A Slow-Cooker Recipe You Can Gift -- it Doesn't Get Any Easier Than This

There's something so festive and holiday-like about the smell of cinnamon and apples. Our slow-cooker apple pear butter (yes, that's right, I said slow-cooker) will surround you with those intoxicating scents all day long. The best part: You don't have to stand by the stove stirring for hours. Grate some apples and pears, toss them in the slow cooker with some cinnamon and sugar, set the heat, and go about your day! The recipe makes a few jars, so be sure to share with a friend or two!


Related: 42 Slow-Cooker Recipes Worth the Wait


Slow-Cooker Apple Pear Butter


2 1/2 pounds Bartlett or Anjou pears (about 5)
2 1/2 pounds McIntosh or Gala apples (about 5)
1 cup packed dark-brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1 cinnamon stick

Related: 36 Dinners You Can Make in Just 15 Minutes!


1. Peel, quarter, and core pears and apples. In a food processor, finely grate fruit (in batches if necessary), then transfer to a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. Stir in dark-brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon stick. Cover and cook on high, 4 hours.


2.
Remove cinnamon stick and reserve. Transfer mixture to processor (in batches if necessary) and process until smooth. Return to slow cooker, along with cinnamon stick, and cook on high, uncovered, until mixture is thick and browned, 4 hours. Discard cinnamon stick and let mixture cool. Transfer to airtight containers and refrigerate, up to 3 weeks, or freeze, up to 3 months.


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