Servings
Font
Back
5.0 from 1,218 votes

The Best Apple Butter Recipe (No Peeling!)

With its perfectly spiced, rich apple flavor and no peeling required, you'll be spreading this Apple Butter on everything from scones to scrapple. My recipe is incredibly easy thanks to the help of a slow cooker. Be sure to check out the how-to video!

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
12 hrs
Total Time
12 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 3 pints
Calories: 75 kcal
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 5.5 .5 lbs soft, sweet apples (see note 1) Cored and chopped into small pieces, about ¼"
  • 1 cup brown sugar firmly packed
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 vanilla bean (may substitute 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Slice apples into small pieces (about ¼") and dispose of cores (you do not need to peel the apples).
  2. Place apples in the basin of large slow cooker
  3. In a medium-sized bowl stir together sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and cloves until well-combined.
  4. Pour sugar mixture over apple pieces and stir until well combined.  
  5. Place lid on crockpot and cook on low heat for 10 hours.
  6. Once 10 hours has elapsed, use an immersion blender to puree apples until smooth and no chunks remain (see note 2 if you do not have an immersion blender).
  7. Scrape the inside of the vanilla bean into your apple puree (or add vanilla extract).  
  8. Turn crockpot on to low heat and cook another 2 hours uncovered, stirring occasionally.
  9. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container, where it will keep about 2 weeks.

Notes

  • I recommend using Golden Delicious, McIntosh, Fuji, or Gala. Don't use Granny Smith; they are too tart and firm for this recipe. Weigh your apples before coring and chopping. Do not peel them! For me this was about 13 apples but this could vary wildly depending on the size of your apples.
  • If you do not have an immersion blender, pour the apples into a blender and puree until smooth, then return to crockpot. You may need to work in batches, depending on the size of your blender. 
  • Store apple butter in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several weeks or freeze for up to several months. 

Nutrition Information

Serving 0.25cup Calories 75kcal (4%) Carbohydrates 18g (6%) Fat 1g (2%) Sodium 36mg (2%) Potassium 23mg (1%) Sugar 17g (34%) Calcium 10mg (1%) Iron 0.2mg (1%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 3pints

Amount Per Serving

Calories 75

% Daily Value*

Serving 0.25cup
Calories 75kcal 4%
Carbohydrates 18g 6%
Fat 1g 2%
Sodium 36mg 2%
Potassium 23mg 0%
Sugar 17g 34%
Calcium 10mg 1%
Iron 0.2mg 1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.