60+ Pear Canning Recipes

Pear canning recipes are one of the best ways to save pears at their peak, since they don’t keep like apples do. Put them up once, and you’ll have sweet, fragrant pears waiting on the pantry shelf all year.

Pears don’t keep like apples do, and even tucked into a cool spot they have a way of going from “not yet” to “too far” almost overnight. The good news is that once they’re in jars, you can have that sweet, fragrant pear flavor any time you want it, straight from the pantry.

Pear canning recipes are one of my favorite ways to handle a fruit that’s a little too fleeting for its own good.

Catching pears at their exact peak can be tricky, especially if you’re working from a backyard tree or a bulk orchard haul. They come in by the bushel, and even if you’re baking, drying, and handing bags to friends, there’s still a point where you realize you simply can’t use them fast enough.

That’s where pear canning recipes come to the rescue. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, you can work in batches and can the pears that are perfectly ripe each day, turning a hectic harvest into something steady and manageable. It’s a simple way to “stop time” right when the fruit tastes best.

Later on, you can pull a jar off the shelf and get perfect pears every time. Simple canned pears make baking easy, pear jam or jelly turns into an everyday toast upgrade, and thick pear butter is pure comfort in a spoon. If you want something a little different, pickled pears and pear chutney are the kind of jars that make even a plain dinner feel special.

Canning Pears in Syrup

If you only can one pear recipe, make it plain pears in jars. Pear halves or slices in light syrup (or juice/water) are the kind of pantry staple that quietly saves dinner and dessert all year long.

I reach for them constantly: quick crisps, upside-down cakes, oatmeal topping, lunchbox fruit, even “cheater” pear tarts when I don’t have time to peel fresh fruit. If your pears are a little finicky about ripening, canning them right at that sweet spot means you don’t lose them to the counter in a day.

• Canning Pears 
• Canning Asian Pears 
• Orange Honey Pears
• Pears in Cinnamon Apple Cider

Pear Pie Filling

Pear pie filling is one of those jars that feels like you’re cheating later. Do the peeling and slicing once, and future-you gets instant pear crisp, pear cobbler, or pear pie with almost no effort.

This is also a great “use up the awkward pears” option. If you’ve got fruit that’s slightly uneven in ripeness or you ended up with a mix of varieties, pie filling evens things out and turns it all into something reliably delicious.

• Pear Pie Filling 
• Apple Pear Cranberry Pie Filling
• Simple Pear Mincemeat
• Fancy Pear Mincemeat (with dried fruit and nuts)

Pear Jam

Pear jam is gentle and sweet, and it’s surprisingly flexible. You can keep it simple and buttery, or take it in a warm-spice direction with cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, or vanilla.

It’s also a great “base jam” if you’re working with pears that don’t have strong flavor on their own. A little lemon, a touch of spice, or even a handful of raspberries can make it taste like a completely different jar.

• Pear Jam 
• Cardamom Pear Jam 
• Pear Cinnamon Jam
• Cranberry Orange Pear Jam
• Cranberry Pear Jam
• Spiced Pear Jam 
• Low Sugar Vanilla Pear Jam
• Raspberry Pear Jam 
• Portuguese Pear Jam
• Carrot Cake Jam (Made with Pears, Pineapple, Carrots and Spices)

Pear Preserves

Pear preserves are fruit-forward and old-fashioned in the best way, with distinct chunks or slices of pear suspended in a glossy syrup. They’re not as smooth as jam, and that’s the point. You get real pieces of fruit, not just a spread.

They shine anywhere you want texture: spooned over ice cream, layered into parfaits, served with biscuits, or tucked into pastry. If you’re canning them, the key is keeping the pears tender but intact so they don’t collapse into sauce by the time they’re done processing.

• Pear Preserves
• Gingered Pear Preserves

Pear Conserves

Pear conserves are like jam’s more interesting cousin, usually combining fruit with nuts and/or dried fruit, sometimes with citrus for brightness. The result is thicker and more “loaded” than preserves, with lots of little bits in every spoonful.

Conserves are also a smart way to stretch a pear harvest because a few add-ins can turn a mild pear base into a preserve with big flavor and a really satisfying texture.

• Pear Almond Conserve
• Holiday Pear Conserves
• Cranberry Pear Conserve with Ginger

Pear Marmalade

Pear marmalade is a nice middle ground when you want something brighter than pear jam but still unmistakably pear. The citrus gives you that classic marmalade lift, while the pears add body and a soft, honeyed sweetness that makes it feel extra cozy.

It’s the kind of jar that works for more than toast. I love pear marmalade with sharp cheese, brushed onto ham or roast pork as a quick glaze, or warmed and spooned over pound cake when you want a fast dessert that tastes like you planned ahead.

• Gingered Pear Marmalade
• Honeyed Pear-Lemon Marmalade
• Pear Orange Marmalade

Pear Jelly

Pear jelly is for the people who love a clear, jewel-like jar. It has that clean pear flavor and a smooth set that’s perfect for biscuits, scones, or glazing baked goods.

It’s also a smart way to use pears that are a bit gritty, bruised, or just not pretty enough for halves. If you’re already peeling and coring pears for another project, jelly is a great place to send the scraps.

• Pear Jelly 
• Maple Pear Jelly 
• Vanilla Pear Jelly 
• Lemon Pear Jelly 
• Spiced Pear Jelly 
• Pear and Mint Jelly

Pear Sauce

Pear sauce is one of the simplest ways to put up a big batch of pears, and it’s a great choice when you want a pantry staple that isn’t overly sweet. It’s essentially pears cooked down until soft and puréed smooth (or left a little chunky), so it captures that mellow pear flavor without needing much more than fruit and heat.

I keep jars of pear sauce for quick snacks, easy breakfasts, and baking. It’s great spooned over oatmeal or yogurt, stirred into muffin batter, or warmed with a pinch of cinnamon as a fast dessert topping. It’s also a smart option for pears that are a bit gritty, since a food mill or blender takes care of the texture.

• Pear Sauce 
• Cinnamon Pear Sauce 
• Spiced Pear Sauce 
• Apple Pear Sauce 

Pear Butter

Pear butter is one of my favorite “big batch” pear projects because it turns a mountain of fruit into a small stack of intensely flavored jars. It’s silky, cozy, and feels like fall in a spoon.

You can keep it classic, or push it into “gift jar” territory with maple, bourbon, or warm spices. Either way, it’s the kind of preserve that makes toast feel like an actual breakfast.

• Pear Butter 
• Vanilla Spiced Pear Butter 
• Brown Sugar Pear Butter 
• Caramel Spice Pear Butter 
• Salted Caramel Pear Butter 
• Maple Bourbon Pear Butter

Pear Juice

Pear juice is the “I have too many pears to peel” solution, and I mean that in the best way. If you’ve got a steam juicer (or a solid juicing setup), you can turn a big pile of pears into shelf-stable juice without babysitting slices in syrup.

It’s also a great base for other pantry projects later: jelly, syrup, or even blending into applesauce. When you’re staring at overflowing boxes of pears, juice is one of the fastest ways to get ahead.

• Canning Pear Juice  

Pear Syrup

Pear syrup is a sweet, pourable preserve made by simmering pear juice (or a pear purée that’s been strained) with sugar until it thickens slightly. It’s lighter than pear butter and looser than jam, so it pours easily and tastes like concentrated pear.

I love it for pancakes, yogurt, cocktails, sparkling water, and glazing cakes. It’s also a great way to use pears that are fragrant but a bit gritty, since the texture doesn’t matter once you’re working with juice.

• Spiced Pear Syrup 
• Pineapple Pear Syrup  

Pickled Pears

Pickled pears are the jar that always surprises people. They’re sweet-tart, warmly spiced, and somehow manage to work as both a side dish and a “fancy snack” on a cheese board.

I especially love them with pork, ham, or sharp cheeses, and they’re one of the easiest ways to make winter meals feel less heavy. If you like classic spiced pear flavor, but want something brighter than syrup, this is the category to try.

• Pickled Pears 
• Sweet and Sour Spiced Pickled Pears 
• Pickled Asian Pears with Lemon 

Pear Relish

Pear relish is old-school pantry magic. It’s not dessert, it’s not exactly a pickle, and it’s not quite chutney, but it hits that sweet-sour-savory balance that makes plain meals taste intentional.

I like it with grilled sausages, roast chicken, or even alongside a simple sandwich in place of a sweet pickle. If you’ve got pears that are a little bland for jam, relish is a great way to give them a bold second life.

• Pear Relish
• Chayote and Pear Relish

Pear Chutney

Chutney is one of my favorite “bridge preserves” because it behaves like a condiment but still celebrates the fruit. Pear chutney is especially good when you want something that’s sweet, tangy, and spiced without being sugary.

It’s an easy upgrade for weeknight meals. Spoon it next to roast pork or chicken, add it to a cheese board, or use it like a sandwich spread when you’re bored of mustard.

• How to Make and Can Pear Chutney 
• Ginger & Pear Chutney 
• Spiced Pear Chutney Preserves 
• Raisin Pear Chutney 
• Jalapeno Pear Chutney 

Pear Salsa

Pear salsa is the jar that makes pears feel modern. It’s fresh-tasting, a little sweet, a little tangy, and it plays really well with tacos, grilled chicken, and anything smoky.

If you like fruit salsas but don’t always want peach or mango, pear is a fun change. It also pairs beautifully with peppers and onions, which makes it more versatile than most people expect.

• Summer Fruit Salsa with Honey and Balsamic (Peach/Pear)

Unique Pear Canning Recipes

Some pear canning recipes don’t neatly fit into another category, but they’re absolutely worth making anyway. These are the jars that make pears feel a little more creative than “fruit in syrup,” and they’re perfect when you want something that can pull double duty as a condiment, dessert topping, or pantry shortcut.

If you’ve already canned the basics, this is the section to play in. A chili sauce can turn into an instant glaze, brandied pears feel like a holiday jar, and the dessert-style sauces are the kind of thing you’ll be sneaking spoonfuls of straight from the fridge once they’re open.

• Orchard Fruit Chili Sauce
• Brandied Pears
• Cranberry Pear Dressing
• Pear Port Compote
• Pears Exotica
• Pear Honey
• Pear Vanilla Caramel Sauce

Seasonal Canning Recipe Lists

Looking for more preserving inspiration? These lists will keep the creative juices flowing!

30+ Apple Canning Recipes

12+ Cranberry Canning Recipes

12+ Pumpkin, Butternut & Winter Squash Canning Recipes