Name: Recipe for Simple Pear and Date Sauce
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Total time: 15 minutes
Yield: 24 (1 tablespoon) servings
Ingredients: 2 large ripe pears; 3 dates, pitted; 1/2 cinnamon; 1/2 vanilla extract; 1/8 nutmeg; 1/2 water; 1 lemon juice; 1/2 brown sugar

dish and muffin with pear and date sauce next to a whole pear and pear pieces

Salsas, Sauces, Spreads & Seasonings

Rich and Sweet Concoction

As an applesauce substitute, ice cream topping or morning toast spread, this rich and sweet concoction is ideal. Hints of cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla, along with brown sugar, create memories of a delicious pie filling (and wouldn’t it be nice in an individual puff pastry as dessert?). The natural sugars from dates and pears are easier for the body to process than refined sugar. There are actually dozens of types of dates, but the plump and tender medjool grown in California is the easiest to cook. Pears vary from the tart Concorde to ultra-sweet Anjou and offer many options for this sauce.

Simple Pear and Date Sauce

Recipe courtesy of

Chef Edwin Cabrera

Prep Instructions

Yield: 24 (1 tablespoon) servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Recipe Ingredients

2 large ripe pears
3 dates, pitted
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup water
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar

Wash, peel, core and chunk the pears.
Place the pears, water, dates and sugar in a small sauce pan.
Bring the water to a boil and cover with a lid and lower the heat to a low simmer. After 7-10 minutes pears should be tender.
Remove from the heat and place all ingredients into a food processor, adding the spices and lemon juice. Puree until smooth.