This tasty Homemade Apple Butter Recipe is worth the wait! After picking your favorite assortment of sweet and tart apples, add just a few spices and let this sweet sauce simmer in your crock pot. Not to be confused with butter, it is delicious spreading this over everything (like butter)!
It’s been a busy week and I am working to get this recipe out to you fast. I hope you enjoy this one. Apple butter can be a great gift for the holidays. Don’t be confused by the name! Apple Butter has nothing to do with butter. I considered renaming it Apple Spread, but it doesn’t have the same ring.
This sauce will look like a brown chunky soup when it is finished but it will taste like heaven. It will also make your home smell delicious. Grab your bag of apples from the orchard and get busy!
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE APPLE BUTTER IN YOUR SLOW COOKER
This simple recipe makes apple picking worth picking out the best apples from the tree and carrying them home worth it!
STEP 1
Select your 10 medium apples, peeled cored and cut into chunks.
Place all of the cored and chopped apples along with the sugar and spices in a large crockpot. I like to use a variety of apples – for this particular recipe I used Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apples. Use as many different kinds as you’d like! The more, the merrier!
STEP 2
Cook times options: Cover and cook on High for 4 hours for maximum apple flavor to cook up! You also have the option to set your crock pot on Low for 7 to 8 hours.
STEP 3
Now to move your cooked apples into jars to enjoy all fall! Let’s create a simple water bath.
In a large saucepan, boil six 1/2-pint mason jars, along with their lids. One at a time, remove one jar and matching lid from the boiling water and fill the sterilized jar with the hot apple butter. Tightly seal the lid and store in a cool place. Repeat the process with the remaining jars. The jars will seal on their own.
RECIPE TIPS
Decrease the amount of brown sugar in the recipe for a less sugary treat.
Replace brown sugar with dark brown sugar for a bolder, deeper flavor.
You do NOT need to use a regular blender and puree this mix. It will cook down on its own. Mash the mixture with a potato masher to give it a smoother consistency. If desired, use an immersion blender for an even smoother texture (I do not do this, as I prefer mine on the slightly chunky side).
For a much healthier snack that tastes similar to apple butter, consider making Instant Pot Applesauce or Crockpot Apple sauce.
WHAT TYPES OF APPLES ARE GOOD FOR APPLE BUTTER
I recommend using a variety of apples and at the very least, use two kinds: one sweet and one tart. My favorite combo is Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples.
Sweet/Softer Apple Brands
Fuji
Honeycrisp
Red Delicious
Golden Delicious
Cortland
Gala
Tart (or a little Sour) Apple Brands
Granny Smith
McIntosh
Ida Red
Braeburn
Empire
Jonathan
WHAT IS APPLE BUTTER
Apples stewed into a paste is a simple way to use your leftover apples. It’s not butter, but it spreads smoothly like butter so that’s where the name comes from. It is a spread or condiment to enjoy when paired with other foods. The caramelization that happens while the mixture cooks down is what gives it that rich, dark color. It’s worth the time and effort to make it yourself. The aroma will fill your house and smell amazing!
WHAT TO DO WITH APPLE BUTTER
You might not be familiar with apple butter, but once you’re introduced to it you will find that there isn’t a lack of food to enjoy it on. Perfect for toast or pancakes, you can also enjoy it on top of muffins, cookies and croissants. Enjoy it as a dip or a marinade. You can even try using it as an ingredient in baked goods. These Apple Butter Cookies are DELICIOUS!
ARE APPLES GOOD FOR YOU
Good news! The recommendation is that you enjoy an apple in the morning hours of your day. Apples are high in dietary fiber and pectin found in the peels of apples. This will help you avoid poor digestion at night.Fruit can help your stomach to empty more slowly, helping you to stay feeling full longer and not prone to snack/eat between meals.
HOW MANY CALORIES IN AN APPLE
One medium apple contains approximately 95 calories.
HOW MANY CARBS IN AN APPLE
One medium apple contains approximately 25 grams of carbohydrates.
CAN DOGS EAT APPLES
Apple seeds contain cyanide, so avoid feeding apple cores to dogs. The flesh and skin are safe and even healthy for dogs!
MORE DELICIOUS FALL APPLE RECIPES
Appledoodles – Cookies are a fun twist on the classic snickerdoodles! Great way to use up apples in the fall!
Apple Coffee Cake – This is the best Apple Coffee Cake recipe you’ll find. Enjoy as an indulgent breakfast treat or an any-time snack or dessert!
Salted Chocolate Caramel Apples – sprinkling of sea salt and a bit of chocolate turns Caramel Apples into an extravagant dessert.. Salted Chocolate Caramel Apples!
Apple Carrot Cake Muffins – Apples and carrots create the most delicious little muffin you could ever imagine. These babies are moist and yummy and will not last long in your kitchen. Great as a snack, breakfast or dessert!
Salted Caramel Apple Cheesecake – the only thing better than salted caramel apples is Salted Caramel Apple Cheesecake! This is the perfect fall treat and a great way to use up any type of apples.
Apple French Toast Bake – Transform classic French Toast into an appley indulgence! Prepare this easy Apple French Toast Bake recipe the night before so there’s no morning prep! It’s also wonderful as a make and bake option. Pour some maple syrup over the steamy cinnamon apples and you’ll have a tasty breakfast for one or many!
OTHER PERFECT FALL TREATS
Best Pumpkin Bars -These bars make the perfect fall dessert. They are moist, irresistible and full of yummy pumpkin flavor. Great for your next fall gathering.
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds – Don’t let those delicious little pumpkin seeds go to waste when carving pumpkins! Learn how to prepare those raw pumpkins seeds. Season and roast them, they’re easy to make! They turn into a delicious little fall snack that will get gobbled up by all.
Halloween Snack Mix – This sweet and salty Halloween Snack Mix is a great Fall snack to have on hand. It is perfect for a handful on the run or a great snack for kiddos after school! It’s also great for Fall- or Halloween-themed parties! Mix and match the snacks you have on hand to build your snack mix.
Homemade Apple Butter
Equipment
- Crock Pot
Ingredients
- 10 medium apples peeled cored and cut into chunks
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- Juice from 1 lemon
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 tbsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp. cloves
Instructions
- Place apples, vinegar, both sugars, lemon juice, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves in a large crock pot. Cook on High for 4 hours or Low for 7 to 8 hours. Use a potato masher to smooth the mixture. If desired, use an immersion blender for a smoother texture.
- Pour mixture into mason jars and seal. Chill and spread on toast or muffins.
Notes
Replace brown sugar with dark brown sugar for a bolder, deeper flavor.
You do NOT need to use a blender to puree this mix. It will cook down on its own. Mash the mixture with a potato masher to give it a smoother consistency. If desired, use an immersion blender for an even smoother texture (I do not do this, as I prefer mine on the slightly chunky side).
Use a variety of apples and at the very least, use two kinds: one sweet and one tart. My favorite combo is Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples.
I was also wondering about the shelf life. Does this need to be refrigerated? I made some a while back and now that I'm learning more about making other kinds of preserves I'm a little afraid to eat it.
I saw that some one already mentioned pork chops, but any pork part will do stuff it into pork tenderloin, or onto pork shoulder for an amazing marinade. Also you can fill sweet pastry with it to create little apple dumplings.
ps. I LOVE YOUR BLOG!!!
Yummy apple butter! I've never made it before.
I just found your blog tonight & am overwhelmed at all the wonderful, yummy goodness you have on here! I think I'm going overboard on posting…..I made apple butter for the first time this year, so easy in the crock pot! Besides putting it on toast, you can put it on your pancakes instead of syrup. And, I've found recipes where people use it to make an applesauce cake. And then, there's always just putting it over some vanilla ice cream….but, I love the idea of the pork chops, I'll have to try that!
My grandmother used to make a cinnamon swirl sour creme bundt cake every year at christmas, we all loved it so much when i was little it went to a year round request, so to make it a little different at christmastime, she started mixing some cornstarch with her applebutter to thicken it a little and when she would put the ribbon of cinnamon and brown sugar in the bundt cake she would add an extra ribbon of apple butter for an added surprise.
Yes brings back memories of my grandmother and the smell in the kitchen. I put it on oatmeal in the morning instead of other sweeteners. Also try a some warmed apple butter on ice cream. A less sweet topping.
Do you know the shelf life on these since they're not technically canned? I know the jars/lids/rings are sterilized and they're self-sealing, but since they're not boiled after being put in the jars, how long will they last? And is that what the apple cider vinegar is for–to help keep them more shelf stable?
This is really good to use as a marinade for pork chops…simply marinate the chops in the apple butte overnight. To add a little savoriness to the dish sprinkle in some dried rosemary either in the marinade itself or onto the chops directly once out of the marinade. These chops can either be pan fried or baked or pan seared then baked. I am actually planning on this one day next week!!
Yummy apple butter! I've never made it before.
I've never made apple butter, but I remember my great grandmother and mom making it when I was little. It involved hours and hours of baking and stirring, then running it through a food mill, canning it, etc. I've asked family and friends if they like apple butter, and the answer is unanimously YES. I'm totally making this for Christmas gifts this year!!