Slow Cooker Apple Butter

This Slow Cooker Apple Butter is SO easy to make. It does take awhile, but don’t let the time scare you, the slow cooker does the work. It is a very hands-off recipe. And the best part? Your house will smell amazing while the apple butter is cooking. I promise it is better than any fall candle you can buy

Is Apple Butter Actually Butter?

No, apple butter isn’t real butter. It doesn’t have any dairy in it, it’s concentrated fruit. It is spreadable like butter, but more similar to jam or preserves. The butter name comes from it’s smooth and buttery texture. Apple butter tastes like sweet apples with a hint of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.

Simple Ingredients

• Apples– you will need 6 pounds of apples for this recipe. Honey crisp, Golden delicious, Gala, Fuji, Pink Lady, McIntosh, and Cortland apples are all good options. Kroger always has a great selection of fresh apples. You can use one variety or mix and match! Peel, core, and slice the apples. To speed up the process, you can use an apple peeler that cores the apple at the same time.

• Brown sugar– always pack your brown sugar when measuring.

• Granulated sugar– you need regular white sugar too.

• Spices– cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves! The best fall spices!

• Pinch of salt– just a little!

• Vanilla extract- a must!

How to Make Apple Butter

I love using the slow cooker to make apple butter so it can cook for several hours. Slow cooking the apples allows the apples to release their sugars and caramelize as the mixture cooks. The apple butter will turn dark in color. It is sweet, perfectly spiced, and tastes like fall!

• Place the apple slices in a large bowl. Add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Stir until well combined.

• Place the apple slices in a large slow cooker.

• Cover and cook on high 5 hours, or low 10 hours, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender and dark brown.

• Remove the lid and stir in the vanilla extract. Puree with an immersion blender until smooth.

• Cook on high for an additional 1.5 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally, so the mixture can thicken.

• Spoon into jars or containers. Let cool and then cover and refrigerate.

How to Store

You can keep homemade apple butter in a sealed jar or container for up to 1 month. To make sure it is fresh, you can smell it, if it has an odd odor or if mold appears, throw it out.

You can also freeze apple butter for up to 3 months. Thaw and enjoy!

You can can apple butter with the water bath method, but I am not a canning expert, and haven’t tried it.

What Do You Use Apple Butter For?

• Spread it on fresh bread, toast, biscuits, bagels, rolls, or muffins.

• Stir it into oatmeal or overnight oats. You can also add a dollop on top of baked oatmeal.

• Use it as a topping for pancakes, waffles, or French toast.

• Spread it on a grilled cheese sandwich.

• Serve with a cheese and crackers or add a small bowl to

• Go savory and brush it on chicken or pork chops.

More Apple Recipes

• Apple Pie Filling

• Apple Crumble

• Homemade Apple Cider

• Apple Chip Cake

• Apple Scrap Jelly

Instructions

1. Place the apple slices in a large bowl. Add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Stir until well combined.

2. Place the apple slices in a large slow cooker.

3. Cover and cook on high 5 hours, or low 10 hours, stirring occasionally, until the apples are tender and dark brown.

4. Remove the lid and stir in the vanilla extract. Puree with an immersion blender until smooth.

5. Cook on high for an additional 1.5 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally, so the mixture can thicken.

6. Spoon into jars or containers. Let cool and then cover and refrigerate for up to 1 month.

7. Spread on bread, biscuits, or muffins, stir into yogurt or oatmeal, or top your pancakes, waffles, and French toast with it! It also makes a great gift!

Notes

Weigh the apples before you peel, core, and slice them. I like to use a mix of apples. Honey crisp, Golden delicious, Gala, Fuji, Pink Lady, McIntosh, and Cortland apples are all good options.

If you don’t have an immersion blender, you can also carefully transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Return to the slow cooker to finish cooking.

Makes about 8 cups of apple butter.