Apple Butter
User Reviews
5
Apple Butter
Description
Apple Butter involves cooking a large quantity of peeled and cored apples with a mixture of sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, salt, and vanilla extract over a prolonged period. The process begins by coating apple wedges in the sugar and spice mixture before slow-cooking them for about 10 hours, then adding vanilla and cooking uncovered to reduce liquid further for about 2 hours. This results in a concentrated, richly spiced apple spread with a thick texture.
The flavor is warmly spiced and sweet from both brown and granulated sugars, with aromatic notes from cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. The slow cooker or stovetop method gently breaks down the apples, allowing natural pectin to thicken the mixture. Depending on preference, the apple butter can be left a bit chunky or pureed smooth.
This apple butter works well as a topping for bread or biscuits, a filling for desserts, or stirred into yogurt. Adjusting sugar can balance sweetness, especially with very sweet apples, and a splash of lemon juice can brighten flat-tasting fruit. The spread can also be simmered on the stove for more control over consistency.
Ingredients
- 6 pounds apple about 15 apples
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp cloves
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Peel and core your apples then slice into wedges.
- Combine the granulated and brown sugars along with the salt and spices in a medium bowl then mix together and set aside.
- Add the apples to your slow cooker then pour the sugar mixture over and mix to coat the apples. Cover and set slow cooker to 10 hours.
- After 10 hours pour in your vanilla and mix then set to two hours, cooking uncovered to evaporate some liquid.
- If you like chunky apple butter use a potato masher to break the apples down. For a totally smooth apple butter pulse in a food processor or immersion blender until desired consistency is reached.
Notes
- Adjust sugar levels depending on the sweetness of your apples; reduce by 1/4 cup if very sweet.
- Consider adding a squeeze of lemon juice to brighten the flavor if apples taste flat.
- For stovetop preparation, cook on medium-low heat with stirring until softened and thickened.
- Refrigerate apple butter if not canning to preserve freshness.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4pints
Amount Per Serving
Calories 77 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 4tbsp | |
| Calories | 77kcal | 4% |
| Carbohydrates | 20g | 7% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 1g | 2% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Sodium | 39mg | 2% |
| Potassium | 98mg | 2% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 17g | 34% |
| Vitamin A | 46IU | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 4mg | 4% |
| Calcium | 12mg | 1% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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