Pear Simple Syrup
Pear simple syrup is an easy homemade syrup made with fresh pears, sugar, and water for a sweet, delicate pear flavor. It’s perfect for coffee, tea, cocktails, lemonade, pancakes, desserts, and so much more, making it a delicious way to enjoy fresh pears all season long.
Pears make great simple syrup
When I discovered how often I reached for homemade simple syrups in my kitchen, I knew a pear version had to be part of my recipe collection. Every fall, when pears are perfectly ripe, I make a batch so I can preserve their fresh flavor and enjoy it long after the fruit is gone. It’s become one of my favorite seasonal kitchen staples because it’s so easy to make and works in far more recipes than most people realize.
Unlike fresh pears, which only last so long on the counter, pear simple syrup lets you enjoy their flavor a little at a time. It keeps well in the refrigerator, takes just a handful of ingredients to make, and can be stirred into both hot and cold drinks, brushed onto cakes to add moisture and flavor, or used anywhere a touch of pear sweetness is welcome. If you’ve never made a fruit syrup before, this is an easy place to start.
If you enjoy making homemade syrups, be sure to try my lemon syrup from scratch, easy cranberry simple syrup, and old-fashioned grape syrup. Each one is made from scratch and is a delicious way to add homemade flavor to drinks, baked goods, and desserts throughout the year.
Recipe ingredients
- Pears: Choose ripe, fragrant pears that yield slightly when pressed near the stem for the best flavor. Bartlett pears produce a classic sweet syrup, while Anjou and Bosc pears also work well, each adding its own subtle flavor. Avoid underripe pears, which won’t contribute as much natural sweetness or aroma.
- Water: Water gently extracts the pear flavor as the fruit simmers and forms the base of the syrup. If your tap water has a noticeable chlorine taste, use bottled spring water so the delicate pear flavor shines through.
- Granulated Sugar: Regular granulated sugar dissolves easily and creates the clean, neutral sweetness that defines a traditional simple syrup. It also helps preserve the syrup while allowing the fresh pear flavor to remain the star of the recipe.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Use other sweeteners
If you’d like to make this syrup with honey, replace the granulated sugar with 1/2 cup of mild honey. Choose a mild honey, such as clover or wildflower, so the delicate pear flavor remains the star. The finished syrup will be slightly darker with a richer, more floral flavor.
You can also substitute maple syrup, date syrup, brown sugar, or coconut sugar in equal amounts. Each one creates a different flavor and color, so the syrup won’t taste exactly like the traditional version made with granulated sugar.
How to make pear simple syrup
Follow these easy steps to turn fresh pears and honey into a great tasting syrup you’ll reach for in the kitchen again and again.
Step 1: Wash the pears, cut them into chunks, and place them in a saucepan with the water. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat and cook for about 15 minutes, or until the pears are very soft.
Step 2: Use an immersion blender to puree the pears and cooking liquid until smooth.
Step 3: Line a fine-mesh strainer with a flour sack towel and place it over a bowl. Pour the pear mixture into the strainer and gently press the pulp to extract as much liquid as possible without forcing solids through the cloth.
Step 4: Return the strained liquid to the saucepan, add the granulated sugar, and stir over low heat until the sugar is completely dissolved and the syrup is slightly thickened. Do not bring to a boil.
Step 5: Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the syrup cool to room temperature. Pour it into a clean glass jar or bottle.
Step 6: Cover tightly and store in the refrigerator.
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Top tips
- Don’t skip the puree: Blending the cooked pears before straining extracts more of their natural flavor and creates a richer pear syrup than simply simmering and straining.
- Don’t over-press the pulp: Press gently until the liquid stops flowing naturally. Pressing too hard can force fine solids through the flour sack towel, making the syrup cloudy.
- The syrup thickens as it cools: If the syrup seems a little thin when you remove it from the heat, don’t keep cooking it. It will continue to thicken slightly as it cools.
- Mix pear varieties: Combining Bartlett, Bosc, and Anjou pears creates a more complex pear flavor than using a single variety. Use whatever is ripe and available.
- Freeze extra syrup: Pour cooled syrup into ice cube trays, freeze until solid, then transfer the cubes to a freezer-safe container or bag. Thaw only what you need for drinks, desserts, or baking.
- Make a double batch: Pear simple syrup freezes well, so making extra while pears are in season gives you homemade syrup ready to use long after fresh pears are out of season.
- Store it in a clean glass jar: Keep the syrup tightly sealed in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. If it develops an off smell, changes color, or shows signs of mold, discard it immediately.
Serve
Pear simple syrup adds delicate pear flavor to drinks, breakfast favorites, baked goods, and desserts. Stir it into sparkling water, old-fashioned fresh squeezed lemonade, classic homemade orangeade, homemade iced tea, or an Arnold Palmer drink, or use it to sweeten cocktails and mocktails. It’s also delicious in hot coffee, French press cold brew, lattes, chai, and hot tea.
Drizzle it over homemade farmhouse pancakes, waffles, French toast, vanilla ice cream, cheesecake, yogurt, or oatmeal. For baking, brush it lightly over cake layers before frosting homemade vanilla caramel cake, lemon crumb cake from scratch, homemade sweet potato cake, or peppermint chocolate layer cake to add moisture and a delicate pear flavor. You can also stir it into whipped cream from scratch, buttercream frosting, or cream cheese frosting for a subtle fruit flavor.
Pears pair especially well with cinnamon, ginger, vanilla, maple, caramel, almonds, walnuts, and citrus. Try adding this syrup to recipes featuring those flavors for a subtle pear sweetness that complements them beautifully.
Other posts you’ll love
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Vanilla Simple Syrup
Ginger Simple Syrup
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Small Batch Strawberry Jalapeño Jam (Low Sugar Recipe)
Honey Whipped Cream Cheese Recipe (Smooth and Spreadable)
Farmhouse Ranch Dressing From Scratch (No Packet)
Pear Simple Syrup
Ingredients
- 2 bartlett pears
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Wash the pears, cut them into chunks, and place them in a saucepan with the water. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat and cook for about 15 minutes, or until very soft.
- Use an immersion blender to puree the pears and cooking liquid until smooth.
- Line a fine-mesh strainer with a flour sack towel and place it over a bowl. Pour in the pear mixture and gently press the pulp to extract as much liquid as possible without forcing solids through the cloth.
- Return the strained liquid to the saucepan, add the granulated sugar, and stir over low heat until completely dissolved and slightly thickened. Do not bring to a boil.
- Remove from the heat and let the syrup cool to room temperature. Pour it into a clean glass jar or bottle.
- Cover tightly and refrigerate.
Notes
- Choose ripe, fragrant pears for the sweetest, most flavorful syrup.
- The syrup will continue to thicken slightly as it cools, so don’t overcook it.
- Substitute an 1/2 cup of mild honey for the sugar if you prefer a richer, more floral flavor.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks or freeze in small portions for longer storage.
- This syrup is delicious in coffee, tea, cocktails, lemonade, desserts, and baked goods.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This pear syrup is such a sweet, fragrant treat — perfect for drizzling over pancakes, waffles, or adding a natural sweetness to beverages. It’s a great way to capture the fresh, delicate flavor of pears all year round. If you give it a try, I’d love to hear how you use your syrup! Drop a comment below to share your ideas or ask any questions — I’m always happy to help!