This cozy Apple Pear Sauce combines the best of fall fruit with warm spices. Simple, comforting, and perfect as a snack, breakfast topping, or wherever you'd use applesauce!
🍏🍐 Cozy Apple Pear Sauce — Easy, Naturally Sweet Fall Fruit Sauce
When crisp fall air rolls in and fruit is abundant, this Apple Pear Sauce is your go‑to treat. It’s the comforting twist on applesauce you didn’t know you needed—made with both apples and pears, gently spiced, lightly sweetened, and perfect for snacking or adding into your favorite recipes.
🌿 What Is Apple Pear Sauce?
This is a simple fruit sauce made by simmering apples and pears with warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, a splash of lemon juice, and optionally a little maple syrup. You can mash it for a chunky texture or blend it smooth. Think of it as a versatile fruit sauce you can use wherever you’d use apple sauce.
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Apple Pear Sauce
- Dual fruit flavor: juicy apples + delicate pears together for a richer taste than plain applesauce.
- Warm fall spices + fresh lemon juice balance the sweetness.
- Flexible – chunky or smooth depending on how you mash/blend.
- Naturally sweetened (optional maple syrup) so you can adjust for dietary preferences.
- Multi‑use: great on its own, swirled into oatmeal or yogurt, as a pancake or waffle topping, or even an all‑natural sweetener replacement.
🛒 Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
| Ingredient | Purpose / Tip / Swap Ideas |
| Apples (mix sweet + tart; e.g. Gala + Honeycrisp) | Gives structure & sweetness; variety affects flavor profile. |
| Pears (ripe Bartlett or Bosc) | Adds softness and juicy flavor; pears that are too firm take longer. |
| Lemon juice | Balances sweetness, prevents browning. Don’t skip. |
| Spices – cinnamon stick, nutmeg (or alternate with vanilla or ginger) | Warmth & seasonal comfort. |
| Water | Controls consistency—less water for thicker sauce. |
| Maple syrup (optional) | Adds sweetness if fruit doesn’t provide enough. Can also try coconut sugar or maple sugar. |
🔥 How to Make Apple Pear Sauce
- Peel, core, and dice apples and pears into small pieces (smaller pieces cook faster).
- Put fruit in a saucepan, add lemon juice, spices, and water. Bring to a simmer, then lower heat, cover, and cook until fruit is tender and falling apart (about 15–20 min).
- Remove cinnamon stick (and any peels if used for flavor) then mash for a chunky texture or process in food mill / blender for smooth sauce. If needed, return to heat to evaporate extra liquid for desired thickness.
- Taste and adjust: add a little maple syrup if more sweetness desired. Store in airtight container in fridge up to ~1 week.
🔄 Variations & Serving Suggestions
- Spice swaps: Try vanilla bean, fresh‐grated ginger, or a pinch of cloves instead of or in addition to classic cinnamon/nutmeg.
- Sugar alternatives: Use coconut sugar or maple sugar instead of syrup; or omit sweetener if fruit is super sweet.
- Texture options: Serve chunky (compote style) or completely smooth.
- Flavor blends: Use different apple/pear varieties to change flavor—tart apples + sweet pears, or all sweet for dessert‑like sauce.
Serving ideas:
- Eat it warm or cold as snack
- Swirl into oatmeal or yogurt
- Pour over pancakes or waffles
- Use as topping for ice cream
- Spread on toast or mix into baked goods
- Natural sweetener for sauces or marinades
❓ FAQ – Apple Pear Sauce
Q: Is apple pear sauce healthier than applesauce?
They’re similar nutritionally, but adding pears gives extra moisture, a bit more natural sweetness, and a slightly different texture/flavor. Both are excellent, especially homemade with no refined sugar.
Q: How do I adjust sweetness?
Taste after cooking. If fruit is already sweet, you may skip the maple syrup. If more sweetness is desired, add a small amount at the end and stir.
Q: Can I make this ahead? How to store?
Yes! Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week. For longer storage, freeze in small jars or ice cube trays.
✅ Final Thoughts
This Apple Pear Sauce is one of those comforting fall kitchen staples: simple to make, customizable, and so versatile. It works sweet or slightly tart, chunky or smooth, depending on what you’re craving or what’s in your fruit bowl. Worth having in your recipe rotation for cozy breakfasts, wholesome snacks, or natural dessert twists.
More Apple Recipes:
Apple Pear Sauce
Enjoy the cozy flavors of autumn with this easy and customizable recipe for apple pear sauce. Perfect for snacking or adding to your favorite dishes, this unique twist on applesauce is made with both apples and pears for a uniquely flavorful sauce.
Ingredients
- 3 medium apples (Use a mix of tart and sweet apples like Honey crisp or Gala), peeled and diced into ½ inch pieces (save a few peels)
- 3 medium pears (Bartlett or Bosc), peeled and diced into ½ inch pieces
- ½ cup - ¾ cup/120 - 180ml filtered water (use ½ cup for a thicker sauce and ¾ cup for a looser sauce)
- 1 Tablespoon/15ml lemon juice
- 1 cinnamon stick
- Pinch of grated nutmeg
- 1-2 Tablespoons/15-30 ml maple syrup (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the apples (and peels), pears, lemon juice, cinnamon stick, nutmeg and water in a medium saucepan or pot. Bring to a simmer, cover, reduce heat and simmer until the apples and pears are tender, (15 to 20 minutes).
- Remove pan from the heat and remove cinnamon stick and apple peels. Use a potato masher to mash the fruit for a chunky sauce or place mixture through a food mill or food processor for a smoother sauce. Return sauce to pan if desired and cook until excess liquid is evaporated and desired consistency is achieved. Taste and add maple syrup if desired.
- Store apple pear sauce in a sealed jar or airtight container
in fridge for up to a week.
Notes
Variations:
- Use a combination of different apples and pears.
- Use vanilla and/or ginger instead or cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Use maple sugar or coconut sugar instead of maple syrup.
- Skip mashing or blending and serve as a compote.
Storage:
Store apple pear sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
Dietary Info:
Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Vegetarian, Vegan, Dairy-Free, Egg-Free, Nut-Free, Paleo, Refined Sugar-Free
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 99Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 147mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 5gSugar: 18gProtein: 1g
Nutritional information for recipes contained on this website, such as calories, fat, carbs, etc. are only estimates and are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she's been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.
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