A simple recipe for Homemade Apple Butter that you can make in the slow cooker. Use as a spread, a syrup or in your fall recipes! It’s one of the best apple recipes to make during the fall!
Homemade Apple Butter Recipe
Is it officially fall yet? The leaves are not yet turning orange and red, but last week our whole house was filled with the aroma of baking apples and cinnamon. Who needs an official date? Fall was happening
Who needs an official date for it to be considered fall? Fall was happening a week ago on my radar.
Fall is my absolute favorite time of year. You’ll find me huddled around a campfire, drinking warm apple cider…what could be better than that?
Well, maybe this.
I really don’t know what to say about this Homemade Apple Butter besides it’s really easy and it is unbelievably good. It’s one of those things that you take a spoonful of and say, “This could go in soooo many recipes!”
What is the difference between applesauce and apple butter?
Both apple butter and apple sauce are slow cooked apples and spices. Apple butter is cooked longer than applesauce which creates a thick, smooth, intense apple flavored spread.
How to Make Apple Butter
To make homemade apple butter, all you have to do is stick some apples in a crock pot with brown sugar, white sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and a dash of salt. Let it sit there all day, stirring occasionally, and BOOM! Apple Butter. It’s really that easy.
What do you do with apple butter?
My first bite reminded me of applesauce with a bit of tang to it. I love how when I put this homemade apple butter on a piece of white, fluffy bread, it completely changes the flavor! Instant, fall-flavored bread. You can put it in muffins & biscuits.
I also like to put this homemade apple butter on custard ice cream. Warm it slightly in the microwave and use it as a syrup on ice cream or fluffy pancakes. Because, why not?
- Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls
- Apple Butter Streusel Muffins
- Apple Butter Pie
- Apple Butter Buttercream Cupcakes
- Apple Butter Sheet Cake
What apples are best for apple butter?
For apple butter, we like to use Mcintosh, Red Delicious or Gala because they are easy to find in our stores. Although Granny Smith are great for baking, they are not recommended for apple butter. Also, some apples are sweeter than others. You can adjust how much sugar you use based on how sweet your apple is.
How to Make Apple Butter Smooth
Also, when your apple butter has slow-cooked all day, you can leave it slightly chunky, which is awesome for recipes, or you can put it through the blender (or use an immersion blender) and puree it. We made two batches. One we left chunky and made one batch perfectly smooth. You know…for those picky texture eaters.
How do you store homemade apple butter?
I’ve never canned this apple butter before, but if you know how to can, I’m sure it would work well. I like to freeze my apple butter because I have plenty of freezer space. Just spoon it into small, 1-cup freezer containers and pull them out as you need them!
Does apple butter need to be refrigerated after opening?
Yes! Make sure that you refrigerate your apple butter after you’ve opened the can or jar.
How much apple butter does this recipe make?
This recipe ends up making between 2-3 pins of apple butter. The difference is how much you cook it down.
Homemade Apple Butter
Ingredients
- 6 1/2 pounds apples peeled, cored and sliced
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place the apples in a slow cooker.
- Add the sugars, cinnamon, salt and vanilla to the crockpot. Mix well.
- Cook in slow cooker on low for about 10 hours, stirring every couple hours. The apple butter should be thick and dark brown.
- If desired, use a blender to puree the apple butter until smooth.
- Cover and refrigerate for up to two weeks or freeze in small containers.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Adapted from My Baking Addiction
I would never peel the apples; the peels add nutrients, flavor and color. An immersion blender takes care of the peels. Very smooth and tasty.
i had bought a case of apples.made several different things with them..but still had over four pounds of apples left.so this morning.3/19/14..i got on line and started to look for something to make..(apple cake) was my first though..after looking for at three hours i saw a ad on tv for apple butter..i didnt have any….AND I THAN DECIDED TO LOOK FOR A RECIPE FOR APPLE BUTTER..i came across this..WOW:WOW..VERY VERY GOOD..I WILL NEVER BUY STORE BOUGHT AGAIN…unless i really have to..THANK YOU..
HELLO.yes it WORKS WELL OVER NIGHT.I AM PUTTING A BATCH ON TONIGHT..(4/7/14)…just keep on LOW….MAKES THE WHOLE SMELL SO VERY GOOD..WE JUST LOVE THE APPLE BUTTER..
THANK YOU..
I made your recipe and loved it. So simple. I ended up cooking it down a bit longer to really concentrate it, and then canned it in some half pint jars I had on hand. It turned out great – I gave some as gifts to family. Currently on my last jar so will definitely make some more soon now that Autumn is here. Thanks for the inspiration!
This recipe sounds delight. I have some apples I am going to use for this recipe.I would like to know if I have to peel them and core them before I put them into the slow cooker. My hands are arthiritis so is difficult to do some of these things.
Recipe says one and one-half TABLESPOONS cinnamon. Video says one and one-half TEASPOONS cinnamon.
Of course I did not discover this until after adding the 1 & 1/2 TABLESPOON amount to my apple butter ingredients.
Aargh.
I am horrible at conversion: I only have 4lbs of apples. Does anyone know the conversion of the other ingredients?
I have to say you guys have THE best site online. I never fail to search and find something absolutely perfect and delicious for upcoming family getting together or friends over for dinner. I am holding a Tea Luncheon on the 15th and this apple butter will be delish on the menu. I am making several of your muffins as well. Thank you for doing such a fantastic job, your recipes honestly make me salivate!!!
Apple butter always makes me think of my grandma! This looks awesome!
i don’t need a lot made. I’m making for Christmas for my dad and some for my house. Do I need to modify the recipe and if so how much for just two big mason jars worth?
I made some using Granny smith and red and yellow delish, apples. didn’t need any sugar, but also tasted more like applesauce, so added some sugar and cooked longer and it was delishious. didn’t even need to blended cause with the extra cooking it was just as we liked
What to do if you don’t have a slow cooker? CAn I just put it on low for a very long time on the stove?
I made this recipe with organic apples from a friends orchard. We’re not sure of the variety but they have a sweet and tart flavor; beautiful red and green skins. I left the skins on. I puréed them in my Vitamix which yielded a beautiful rose color. I finished it off in a crock pot for 6 hours to thicken. The butter turned out thick and awesomely flavored! I’ll be making an other batch next weekend.
I had it on for 2 days and it is still runny. I turned mine into fruit leather. It would have been quicker making a puree and reducing it down. The flavour was nice though.
-HAD TO MAKE ANOTHE BATCH::MY FAMILY JUST :LOVED IT::THIS TIME I MADE A WHOLE CASE OF APPLES::(each case has 270 apples.)AND CANNED THEM:::THANK YOU::
CAN YOU COOK IT OVERNIGHT IN THE CROCK POT..SO IT READY TO GO IN THE MORNING..THANK YOU..
I just tried my first batch and I must say, it is absolutely amazing. I have an apple tree full of apples waiting to made into this lovely Apple Butter. Not making any apple sauce, this is so so so much better. Thank you!
I made this yesterday and it came out perfect. It was so perfect I went back to the store and bought a case of apples . Thanks. I wont ever be making jelly again. I love that it doesn’t have a ton of sugar .
Can i use a pressure cooker instead of a crock pot
We just made this and it was absolutely amazing! I did 20 lbs of apples and processed in an instant pot so it made 25 1/2 pint jars as we canned them for the holidays! I wish I was able to post pics! So love love love this!
Making it right now 😁
Hello! I’m wondering if you can tell me where you got the jar in the picture of the homemade apple butter? Thanks 🙂
I can’t wait for Fall – can you believe I’ve never made my own apple butter?
How much will this receive make?
Can I substitute splendid for the sugars?