Pear Pie Filling

We are coming upon Pear season again and a few years ago Renee shared with me a Pear Cranberry Pie Filling that I tried and it was amazingly delicious. Deborah decided to ditch the cranberries and do a pure pear filling with the warmth of a fews spices; cinnamon and nutmeg. The pairing of these spices brings out the subtle flavors of the pears to make the perfect fruit pie. 

Thank you Deborah for sharing your variation and your photographs of your processed jars. 
If you need Clear Jel you can order it from the Hoosier Hill Farms

Pear Pie Filling

24 cups of sliced pears

5 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 cup Clear Jel®  

2 ½ cup cold water 

5 cup apple juice (pear or white grape could also be used)

3/4 cup bottled lemon juice

1 T. cinnamon

3/4 t.  nutmeg

Quality: Use firm pears. 

Yield: 7 quarts

Preparation: Wash, peel, and core pears. Prepare slices 1/2-inch wide and place in water containing ascorbic acid to prevent browning. Boil water and add each batch of pears for 1 minute after the water returns to a boil. Drain but keep heated fruit in a covered bowl or pot.

Cooking: Combine sugar, Clear Jel® and spice in a large kettle with water and apple juice. Stir with whisk and cook on medium high heat until mixture thickens and begins to bubble. Add lemon juice and boil 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Fold in drained pears slices and immediately fill hot jars with mixture.

Filling: Note: It works really well if you add some to the jar through your funnel and using your plastic spatula to push down the filling and remove air bubbles as you go up the jar with each scoop. Fill to 1 ½” headspace. Adjust headspace if needed. Wipe rims of jar with a dampened clean paper towel. Adjust lid and process immediately.

Processing: Process in a water bath canner for 25 minutes at a full rolling boil. Wait 5 minutes, remove and place on dishtowel overnight undisturbed. The next day remove rings and clean jars and label with recipe name and date. Store in a cool, dry, and dark place.  This recipe will make 6 - 7 quarts.

Deborah's Pear Pie Filling