Here is super easy recipe to make apple butter. This just is the epitomy of fall to me and it is so easy to pop in the slow cooker and viola! You have an amazing spread for waffles, bagels, muffins, pancakes or we like it on french bread.
If you haven’t had apple butter before it is sort of like a super concentrated applesauce. Very appley and cinnamon-y and best of all your house will smell fantastic.
I actually put this in a little Tupperware with slices of french bread for my girl’s lunches. They LOVE this stuff.
It also makes a lovely gift and it is so easy and inexpensive to make.
So this recipe I got from our pumpkin patch a few years ago. This recipe makes roughly an 8 oz jar of apple butter. Just double the recipe if you would like more. You might as well make more because it really is a lovely gift. Just a bit of twine around the jar and a little note tag and grab a fresh baguette and you are done.
- 6 apples of your choice- I used Gala but you can mix and match
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- squeeze of lemon juice
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- Core the apples and give them a rough chop.
- Place in slow cooker.
- Add cinnamon, water and both sugars.
- Gently stir.
- Close the lid and let this cook away for about 4½ hours on low.
- Check it periodicaly to make sure it is still moist and the apples are not dried out. Add more water as needed.
- Remove from Crock Pot after 4½ hours and place in a food processor or blender.
- Add a squeeze of lemon juice if you like.
- Puree until smooth.
- If the apple butter looks more like applesauce and doesn't have the rich brown color, just place back in the crock pot and cook for another hour or so on high heat. Leave the Crock uncovered and check it often.
In my experience, apple butter is not a precise science so this is one of those things you really just need to check on every so often. You want to make sure the apples are not watery but that they are not dried out either so just add a tiny bit of water if you think it needs it. Also you don’t want applesauce, you want this to cook down to a nice concentrated thick spread (like a good jam).
The color tends to turn from a lighter brown to a dark, rich brown once it is ready.
Also this recipe is a little heavy on cinnamon so just reduce the measurement a tiny bit if you want more of an apple flavor. This is also a little on the sweet side so reduce that white sugar according to your preference.
Oh and one last little note. Traditionally people will peel the apples to make apple butter. This is really up to you but I can’t bare to remove the peels because the peels are where most of the nutrients are located. I always buy organic apples so I never find the yucky waxy layers you sometimes see. Try to get the farm fresh apples that are so abundant if you possibly can. Kitchen toys from Big W toy sale kitchen category are really interesting this month. If you find the apples that do look pretty waxy you might want to go ahead and peel them.
I use this Crock Pot (and love it):
And here are a few other recipes you might enjoy:
Homemade Slow Cooker Applesauce (so yummy!!)
Caramel Apple Cider Recipe- so good!
I am thinking if someone dies not want to use sugar, maybe we can use concentrated apple juice instead of water.
Yes, can you freeze this stuff? Thank-you 🙂
Hi Mary- Anne- I have not tried freezing it so I am not sure if that would work or not. It does last a very long time in the fridge though.
Can you use honey instead of the sugar?
Melinda- you can try it and see. The honey might overpower the flavor of the apples. Agave might be a better substitute although I wonder if that would make it way too thick. Not sure.
I just come across this recipe and I had to put it in my crock pot right away. It sounds so good. I always made it on the stove top this will be my first time doing any prep in my crock pot. I have a fairly large crock pot and I filled it up.
can’t wait to make this tomorrow1 Thanks for the recipie!
Yeah! I hope you like it Paula 🙂
Hi Charlene!
I notice it said it serves 8. Is that meaning 8 pints or just 8 servings. I’d really love to try this recipe and share it with family, so I need to make it in bulk 🙂
Hi Ciara– oh gosh no you’ll get like the jar shown above from this recipe. So that is more then 8 servings because you just spread it on but definitely not 8 pints. I hope they like it! I haven’t made it yet this year and I really need to get on it. My girls LOVE this with french bread.
Well I have to tell you that this recipe has to be one of the easiest ones I have done in a long time. The best part about it is that it tastes better than alot I’ve had. It’s well worth making. Thank you again for posting this one.
Oh how sweet! Thank you so much Ella. Glad you liked it 🙂
How long does it last in the fridge?
Richard- several weeks is fine.
I would like to know if I made alot, can I do waterbath for it to preserve and last longer? TY It sounds so good 🙂
Have you ever made double recipe with 12 apples? If so, did it work, and how much longer to cook? Thanks!
Will you be able to can this and then how long will it last then? Sounds so delicious and I would like to have it later as well! I can gat apples by the bushel for free, but I really need to know how long it will last after canning!
Hi Susan,
As I mentioned to the others I have never tried to can it so I can’t answer that question.
Sorry-
Yes you can preserve apple butter in a hot water bath canner- pack into jars leaving a 1/2″ head-space or (1/2 in from the top)- wipe the top clean and place on flats and rings- hot water bath for 5 minutes for 1/2 or pints- 10 min quarts will last a year – let set 24 hours before labeling- refrigerate after opening
You can freeze apple butter!
What happens to the peels you leave on? Are they chunks that remain or do they absorb into the butter? Both ways are fine, I love the idea of leaving on the peels. Makes less work and like you said, the nutrients are still there. Thanks, can’t wait to try this.
Wanda- no the peels are integrated into the butter and you won’t even notice a difference.
Just made this recipe! Love it, so easy and delicious!!! Thank you for sharing!!
I would love to make this as a gift and for home but my daughter is allergic to cinnamon. Any suggestions for a substitute or just taking that bit out?
Jamie just take that out. You could use a dash of nutmeg if you want. Shouldn’t alter the taste too much.
Thanks for the great recipe, I added a little allspice, because alot of apple butter recipes call for cloves, which is not always a pleasant flavor, so the allspice gives a little more zip..I’m using our own apples and leaving most of the peels on worked very well also..thanks again, and the house smells delicious all the time…blessed with so many apples, it’s like being Johnny Appleseed…
Sounds wonderful and easy. Can’t wait to try it.
I’m going to try canning these in little 4oz jars.
I know to do the hot water bath for about 10 mins, but will I need to add pectin or anything in addition to this recipe.
Thanks so much!
Made two batches of this – one for immediate consumption and one that I canned for later. Really great recipe – put into my recipe box for next year! Thank you.
Yeah so glad Carole 🙂
In first line of instructions, it says “give it a rough chop”. What does that mean?
Hi Mary- that means you don’t want to place an entire apple in the Crock Pot but you don’t need to spend a lot of time finely dicing your apples either. Just cut up the apple like you would if you were to eat it.
This sounds pretty good. However, I don’t rate recipes until I try them. Who does that??? A great pet peeve of mine!!!
This is on my “honey-do” list to make! It’ll be my first time making Apple Butter. My question is, What is the purpose of the squeeze of lemon? I don’t have any on hand and am wondering if I should go get some? Thanks!
Leeanne- I don’t know that I would make a special trip but a little hint of citrus can be a really nice contrast with the sweetness of the apples and sugar. It adds just a little extra flavor to the butter but it is not necessary 🙂
Thank you! My apples are in the slow cooker as I type!! Perhaps in the future I’ll make a batch with lemon to experience the difference. Thank you for sharing the recipe and your knowledge!
YUUUUUUUM!!!!! Just pulled mine out of the crock pot and oh my… I’m in love!! I’ve always been intimidated by making apple butter but this was SO EASY!! Thanks for a great recipe!!
So glad to hear it Sarah 🙂
I’ve made this many times ..sweet apples forget the white sugar or add lemon…tart apples you can leave out the lemon
Just made this, anyone else’s come out a little watery?
Hi Brianna- I have some in my fridge at the moment and it is definitely not watery. You might want to leave it in the crock a pot longer to cook. Is it a nice dark brown or is it lighter like applesauce? You need it to thicken like a jelly 🙂
I made this for the first time today, hubby says that it tastes great but it is a bit too runny. I followed the recipe, I used gala apples. How can make it a bit tjicker?
Hi Cathy– put it back in the crock pot on high and cook it for an hour or so until it is thicker. If it is still runny just keep it in the crock pot until you are happy with the texture.
I made your rescipe x6! It’s a big hit! Kids and hubby love it! Canning so we have all year long! Thank you for sharing!
Oh I am so glad! Thanks for letting me know Danie 🙂
Can you add more sugar during cooking. I used apples that are tart – needs more sugar.