How To Series: Making Delicious Apple Butter

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Why Apple Butter Will Be Your New Favorite Fall Condiment

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There’s no denying it – Fall is officially here.  It’s been over a week, so I suppose it’s time to admit that summer is finally over.  Boo!  But with this Autumn entrance comes so many delicious treats and sweets, so it can’t be all that bad, right?  One of the most plentiful foods every Fall, especially in the Northeast, is apples!  Local farms have apple picking opportunities, apple flavored items are abundant and nearly all recipes that feature apples scream comfort.  So today, I’d like to share with you my favorite Fall apple flavored condiment – apple butter!   

So What is Apple Butter? 

You’ve probably heard of it, maybe you’ve even had it.  If you like the taste of apples, you’ll LOVE apple butter.  Apple butter is composed of apples, some type of cooking liquid, flavorings, and sweeteners.  It cooks low and slow for a long time, creating this luscious texture, deep caramel color and intense apple flavor.  The condiment is rather thick, giving it the name butter.  Rest assured – there isn’t any actual butter within it, so this is safe for all of our vegan friends.  Apple butter can be used in many savory and sweet applications but honestly, I like it most on a piece of toast to let all the appley-ness come through. 

Wait, how is this different from applesauce? 

Maybe you are thinking that this sounds an awful lot like applesauce – could they be the same thing?  Yes, but not exactly.  The difference between the two is that apple butter takes everything a step further, intensifying the flavors of the apples and spices, creating a thick, jam-y type spread.  Apple sauce is more loose, more watery and lighter in flavor (& color).  Sometimes apple sauce can be chunky, but apple butter is always smooth.  Both are delicious and can be used interchangeably in many applications, but there’s no denying the flavor punch apple butter provides to both sweet and savory dishes. 

Apple sauce and apple butter can be started in similar ways.  Generally, you’ll cook down apples with some type of liquid, before adding sweeteners and spices.  Apple sauce can be milder in flavor, but apple butter has a more intense fall-spice flavor due to the long cooking and liquid evaporation.    

Apple sauce and butter can both be cooked on the stove top.  But honestly, I find apple butter to be easiest in the slow cooker.  Because it takes so long, I can set it up and let it go, while I accomplish other tasks.  Sometimes, I’ll make this overnight.  Imagine the scent you wake up to when this has been brewing all night – heaven!  

How Difficult Is This to Do?

Apple sauce is super easy (& quick) to make on the stove top.   Combine your favorite apples (I prefer a mix), with some liquid (I prefer apple cider for extra flavor, but water is fine too) & cook down until the fruit has softened.  Then add your choice of sweetener (if any at all) and flavorings (consider vanilla or experiment with your favorite fall spices).  You can keep it chunky or puree with an immersion blender.  Whatever you prefer – have at it.  

To make apple butter from apple sauce, transfer the apple/water mixture into a slow cooker and then add the sweeteners and spices.  Cook on low for several hours.  The longer you cook it, the darker in color and thicker in texture it will be.  In fact, later in the cooking process, you’ll need to remove the lid of the slow cooker to let more water evaporate and the colors darken. 

Note that like anything else, personal tastes differ, so consider experimenting with your favorite flavors and customize this basic recipe to meet your own needs.  As with everything in cooking, make food that YOU enjoy and want to eat. 

Here’s how I make apple butter. 

• Place 6 cups of peeled and sliced apples in a slow cooker.  I prefer a mixed variety.

• Add ½ cup of apple cider to apples and stir.  (I added the sugar already in this picture.) 

• In a separate bowl, combine 1/2 cup brown sugar & 1/4 cup granulated sugar (or less for sweeter apples), a pinch of salt (1/8 t) with 1 teaspoon of cinnamon & 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice

• Add to apple/cider/spice mixture in a 6 quart slow cooker and stir and combine.  

• Cook on low for 8 hours, stirring once halfway through.

• After 8 hours, remove the lid and use an immersion blender to pulverize the fruit into as smooth a consistency as you prefer.  If you don’t have an immersion blender, just use a regular blender in batches and be very careful with the hot steam.

• Cook uncovered on low another 2 hours until thickened and brown.

Things to Consider:

You may consider cooking for a longer or shorter duration based on your preferences.  With the lid on, you’ll want to make sure the fruit has softened.  With the lid off, you’ll want to make sure the mixture has thickened enough (think jam-like) and turned a pretty shade of dark caramel.  PRO-Tip: Run the back of a wooden spoon through the mixture.  If the 2 sides stay separate, you have reached the perfect sage.  

Once cooked, you can cool the apple butter and place in jars the refrigerator for a couple weeks (if it lasts that long!).  You can also place the HOT mixture in sterilized jars to can via a water bath and keep for several months (to enjoy all winter!).

Consider using your new favorite fall condiment on (or in!) pancakes or waffles for breakfast, slathered on toast for a midmorning snack, combined with peanut butter for a lunch time sandwich or topped on pork chops for a lovely fall inspired meal.  This is not a diet food, thanks to all that caramelized apple sugary goodness, so a little goes a long way.  However, you might just find yourself enjoying a spoonful now and again, whenever your sweet tooth speaks to you!

Enjoy!

Homemade Apple Butter

Made by Lauren

Use this easy recipe to make those orchard ripened apples into a delicious apple butter this Fall.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 hours hrs

Course Appetizer, Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 6 cups

Equipment

• Crock Pot
• Immersion Blender
• Veggie Peeler
• Paring Knife

Ingredients

  

• 16 Apples whatever varieties you prefer
• 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
• 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
• 1/2 cup Apple Cider or water
• 1 tsp Cinnamon
• 1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, clove, ginger and mace
• 1 pinch salt

Instructions

 

• Peel and slice your apples. Add to the crock pot.
• Add sugars, cider, spices and salt to the apples. Stir apple mixture.
• Place lid on pot and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
• Once the apples have cooked down and darkened properly, remove the lid and puree with an immersion blender. Stir.
• With the lid off, continue to cook on low for another 2 hours.
• Enjoy!

Notes

After your apple butter has cooked, consider transferring your hot apple butter into sterilized canning jars.  Use a water bath immediately to preserve them for several months. 

Or wait until the apple butter has cooled and transfer to refrigerator safe bowls/jars.  This will keep in your fridge for a couple weeks.  

Depending on your spice preference, consider adding more cinnamon and/or pumpkin pie spice to enhance the flavor.  This recipe is relatively low in sugar and spice – by design.  But feel free to adjust the ratios to meet your taste preferences. 

Cooking the apple butter for the full 8 hours with the lid on and another 2 hours with the lid off will lead to a darker color.  So will adding more spices.  But you can shorten the time, if necessary, and it will not affect the flavor significantly.     

Enjoy!

Keyword apple butter, crockpot, condiment, cinnamon, orchard, fall