How to Make Cinnamon Pear Preserves

I love pears. They're probably my favorite fruit. They're so versitile! This is a great preserves recipe that shows off just how great pears really taste!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 3 half-pint jars and lids
• 6 large Bartlett pears (about 3 lbs)
• 3 cups of sugar or Splenda
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 1 cup water
• 6 cinnamon sticks
• 1 piece gingerroot, about 2" long, peeled and minced
• 1 Tbsp whole cloves, tied in a muslin bag or cheesecloth
• small piece of sturdy cardboard
• 3 sheets white tissue paper
• green, maroon, and copper spray paint
• candy thermometer
• scissors

1. To make the preserves, wash the jars and lids in the dishwasher or place them in a large saucepan, cover with water, and boil for 15 minutes to sterilize them.

2. Peel, core, and thinly slice the pears. You will have about 6 cups of fruit.

3. In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan or stockpot, combine the fruit with sugar, wine, water, cinnamon sticks, gingerroot, and bag of cloves. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; cook until the mixture registers 220 degrees F on a candy thermomether, 40-45 minutes.

4. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the fruit to the sterilized jars. Press down on the fruit to remove air bubbles.

5. Transfer 1 cinnamon stick to each jar. Ladle boiling-hot syrup to the rims of the jars, being careful not to spill the hot liquid.

6. Seal the jars tightly; let stand for 1 day. Wipe the jars clean; store in a cool place until ready to use.

7. 
    
   Pear Template. Enlarge to fit.

   To make the decorative paper for gift giving, draw a pear shape on the cardboard. Using scissors, cut out the pear shape, cutting into the cardboard from the stem end of the pear. Tape the entry cut from the scissors tightly. Place the template over tissue paper; spray with green, maroon, and copper paint in random patterns. Use it to wrap the jars of preserves.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also make this recipe with different kinds of pears to get different flavors. Bosc pears are crispier and will take slightly longer to cook, but they have a sweet and fresh flavor. Anjou pears are creamy, and are best eaten unadorned.
• For a quick and easy way to make the gift paper, cut a pear in half and then press the cut side on an ink pad and stamp the tissue paper. Use Bosc pears for this purpose.
• For a harvest-time gift, present a jar of these preserves in a basket with red and yellow Bartlett pears.
• These preserves go great to hot cereal. Top a steaming bowl of oatmeal with them!
• For a great and simple dessert, serve warm pear preserves over French vanilla ice cream. Or go exotic and try it over ginger ice cream.
• Wash pears with a milk soap solution and then rinse them thoroughly before you eat them or use them in a recipe. This is a good procedure to follow for all fresh fruit from the grocery store.