Spiced Pear Pickles

Gather

Ingredients

• 2 quarts (8 cups) sugar
• 1 quart (4 cups) white vinegar (5%)
• 1 pint (2 cups) water
• 8 cinnamon sticks (2-inch pieces)
• 2 tablespoons whole cloves
• 2 tablespoons whole allspice
• 8 pounds (4-5 quarts) Seckel pears or other pickling pear

Preserve

Instructions

1. 01

   Combine the sugar, 5% vinegar, water, and cinnamon sticks. Tie the cloves and allspice in a spice bag, add it, bring the liquid to a boil, then cover and simmer for about 30 minutes.

2. 02

   Peel the pears and remove the blossom ends; stems may remain. Halve or quarter large pears. To limit browning, mix ½ teaspoon ascorbic acid into every 2 quarts of cold water and hold the peeled fruit in it as you work; drain before cooking.

3. 03

   Add the pears to the hot syrup, return to a boil, and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes.

4. 04

   Pack pears into hot pint jars and add one 2-inch cinnamon piece per jar. Cover completely with boiling syrup, retain ½-inch headspace, remove air, clean the rims, and apply lids.

5. 05

   Boiling-water process pints for 20 minutes at 0-1,000 ft. Use the elevation tool to add the required time at higher elevations.
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