Classic Slow Cooker Apple Butter
Enjoy the rich, spiced flavor of homemade apple butter with minimal effort. This slow cooker recipe yields a smooth, spreadable condiment perfect for toast, pastries, or as a gift.
Equipment
- Slow cooker (6-quart or larger)
- Immersion blender (optional)
- Jars
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 6-8 pounds apples mix of sweet and tart, e.g., Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp
- 1 cup apple cider or water
- 1 cup packed brown sugar adjust to taste
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
Preparation
- Peel, core, and slice all apples; uniformity is not critical as they will break down during cooking.
- Place sliced apples in a large slow cooker and add cider, sugars, and spices; stir to coat.
- Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours (or high for 4-5 hours) until apples are very soft, stirring occasionally.
- Carefully remove lid, then use an immersion blender or transfer batches to a regular blender to puree until smooth.
- Cook uncovered on low for 1-2 hours (or high for 30-60 minutes) to thicken the apple butter, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Stir in the vanilla extract.
- Ladle hot apple butter into clean jars, cool completely, then seal and refrigerate.
Notes
This recipe yields approximately 4-5 pint jars of apple butter depending on the apple variety and moisture content. For a spicier apple butter, increase the amounts of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Store finished apple butter in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks or freeze for longer storage.