Description
This easy homemade Apple Butter Recipe offers a warm, richly spiced, and thick spread perfect for toast, muffins, or biscuits. Made from simple ingredients slow-cooked to develop deep apple flavor, it’s a cozy staple for breakfasts, snacks, and thoughtful gifts.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 6 pounds sweet, crisp apples (such as Fuji or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and chopped
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
Instructions
- Prepare Your Apples: Wash, peel, core, and chop your apples into small chunks. Smaller pieces cook more evenly and break down faster into a smooth butter.
- Combine Ingredients in Pot: Place the chopped apples, sugar, spices, apple cider vinegar, and water into a large heavy-bottomed pot or slow cooker. Stir well to combine all the flavors before cooking.
- Cook Slowly: Simmer the mixture over low heat for approximately 2–3 hours, stirring occasionally. If using a slow cooker, set it on low for 6–8 hours, stirring once or twice. The apples will soften and darken the mixture to a rich brown color.
- Blend Until Smooth: Once the apples are tender and the mixture thick, use an immersion blender directly in the pot or transfer in batches to a regular blender. Puree until silky smooth with no chunks remaining.
- Reduce to Desired Thickness: Return the blended apple butter to the pot and cook uncovered on low heat until it reaches your favorite spreadable consistency, usually about 30–45 minutes. Stir frequently to prevent burning.
- Jar and Cool: Spoon the hot apple butter into sterilized jars or containers. Let cool completely before sealing and refrigerating to preserve freshness.
Notes
- Use fresh apples for best flavor and natural sweetness.
- Cook the apple butter low and slow to develop rich, complex flavors.
- Stir often during the final thickening to prevent sticking and burning.
- Adjust sugar mid-cooking to suit your desired level of sweetness.
- Use sterilized containers for jarring to extend shelf life and ensure safety.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 2-3 hours (stovetop) or 6-8 hours (slow cooker) plus 30-45 minutes reduction
- Category: Condiments
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 80
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 21g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: apple butter, homemade apple spread, slow cooked apple butter, fall breakfast recipe, vegan spread, gluten free condiment
