Sugar Free Pear Butter

Ingredients

• 4 quarts water
• 1/2 cup lemon juice, divided
• 4 lbs firm ripe pears
• 2/3 cup white grape juice
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 10 (1 g) packets Splenda sugar substitute (or to taste)

Directions

1. 1

   In a kettle, combine water and half the lemon juice. Peel, core and quarter the pears, placing them in lemon juice mixture to retard browning until all have been peeled.

2. 2

   Drain liquid in kettle. Add grape juice and remaining lemon juice; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cook until pears are soft,about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool.

3. 3

   Press through a sieve or food mill, or process in a blender until smooth. Return puree to kettle. Add spices;cook and stir until very thick; 20-35 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in sweetener. Adjust sweetener to taste.

4. 4

   Pour into jars or plastic containers. Refrigerate up to 3 weeks. ( For longer storage time pour hot into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inches headspace. Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. Use within 3 weeks of opening).