It’s no secret that I’m obsessed with vanilla beans! Shall I bombard you with links to prove my love? Sure, why not? How about vanilla bean mashed sweet potatoes? I love vanilla bean spreadable whipped cream cheese and very vanilla buttercream frosting. Almond vanilla granola with vanilla beans, puffy vanilla bean peach pancakes, and cinnamon vanilla bean meringues. I have more but you’ll just have to take a look here. I’m seizing the goodness of apple season (did you see my list of easy apple recipes?) and making lots of homemade applesauce. I’ve discovered that making applesauce in my Instant Pot is awesome. Applesauce is pretty much one of my favorite things, ever. Along with vanilla beans.
About this pear applesauce
You only need three ingredients to make pear applesauce: apples, pears, and a vanilla bean. There is no added sugar in this applesauce, and you won’t miss it a bit because the vanilla bean adds so much sweet flavor. I use Macintosh apples (one of my favorite varieties) which are super sweet and break down easily. They become “saucy” quickly, an added bonus if you’re in a hurry. The pears add another layer of delicious flavor, along with the vanilla bean, which also enhances the applesauce with lovely little flecks of vanilla bean seeds. If you don’t want to buy vanilla beans (which can be a little pricey!), substitute vanilla bean paste. One thing you’ll need when you’re making homemade pear applesauce is a sturdy pan or pot so you’ll be able to do all the stirring you need without worrying about the pan sliding around on the burner or the sauce burning on the bottom. A lid is necessary, too. A Dutch oven or heavy saucepan will do the trick. I know you’ll love this pear applesauce as much as I do!
Make it your own
Use all apples or all pears instead of a combination. Try your favorite varieties. Don’t have a vanilla bean pod? Add a teaspoon of pure vanilla extract or a tablespoon of vanilla bean paste. For cinnamon lovers: Omit the vanilla and substitute a teaspoon or two of cinnamon or apple pie spice. Sweeten it up: If you have a sweet tooth, stir in ¼ cup sugar, maple syrup, or honey.
Storage Tips
Refrigerate/Freeze: Homemade pear applesauce will keep in your refrigerator in a covered container for a week to ten days. You can also freeze pear applesauce for up to 6 months. Lunchboxes: Store the pear applesauce in single serving containers.
