Slow Cooker Apple Butter (24 Hour)
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
20 mins
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Cook Time
1 d
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Total Time
1 d 20 mins
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Servings
160 servings
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Calories
25 kcal
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Course
Condiments
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Cuisine
American
Slow Cooker Apple Butter (24 Hour)
Description
The Slow Cooker Apple Butter (24 Hour) recipe uses six pounds of quartered apples combined with a mixture of brown and granulated sugar, cinnamon, ground cloves, apple juice, and apple cider vinegar in a slow cooker set to low for an extended 20 hours initially. The apples slowly break down during this time, developing a rich sweetness with balanced acidity and gentle warming spices. After blending the softened mixture to a smooth consistency with an immersion blender, cooking resumes uncovered for another 4 hours to thicken the butter further. This approach results in a deeply concentrated, spreadable apple butter with a soft texture and rich flavor.
The apple butter can be ladled into sterilized jars for long-term storage by water bath canning or stored in the refrigerator or freezer. It’s a versatile condiment popular on toast, biscuits, or as an ingredient in baking. Adjusting sugar levels allows flexibility to personal taste and apple sweetness. Canning times should be altered for altitude as noted in the recipe to ensure safety.
When using a smaller slow cooker, halving the recipe is recommended to avoid overcrowding. Occasional stirring during cooking improves evenness. The final consistency can be tailored by lengthening the uncovered cooking stage until the desired thickness is reached. Overall, this slow cooker method simplifies the traditional stovetop process while allowing very gradual, even cooking.
Ingredients
- 6 pounds apple stemmed, cored, cut into quarters
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon cloves ground
- 2 1/2 cups apple juice
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Place the apples in a 7-quart slow cooker and add the remaining ingredients. Give it a gentle stir. Cook the apples on the "low" setting for 20 hours, giving the mixture an occasional stir after the first few hours of cooking.
- After 20 hours, use a [url:1]blender stick [/url]to puree the apple butter until smooth. Continue to cook, now with the lid open, for the remaining 4 hours to allow the apple butter to further thicken. Depending on how juicy your apples are, you may need to cook it a bit longer until the desired consistency is reached. At this point, taste and add more sugar if desired.
- If you'd like to store your apple butter long-term, it's super easy to can it! This water bath canning set has everything you need. While the apple butter is still hot, ladle it into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace, and process the jars in a water bath for 15 minutes. The apple butter will store in a dark, cool place for up to a year. Alternatively, freeze or store in the fridge in air-tight jars for at least a month. Makes about 5 pints.
Notes
- You can halve the recipe if your slow cooker has less than a 7-quart capacity.
- Adjust the sugar amounts to suit the natural sweetness of your apples, starting with less and adding more after tasting.
- For canning, increase processing time by 5 minutes at elevations 1,001 to 6,000 feet, and by 10 minutes above 6,000 feet.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 160servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 25 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1tablespoon | |
| Calories | 25kcal | 1% |
| Carbohydrates | 6g | 2% |
| Potassium | 24mg | 1% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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