Julie Clark
Posted: Updated:
Homemade Apple Butter Recipe
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A simple Homemade Apple Butter recipe 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.
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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 crockpot 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.
What apples are best for apple butter?
For apple butter, we like to use Mcintosh, Fuji, 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
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.
How to Make Apple Butter Smooth
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 until it is your desired consistency.
We made two batches. One we left chunky and made one batch perfectly smooth. You know…for those picky texture eaters.
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 or toast, 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 or waffles. You can even put a spoonful on top of yogurt or over oven baked pork chops. Because, why not?
- Apple Butter Cinnamon Rolls
- Apple Butter Streusel Muffins
- Apple Butter Pie
- Apple Butter Buttercream Cupcakes
- Apple Butter Sheet Cake
Storage Instructions
Refrigerate the apple butter in an airtight container after it has cooled.
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!
I’ve never canned this apple butter before, but if you know how to can, I’m sure it would work well.
How much does this recipe make?
This recipe ends up making between 2-3 pints of apple butter. The difference is how much you cook it down.
Homemade Apple Butter Recipe
A simple Homemade Apple Butter recipe that you can make in the slow cooker. Use as a spread, a syrup or in your fall recipes.
Servings 20
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 10 hours
Total Time 10 hours 25 minutes
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.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook 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 blend the apple butter into a purée until smooth.
- Cover and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or freeze in small containers.
Video
Notes
Adjust the sugar to your liking.
For different flavor variations, add ground cloves or ground nutmeg along wit the cinnamon.
Many people have left reviews that they leave the peels on the apples. Feel free to do that if you’d like. We prefer the apples peeled.
Nutrition
Calories: 120kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Sodium: 32mg | Potassium: 167mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 80IU | Vitamin C: 6.8mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 0.3mg
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 made this recipe this week and was very happy with it! I cut the cinnamon in half, using 3/4 Tablespoon and it was just right. I used Gala apples and next time I might cut the sugar a little bit. It is so easy to prepare everything ahead of time, put it in the fridge and start your slow cooker in the morning and in 8 to 10 hours its ready. I let it sit to cool abit, then put it through my VitaMix (blender). I also heated it again, put it in jars and gave it a hot… Read more »
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..
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!
I am horrible at conversion: I only have 4lbs of apples. Does anyone know the conversion of the other ingredients?
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.
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 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.
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.
CAN YOU COOK IT OVERNIGHT IN THE CROCK POT..SO IT READY TO GO IN THE MORNING..THANK YOU..
How long does this last in the fridge with no actual canning process?
This is the third time I’m making this. My husband and I have it for breakfast everything morning on our 15 grain toast. It is wonderful! We are definitely hooked. I use Swerve sugar replacement (brown & granular) which has no affect on blood sugar and it tastes delicious.
Apple butter always makes me think of my grandma! This looks awesome!
I would like to can the apple butter
After making do you have to put it in the refrigerator or freezer it or can you just put it in jars and leave it out on the countertop