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
Is it necessary to cook for 10 hours
I don’t see any liquid, other than the vanilla, did I miss it?
I peeled 1/2 the apples, cored all of the — not totally but 98% of the way. When I used the immersion blender the apple butter trusted out smooth as, well butter ☺️ DO NOT be afraid to not peel the apples as long as you clean them with a brush.
I used 1/4 cup of white sugar & 1/4 cup of honey & it is delicious
Do it matter if i use dark brown sugar or light brown sugar.
HOW did you get 6 1/2 pounds of apples in a residential crockpot? I have the biggest crockpot I have ever seen in a home. I weighed the apples before I began peeling and coring and I don’t think I could even cram half of them in my crock pot. I make chili for 4 adults, everyone gets seconds and I have leftovers, so it is big. I cut everything else in half and just hoping it turns out ok
Someone asked what the serving size was and you did not answer. Is it a tablespoon, 1/4 c, 1/2 c etc. you give other info but you left out serving size=?
I am going to make this today.
Thank you
Was reading your reviews after making my own apple butter today. Nice to know I can freeze in a jar, thanks! I also wanted to say to a couple replies: that i add a bit of water 1/3 c., to the crock when i cook on high so it won’t burn. But also, i use fuji apples and i never peal them. I puree them in a blender after 6 hours, then continue to cook it in the crockpot on high for 2 more hours with the lid off to reduce it, stirring it about every 10 min. Its perfect… Read more »
Would it be possible to make this on the stovetop if you don’t have a crockpot?
How many pints does this make
If I sterilize my hard and process them the same way I would if I were making pickles or jelly, will the apple butter be shelf stable for as long as a jelly would? Have you tried this out?
i leave the skins on cause when you puree in the blender – all smooth waa laa.. the skins have nutrients too, so why not use them.. i also water bath mine then they will last for a long time instead of the refirigeration method. i have also made jalepeno apple butter by just adding a couple of jalepenos for that extra zip variation. this is the easiest way to make apple butter i have ever found use to do it the old school way grandma taught me. tried this once and have been doing it ever since.
Thanks for the recipe! Can i substitute stevia? If so, how much should i use?
can you use frozen apples to make apple butter
Can I prepare the apples the night before ? like peeling? or does this make the apples bad?
I just made this recipe and it was AMAZING. I also boiled 1 cup of orange juice with 1 tablespoon of whole cloves and 1 tablespoon allspice on the stove-top for about 20 minutes and then added it to the crock-pot during the last two hours of cooking for a bit of warm spice flavor. EXCELLENT. I was able to fill 3 pint sized mason jars which I plan on bringing to work for colleagues. Thanks for sharing!