Apple Butter

A little tangy and a little sweet with a whole lot of spice, this Homemade Crockpot Apple Butter is the ultimate fruit spread! This recipe is made that much easier with the help of a trusty slow cooker!  If you love this recipe, you will also love this Ganache and this Caramel Sauce.

The best part about Fall baking is hands down the smells. The autumnal scents of pumpkin, cinnamon, and vanilla wafting around a warm kitchen is pure nirvana. I’d bake all day long just to be immersed in heavy spice mingled with caramelized sweetness.

If you’re having a rough day, or you’re just in need of a little tenderness, try some Fall baking therapy. It works wonders.

Today, I’m sharing my newest favorite Autumn-inspired recipe: Homemade Apple Butter. Made with sweet Honeycrisp apples, lots of dark brown sugar, and a slew of warm spices, this butter is basically Fall in a jar. Did I mention the whole thing is made in a slow cooker? Yup, you read that right.

Simple, quick, and delicious, Apple Butter makes for a unique baking ingredient, a tasty topping, or even a holiday gift!

WHAT IS APPLE BUTTER?

Alright y’all, let’s clear something up- apple butter is not an apple-flavored butter. Honestly, I’m not even sure that would actually be any good.

Apple Butter is basically heavily concentrated and spiced applesauce.
A mixture of apples, sugar, and spice are combined, then cooked low-and-slow to create a super rich, smooth, and buttery substance.

Try spreading your apple butter on toast, stir it into oatmeal, top pancakes or waffles, or even brush it onto chicken or pork during the last few minutes of cooking!

BEST APPLES FOR APPLE BUTTER

I chose to use Honeycrisp for this recipe because they’re my absolute favorite! Sweet-tart with a light berry flavor and a fantastically crisp texture, Honeycrisps are near perfect baking apples.

But honestly, you can use any kind of apple you have on hand for this recipe or a combination of a few different varieties. Just be aware that softer options such as Fuji, Golden Delicious, McIntosh, or Jonagold will cook down faster.

I’d love to know what mix you guys chose! Let me know in the comments!

HOW TO MAKE APPLE BUTTER IN A CROCKPOT

Listen, as long as you’ve got an apple peeler and a slow cooker, this recipe couldn’t be easier. All you’ve gotta do is prep the apples, throw them into the slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients, toss, and let it rock!

After about 10 hours, the apples will be ready to be blended until smooth. Transfer the butter back into the slow cooker and continue to cook on low for an additional 1-2 hours. Keep an eye on the butter as it cooks for the second time. You are responsible for determining how thick you’d like the end result to be.

I cook my apple butter down quite a bit! I prefer a thicker, richer butter for optimal spreading texture. But seriously y’all, do you!

CROCKPOT APPLE BUTTER STORAGE

Homemade Apple Butter can actually last in the freezer for up to a year. Preserve the quality of your butter by storing it in a tightly sealed glass jar.  If you want to store in the refrigerator, it should last about a month.

To check if it’s safe to eat you should use your senses. The smell, look, and taste of it are your best bet to check if it’s gone bad.

The biggest giveaways that it’s expired are the sight and smell of it. If it gives off a bad odor or you notice dark or white spots or mold, then it should definitely be thrown away.

MORE GRANDBABY CAKES APPLE RECIPES

Love this apple recipe? Don’t stop here! Check out a few more of my BEST apple recipes:

• SPICED APPLE CIDER 
• APPLE TARTE TATIN
• APPLE CRISP FRENCH TOAST 
• CARAMEL APPLE CHEESECAKE
• BAKED WHOLE APPLES

Apple Butter

A little tangy and a little sweet with a whole lot of spice, this Homemade Apple Butter is the ultimate fruit spread! This recipe is made that much easier with the help of a trusty slow cooker! 

5 from 7 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 hours hours

Total Time: 10 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 3 Cups

Calories: 650kcal

Author: Jocelyn Delk Adams

Ingredients

• ▢ 3 lbs Honeycrisp apples peeled, cored and chopped (about 6 large of 9-10 medium sized)
• ▢ 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
• ▢ 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• ▢ 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ▢ 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ▢ 1/4 tsp ground allspice
• ▢ 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• ▢ 1/8 tsp ground ginger
• ▢ pinch of salt

Instructions

• Add chopped apples, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, allspice, nutmeg, ginger and salt to a slower cooker. Stir to combine ingredients well.
• Cover and cook on low for 10 hours. Once complete, add mixture to a heavy duty blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
• If you want a thicker apple butter, transfer it back into the slow cooker and cook for an additional 1-2 hours with the lid of the slow cooker slowly ajar so that steam can release. Stir the butter every 30 minutes, cooking until you’ve reached your desired thickness.
• Store the apple butter in an airtight jar or container, then place it in the refrigerator.

Notes

Homemade Apple Butter can actually last in the freezer for up to a year. Preserve the quality of your butter by storing it in a tightly sealed glass jar.  If you want to store in the refrigerator, it should last about a month.

To check if it’s safe to eat you should use your senses. The smell, look, and taste of it are your best bet to check if it’s gone bad.

The biggest giveaways that it’s expired are the sight and smell of it. If it gives off a bad odor or you notice dark or white spots or mold, then it should definitely be thrown away.

Nutrition

Calories: 650kcal | Carbohydrates: 169g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 26mg | Potassium: 592mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 152g | Vitamin A: 248IU | Vitamin C: 21mg | Calcium: 97mg | Iron: 1mg

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