Apple Butter

This homemade Apple Butter is easy to make and filled with intense apple flavor and a medley of delicious warm spices! Made in just one pot, this apple spread is the perfect condiment for fall. Includes slow cooker and instant pot directions and is freezer-friendly, naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and paleo-friendly.

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Easy Apple Butter Recipe

Went apple picking this fall and wondering what to do with them? This easy homemade apple butter recipe is super easy to make on the stove, in your slow cooker or in the Instant Pot. It’s a delicious way to put any pounds apples to good use and perfect when apples are in season during September and October.

There are tons of things that apple butter tastes amazing on – like our paleo pancakes, grain free oatmeal, blender muffins and so much more. You can even serve apple butter as baby food! And if you’re looking for another delicious delicious homemade butter to make, this pumpkin butter is another delicious option for autumn!

The Difference Between Apple Sauce and Apple Butter

There are a few things that set these two apple recipes apart.

What is Apple Butter – First of all, apple butter is cooked down apples for a longer period, so it’s a little thicker and almost has a caramelized consistency. It uses many different fall spices to give you a super flavorful spread!

What is Apple sauce – Apple sauce, on the other hand, is light, thin, and usually plain or spiced with cinnamon.

Recipe Ingredients

All you need for this easy apple spread recipe are some apples and your trusty spices. If you’d like, you can add in some healthy sweeteners too.

• Apples: You’ll need to use about 9 peeled, cored and sliced apples. You don’t need a specific kind of apple for this apple spread recipe. In fact, I recommend using a variety for this condiment. Golden Delicious, Honey Crisp, Gala or Fuji are all great options!
• A mix of warm spices: 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger and 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• Apple Cider: You can also use unsweetened apple juice, if preffered.
• Lemon Juice
• Vanilla Extract
• Maple Syrup: Optional – you can add some unrefined sweeteners such as coconut sugar, maple syrup or Lakanto sugar-free maple syrup or golden monk fruit for added sweetness. Brown sugar may also be used if not paleo or keto.

How to Make Slow Cooker Apple Butter

Making apple butter in the slow cooker is probably the easiest method. It doesn’t require a water bath and you just toss your ingredients into your crockpot and let the machine do all the work!

1. Add Apples: Add the apples to the slow cooker.
2. Add Spices: Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
3. Cook: Cook on low for about 6-8 hours, stirring every couple hours, or until the apple butter is thick and dark brown.
4. Puree: Use an immersion blender to puree the apples. Alternatively, transfer it to a blender or food processor. Add more sweetener or spices, to taste.
5. Let Cool: Allow the butter to cool completely before storing it in the fridge.

How to Make Stovetop Apple Butter

If you don’t want to wait 6 hours for your delicious apple recipe to cook, you can easily make it on the stove in less than half the time. This is the best way to cook it on the stovetop:

1. Combine Ingredients: Add all the ingredients to a large pot or saucepan and stir well.
2. Cook: Cover and cook on medium heat for 30 minutes.
3. Mash Apples & Continue Cooking: Remove the lid and use a potato masher or wooden spoon to smash the apples down. Continue cooking for 1 – 2 hours (depending on how thick you like it), stirring every 15 minutes.
4. Remove From Heat: Turn off the heat and remove your pot from the burner.
5. Puree: Use an immersion blender to puree the apples. Alternatively, transfer it to a blender or food processor. Add more sweetener or spices, to taste.
6. Let Cool: Allow the butter to cool completely before storing it in the fridge.

How to make Instant Pot Apple Butter

1. Combine Ingredients: Add all the ingredients to the inner pot of a 6-quart Instant Pot.
2. Cook: Turn Instant Pot to “Manual” and pressure cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. Allow to naturally release for 20 minutes.
3. Puree: Use an immersion blender to puree the apples. Alternatively, transfer it to a blender or food processor. Add more sweetener or spices, to taste.
4. Let Cool: Allow the butter to cool completely before storing it in the fridge.

Tasty Ways to Use Apple Butter

• As a Toast Topping: This healthy apple recipe tastes amazing on top of bread or toast, just like jam!
• As a Baked Good Ingredient: Also tastes great as a topping for cider donuts or a mix-in for apple muffins.
• On a Charcuterie Board: Everyone needs a good spread for their holiday charcuterie board. This homemade apple butter is the perfect choice.
• In Oatmeal: Try swirling some vegan apple butter into your morning bowl of oatmeal for a healthy and delicious breakfast.

Storage

This apple recipe should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. I like to keep mine in a glass jar. It will stay fresh for up to 2 weeks!

Freezer

This apple spread has a much longer lifespan if you store it in the freezer. You’ll just need to thaw it overnight in the fridge when you’re ready to eat it. Frozen apple butter lasts for up to a year!

More healthy apple recipes you will love:

Apple Cider Donuts

Apple Pie Bars

Instant Pot Apple Cider

5 from 1 vote

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Apple Butter

Prep Time

20 mins

Cook Time

2 hrs

Total Time

2 hrs 20 mins

 

This homemade Apple Butter is easy to make and filled with intense apple flavor and a medley of delicious warm spices! Made in just one pot, this apple spread is the perfect condiment for fall. Includes slow cooker and instant pot directions and is naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan and paleo-friendly.

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: apple butter recipe, crock pot apple butter, crockpot apple butter, homemade apple butter, how to make apple butter, slow cooker apple butter

Servings: 16 servings

Calories: 63 kcal

Author: Kelly

Ingredients

• 4 lbs apples use a variety of about 8-10, peeled, cored and sliced
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon or to taste
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves
• 1/3 cup apple cider or unsweetened apple juice
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Optional

• maple syrup or coconut sugar , to taste

Instructions

Stovetop Method

1. Add all the ingredients to a large pot or saucepan and stir well. Cover and cook on medium heat for 30 minutes.

   

2. Remove lid and use a potato masher or wooden spoon to smash the apples down. Continue cooking for 1 - 2 hours (depending on how thick you like it), stirring every 15 minutes.

   

3. Turn off heat and remove from burner.

4. Use an immersion blender to puree the apple butter. Or alternatively, transfer to a blender or food processor. Add more sweetener or spices, to taste.

   

5. Allow to cool. Transfer to glass containers and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

   

Slow Cooker Method

1. Add the apples to the slow cooker.

   

2. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.

3. Cook on low for about 6-8 hours, stirring every couple hours, or until apple butter is thick and dark brown.

4. Use an immersion blender to puree the apple butter. Or alternatively, transfer to a blender or food processor. Add more sweetener or spices, to taste.

   

5. Allow to cool. Transfer to glass containers and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

   

Instant Pot Method

1. Add all the ingredients to the inner pot of a 6-quart Instant Pot.

   Turn Instant Pot to “Manual” and pressure cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. Allow to naturally release for 20 minutes.

   Use an immersion blender to puree the apples. Alternatively, transfer it to a blender or food processor. Add more sweetener or spices, to taste.

   Allow the butter to cool completely before storing it in the fridge.

Nutrition Facts

Apple Butter

Amount Per Serving (1 serving)

Calories 63 Calories from Fat 9

% Daily Value*

Fat 1g2%

Carbohydrates 14g5%

Fiber 3g12%

Sugar 8g9%

Protein 1g2%

* Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy using the WPRM recipe calculator. It is best to make your own calculations to ensure accuracy. We expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.