Recipe Manuscript

Pour Confire Poires Musquettes

Name: Pour Confire Poires Musquettes
Prep time: PTPT20M
Cook time: PTPT10M
Yield: 8
Cuisine: European
Ingredients: 1 kg small firm musk pears (or substitute with Bosc or Comice pears if unavailable); 700 g clear honey; 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon; 1 teaspoon ground cloves; 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 1 teaspoon ground ginger

"To Preserve Muscat Pears"

1541

From the treasured pages of Bastiment de receptes

Unknown Author

Renaissance (1400 - 1700)European Beginner Dessert Snack

Original Recipe • 1541

Original Manuscript(circa Renaissance, 1400 - 1700)

As inscribed by the original author's hand, transcribed with care by Lost Kitchen Scrolls

Pour Confire Poires Musquettes

"Il te les fault bouillir de miel vne fois seulement: puis auec lict miel & espices telles que dessus es mettre en potz pour garder, & note que toutes les confitures susdictes veulent estre vng peu fortes despices pour meilleure garde, & pour mieulx conforter lestomach."

English Translation

"You must boil them in honey just once: then, with clear honey and spices as mentioned above, put them in jars to keep, and note that all the above-mentioned preserves should have a little stronger spices for better preservation, and to better comfort the stomach."

Note on the Original Text

Recipes of this period were written for knowledgeable household cooks, offering guidance but assuming prior experience. They were brief, often lacking precise measurements or times, relying on the cook's senses and judgement. Spelling, especially in early modern French, can appear odd to us—'miel' for honey, 'potz' for pots, 'confiture' for preserves—reflecting both regional dialects and the standardization process that French would undergo in later centuries. The focus is on method and intent rather than strict instruction, blending culinary and medicinal logic.

Modern Kitchen Interpretation

Recipe's Origin

Bastiment de receptes - Click to view recipe in book

Title

Bastiment de receptes (1541)

You can also click the book image above to peruse the original tome

Writer

Unknown

Era

1541

Publisher

A Lescu de Coloigne

Background

Step into the culinary secrets of Renaissance France! 'Bastiment de receptes' is a delectable compendium newly translated from Italian, brimming with recipes, curious odors, and medicinal tidbits designed to both delight the palate and preserve health.

Kindly made available by

Library of Congress

Historical Background of the Recipe

Learn about old traditions

This recipe comes from the early Renaissance, specifically from 'Bastiment de receptes', published in Lyon in 1541. The book represents an era when both culinary and medicinal uses of food were intimately connected—the act of preserving fruit in honey was both a treat and a tonic. Like many period cookbooks, it reflected the blending of Italian influence into French culinary tradition, serving both the curious noble and the practical apothecary. Such preserves were both a sweetmeat and a digestive aid, suitable for refined tables and feasts.

Culinary Tools when the Recipe was Crafted

Tools and techniques from kitchens of old

Back in the 16th century, cooks worked over wood-fired stoves or hearths, using sturdy copper or ceramic pots for boiling. The honey would be heated in such a pot, the pears lowered in carefully. Preserved fruits were most often stored in glazed earthenware jars, sealed with parchment or a cloth tied with string and sometimes covered in wax to protect against spoilage.

Modern Kitchen Adaptation

Ingredients and techniques for today's cooks

ounces, cups, Fahrenheit

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

10 mins

Servings

We've done our best to adapt this historical recipe for modern kitchens, but some details may still need refinement. We warmly welcome feedback from fellow cooks and culinary historians — your insights support the entire community!

Ingredients

2.2 lbs small firm musk pears (or substitute with Bosc or Comice pears if unavailable)
1.5 lbs clear honey
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground ginger

Instructions

To confit musk pears, begin by gently boiling the pears just once in honey.
Remove the pears, then layer them in a sterilized jar, covering each layer with fresh honey mixed with a generous amount of warming spices—think cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and perhaps ginger, just as described in similar recipes of the period.
Seal the jar and store it in a cool place.
The honey and strong spices will both preserve the fruit and impart a delightful flavor, while also aiding digestion, as was highly valued in the Renaissance kitchen.

Estimated Calories

290 per serving

Cooking Estimates

Preparing and confiting the pears takes about 20 minutes of hands-on time, with an additional 10 minutes for gently simmering the fruit. Each serving is estimated using one pear and a portion of the spiced honey. The calorie count comes mostly from the honey, so enjoy in moderation.

As noted above, we have made our best effort to translate and adapt this historical recipe for modern kitchens, taking into account ingredients nowadays, cooking techniques, measurements, and so on. However, historical recipes often contain assumptions that require interpretation.

We'd love for anyone to help improve these adaptations. Community contributions are highly welcome. If you have suggestions, corrections, or cooking tips based on your experience with this recipe, please share them below.