Wash, peel, core, and chop the pears into ½-inch pieces. Drizzle a little lemon juice over the chopped pears to prevent browning.

In a heavy-bottomed pot, combine chopped pears, granulated sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Let sit for 10 minutes.

Place the pot over medium heat, bring to a boil while stirring frequently. Reduce heat to medium-low and add vanilla extract, cinnamon, ginger, and a pinch of salt.

Allow the mixture to simmer uncovered for 30-40 minutes, stirring every 5-10 minutes until thickened.

To test consistency, drop a spoonful onto a cold plate; it should hold its shape. If too thin, continue simmering.

Remove from heat and let cool for about 5 minutes. Transfer into sterilized jars, cool completely before sealing.