Home > Desserts > Frosting, Sauces, & Toppings > Apple Butter Apple Butter November 11, 2023 | No Comments SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Jump to Recipe This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy. Apple Butter–made effortlessly! No need to peel the apples; just dice and toss them into a slow cooker with spices and sugar. As it simmers, enjoy the incredible scent! Spread on toast or enjoy by the spoonful! What Is Apple Butter? Not to be confused with Applesauce, Apple Butter is a thick, smooth spread made from apples slow cooked with sugar until caramelized. Unlike its name suggests, it contains no dairy. It has a rich, deep brown color and a sweet, slightly tangy flavor, and often enhanced with spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Instead of dairy butter, think of it as more like peanut butter–only instead of roasted and blended peanuts, this is cooked and blended apples! Apple Butter Ingredients Diced sweet apples: Look for varieties like Fuji or Honeycrisp for natural sweetness. Light brown sugar: Ensure it’s fresh and free of clumps for even sweetness. White granulated sugar: Store in a dry place to prevent hardening. Ground cinnamon and nutmeg: A little can go a long way; adjust to preference. Fine sea salt: Enhances flavors and helps to balance sweetness. Vanilla extract: Pure extract provides a richer flavor than imitation. Fresh lemon juice: Adds a touch of brightness; go for the freshly squeezed kind. How To Make Apple Butter Dice apples: No need to peel; just core and dice. Combine ingredients: In a slow cooker, add apples, sugars, and spices. Slow cook: Set to low and cook for 11-12 hours or high for 5-7 hours. Blend: Transfer to a blender and blend until smooth. Add vanilla and lemon: Stir in for flavor. Cool and store: Transfer to jars and refrigerate. QUICK TIP If you like, use an immersion blender for the mixture. However, I find a high-powered blender gives the apple butter an ultra-smooth finish. What Is Apple Butter Used For? Spread: On toast, bagels, muffins, or scones Filling: In pastries, pies, tarts, or doughnuts Topping: On pancakes, waffles, or oatmeal Sauce: Swirl into yogurt, ice cream, or smoothie bowls Baking: Add moisture to cakes or muffins Glaze: For meats like pork or chicken Dip: Pair with soft cheeses or serve with charcuterie boards Sandwiches: Add to grilled cheese or PB&J for a twist. STORAGE Storage Refrigerator: Sealed, apple butter lasts 2-3 weeks. Freezer: Store in a freezer-safe container up to 12 months. Canned: Properly canned, it’ll last up to a year in a cool, dark place. Check for mold or off smells before use. More Apple Recipes: Apple Cobbler Apple Smoothie (Protein shake) Chicken Salad with Apples Apple Crumble Caramel Apple Bar FOLLOW ALONG! Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates, recipes and content. Apple Butter 5 from 1 vote - Review this recipe The BEST Apple Butter-- made effortlessly! No need to peel the apples; just dice and toss them into a slow cooker with spices and sugar. As it simmers, enjoy the incredible scent! Spread on toast or enjoy by the spoonful! SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe Apple Butter 5 from 1 vote - Review this recipe SAVE TO RECIPE BOX Print Recipe The BEST Apple Butter-- made effortlessly! No need to peel the apples; just dice and toss them into a slow cooker with spices and sugar. As it simmers, enjoy the incredible scent! Spread on toast or enjoy by the spoonful! Course Appetizer, condiment, Dessert Cuisine American, Healthy, Vegetarian Keyword apple butter, crockpot apple butter Prep Time 30 minutes minutes Cook Time 11 hours hours Total Time 11 hours hours 30 minutes minutes Servings 6 cups Chelsea Lords Calories 420kcal Author Chelsea Lords Cost $8.83 Equipment6 quart slow cooker Ingredients▢ 16 cups diced sweet apples (See Note 1)▢ 1 cup light brown sugar tightly packed▢ ¾ cup white granulated sugar▢ 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon▢ ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg▢ ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt▢ 1 tablespoon vanilla extract▢ 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice InstructionsAPPLE PREP: No need to peel the apples! Dice them into small pieces, about ¼-inch in size. Remove and discard the cores. Transfer the diced apples to the slow cooker.COMBINE: Add the brown sugar, white sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt right on top. Stir gently until apples are well-coated with the mixture.COOK: Cover slow cooker and cook on low for 11-12 hours or on high for 5-7 hours. We're looking for very soft apples.BLEND: Once cooking time is up, turn off the slow cooker and let the mixture cool slightly. Transfer the apple mixture to a high-powered blender in batches. With caution (See Note 2), blend until you achieve a silky smooth texture.FINISH: Mix in the vanilla extract and lemon juice. Taste and adjust accordingly - you might want to add more sugar if you prefer it sweeter or a bit more lemon juice for acidity. Note that the apple butter will thicken further upon chilling. If you desire an even thicker consistency, put the mixture back into the slow cooker and cook uncovered on low for another 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally.STORE: Pour the apple butter into large, wide-mouth mason jars. Refrigerate and use within 2 weeks. Enjoy the spread! We love it by the spoonful, on toasted English muffins or sourdough bread, spooned on oatmeal, etc. Video Recipe NotesNote 1: Apples: The best apple butter I've made combines half Fuji and half Honeycrisp apples. Gala and Golden Delicious also work well. Avoid firm or tart apples like Granny Smith. For the right quantity, you'll need approximately 5 ½ pounds of apples before dicing. This should yield around 16 packed cups once cored and diced. Note 2: Blending: When blending hot mixtures, make sure the lid is securely in place, and start at a slow speed to prevent splattering and potential burns. Don't overfill the blender; blend in batches. Nutrition FactsServing: 1serving | Calories: 420kcal | Carbohydrates: 108g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Sodium: 111mg | Potassium: 418mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 96g | Vitamin A: 184IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 1mg We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed. DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? I love hearing from you when you've made one of my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @ChelseasMessyApron or leave me a comment below.
