Sunday, September 9, 2012

Apple Butter

Updated August 2020

I love Apple Butter! It's like a right of passage, as summer gives way to fall, and leaves begin to change colors and fall, one simply must make apple butter. 

There's something wonderful about the spicy smell as its cooking that just says "yes it's fall!"

Many times I make this in a slow cooker, but you can also cook it low and slow on top of the stove. Either way works well, you just have to stir it more often when on the stove top to keep it from burning.

5 1/2 - 6 pounds apples, cored - no need to peel* (or 4 quarts homemade applesauce)
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar/juice/cider
2 cups brown sugar
1 tbls. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. allspice
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. cardamom
1 tsp. ginger

Core apples to remove core and seeds, no need to peel. Place the apples in a slow cooker. In a medium bowl, mix the vinegar, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, allspice and nutmeg. Pour the mixture over the apples in the slow cooker and mix well.

Cover and cook on high 2 hours.

Reduce heat to low and cook 9 to 11 hours, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is thickened and dark brown (prop lid up slightly by laying a wooden spoon across one end of the slow cooker, resting the lid on top of the spoon during the last 2-3 hours of cooking time).

Blend cooked apple butter in a blender, or use an immersion blender before processing. Apple butter is done when you can stand a spoon up in it.

Spoon finished apple butter into sterile containers, cover and refrigerate, freeze, or can it.

**If cooking on the stove top, cook over low heat, stirring often, 6-8 hours or until desired thickness. 

Fill 8 oz. jars with hot apple butter leaving a 1/2-inch head-space. Process jars in a boiling water bath or steam canner 15 minutes.

Cooks note - *The peels of the apple contain a lot of taste and pectin so I always use them, and they will blend right upApple Butter will reduce in half approximately when cooking down, so if you start with 4 quarts of applesauce, you'll end up with 2 quarts or slightly less. 

Don't forget to try this Apple Butter Cake!

Yield: 6-7 - 8 oz jars






  2. What happens to the skin? Do I have to strain this to separate the skin from the butter?

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