced canned pears. This is a delicious canned pear recipe with a rich flavor thanks to the vanilla and spices. Canning spiced pears is a great way to preserve your harvest through the rest of the year.

I was hesitant to can so many pears because the kids and I don't like them much. Or we thought we didn't.

We'd only had store bought canned pears, and those don't compare at all to these amazing spiced pears for canning.

I canned them in pints the first year, but I won't do anything but quarts from now on. As soon as I open these, they are gone. There are never any leftovers!

We can a few bushel of pears from the farm, and we look forward to these canned spiced pears each year.

Spiced Pears for Canning Recipe

Name: Spiced Pears for Canning
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 1 h 25 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 14-21 pounds of pears; 5 cups sugar; 6 cups water; 4 cinnamon sticks; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 30 whole cloves; 1/2 lemon, juice (or lemon juice)

Pears are fairly easy to make, so it’s a good beginning canning recipe. Canning spiced pears is very similar to making regular pears.

I also make cinnamon red hot canned pears each year. I don’t even bother with plain pears because we love both of these recipes so much.

If you can get some pears this year, make this spiced pears canned recipe. You won't regret it!

For more canning recipes, check out these posts:

Also check out how to can food for beginners for more information about canning. Here are my must have canning supplies.

What is the Best Canning Pear?

You can use any kind of pear for canned spiced pears. Bartlett pears are the best, so use those if you are buying pears.

However, you can use any pear. If you use Asian pears, you will need to acidify them before canning. This post from the National Center for Home Food Preservation has the directions.

Do Pears Need to Be Ripe Before Canning?

You need to use ripe fruit for canned spiced pears. Pears ripen after picking and not on the tree. Store your pears in a dry and cool place. I recommend spreading them out because if they are in a basket they can get squished.

Pears have a narrow window that they are ripe. Pears can spoil in just a few hours, so keep an eye on them while you’re waiting to make spiced pears canned.

How Do You Keep Canned Pears From Turning Brown?

Like apples, pears can turn brown. These spiced canned pears will turn brown due to the spices, so I don’t bother treating them with Vitamin C or citric acid.

However, if you are working slowly and want to prevent browning, sprinkle Fruit Fresh or lemon juice over the cut pears and stir them.

How Do You Eat Canned Pears?

I serve these spiced canned pears as a side dish. They are so good plain that I’ve never even tried to make anything else with them.

However, you can add them to oatmeal, make a cobbler, or use them in other dessert recipes.

Canned Spiced Pears Ingredients

2-3 pounds of pears per quart jar (I usually make 7 quarts, so 14-21 pounds of pears)
3.5 cups sugar
6 cups water
4 cinnamon sticks
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (how to make vanilla extract or make Instant Pot vanilla extract)
30 whole cloves
1/2 lemon, juice (or lemon juice)

Canned Spiced Pears Equipment

You will need the following supplies for making spiced pears for canning:

canning jars (quart or pint)
canning seals and rings
jar lifter
funnel
large pot
bowls
Large slotted spoons
sharp knife
towels and dish cloths

How Do You Can Pears?

Prepare your jars and add water to your water bath canner. Start heating the water.
Prepare the syrup on the stove. Bring the water and sugar boil to dissolve the sugar and reduce the heat so the syrup stays hot. Add the vanilla extract to the hot syrup.
Wash, peel, and cut your pairs. You can add Fruit Fresh to prevent browning if desired.
Add the pears and lemon juice to the syrup and simmer for 5 minutes to heat the pears for a hot pack.
Place ½ inch cinnamon stick and 3-5 whole cloves in each quart jar.
Use a slotted spoon to place the pears into hot jars. Fill the jars with the syrup. Leave a ½ inch headspace.
Wipe the rims with a cloth, remove air bubbles, and place the lids on the jars.
Process pints for 20 minutes and quarts for 25 minutes. Adjust for altitude as needed.

This recipe made enough syrup for 7 quarts, or one canner load. What I do is cut the pears and measure them in my 4-cup measuring cup. I cut 7 quarts at a time and get those processing before I start the next round.

I use leftover syrup with the next batch, so after a few batches, I only have to make a half batch of syrup.

Let these sit on the shelf for at least a month before you eat them. It really takes them a few months to get their full flavor.

I don't like really sweet syrups, so this is a very light sugar syrup. If you like sweeter fruit, you can use your favorite recipe and add vanilla.

I hope you love these canned spice pears as much as we do!

Keep track of your canning recipes with my printable canning planner. It has 29 pages to track recipes, lists, inventory, and more. I also included printable labels, conversion charts, and reference guides.

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