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This sweet vanilla bean pear sauce is the perfect switch up to traditional applesauce. Super simple to make and ready in just 30 minutes start to finish.
What is pear sauce?
Pear sauce is just like apple sauce but made with pears!
Super simple, right?
I think it’s a great twist up to the normal fall fruit puree. I’m always looking for ways to jazz up lunches.
What type of pears should I use?
Don’t stress out over the types of pears you can use.
I have successfully used red pears, bosc pears, and Anjou pears in batches of this sauce and it has always worked out.
The biggest thing is making sure you’re using ripe pears. That way when they hit the pan and start cooking on the stovetop they will break down relatively easily.
If your pears are not ripe you may need to add a little more water and simmer for a bit longer until they are soft enough to mash.
Do I have to add sugar?
No.
It’s an optional ingredient because depending on the natural sweetness level of your pears you may not need it.
Or maybe you just dislike overly sweet sauce. Both ok.
I typically find I do not need to add any sugar because my pears are oftentimes sweet enough.
Also, if you cook your pears in pear juice instead of water you will bring in a little extra sweetness too.
What is vanilla bean paste?
Vanilla bean paste is one of the most used ingredients in my kitchen!
I rarely keep full vanilla bean pods in my baking stash so to the rescue comes vanilla bean paste.
Vanilla Pear Sauce
Ingredients
- 6 ripe pears, peeled, cored, and chunked
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
- 2 tablespoons vanilla sugar, optional
Instructions
- Peel, core, and chunk pears.
- Add pears, water, and vanilla beans to a medium-size pot.
- Set over medium heat and simmer until the pears starts to soften and release their juices, about 10 minutes. If your pears were somewhat hard you may need to add a little more water for a long simmer to soften.
- Smash the pears with a potato masher in the pot until smooth.
- Taste the sauce and add sugar if needed or desired.
- Simmer the sauce for a few minutes longer or until you have reached the desired thickness.
- Let the sauce rest until room temperature and then store in the refrigerator.
- Serve warm or cold.
Notes
- Use pear juice instead of water for a sweeter pear sauce.
- Sugar is optional based on the level of sweetness you desire in your pear sauce.
- A whole vanilla bean (cut in half and scraped) can be substituted for the vanilla bean paste.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I am so glad you liked the vanilla pear sauce, it’s our favourite, especially a favourite of my 14 months old daughter, which reminds me that I should make some soon. 🙂
I would have stuck to the vanilla too. it sounds delicious!
If any dish could get me to like pears I believe it would be this. I should show it to my roommate because she always has pears that she’s trying to get rid of!
This is a first for me – have never seen this before. Sounds wonderful and Yankee Candle should be listening!
I have never heard of vanilla pear sauce before, but it sounds awfully nice. I am a pear fan!
I love this idea! You could use it exactly as you use applesauce….
And you’re right, it would smell wonderful while cooking.
Good idea to make all those pears into a sauce. I think my boys will prefer pear sauce to apple sauce. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
great recipe and i bet it would freeze for later as well, thanks for the congrats 🙂
Yes, please.
YUM! Josh & I eat unsweetened applesauce pretty much daily….so I’d be all over this! And the idea of vanilla mixed in sounds just fabulous.