Description
This homemade apple butter recipe is rich, spiced, and slow-cooked to perfection. With no peeling required, it’s an easy way to transform fresh apples into a silky spread bursting with fall flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) sweet apples (Golden Delicious, Fuji, Gala, or McIntosh), cored and chopped into small pieces
- 1 cup (200 g) brown sugar, firmly packed
- 3/4 cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 vanilla bean (or 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract)
Instructions
- Core and chop apples into small pieces (about 1/4 inch) without peeling. Place in a large slow cooker.
- In a bowl, combine brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, salt, and cloves. Sprinkle over apples and stir to coat evenly.
- Cover and cook on low heat for 10 hours, until apples are soft and caramelized.
- Use an immersion blender to puree apples until completely smooth. If using a standard blender, work in batches.
- Scrape seeds from the vanilla bean (or add extract) into the apple puree. Stir to combine.
- Cook uncovered on low for an additional 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until thickened to desired consistency.
- Cool and store in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or freeze for longer storage.
Notes
- Do not use tart apples like Granny Smith; they are too firm and require more sugar.
- For a sugar-free version, substitute sweeteners like monk fruit or erythritol.
- Apple butter will thicken more as it cools.
- Freeze for up to 3 months for long-term storage.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 hours
- Category: Condiment
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 0.25 cup
- Calories: 75
- Sugar: 17g
- Sodium: 36mg
- Fat: 1g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: apple butter, slow cooker apple butter, fall recipes, homemade apple butter, easy apple butter recipe