Dorothy Kern
Apple butter is so easy to make in your crock pot or slow cooker! Not only does it taste fantastic spread on toast, but it also makes your house smell amazing while it cooks! This recipe for making apple butter is my go-to and couldn’t be easier. It’s one of my favorite fall crock pot recipes.
Table of Contents
- Easy Crockpot Apple Butter Recipe
- What is the Difference Between Applesauce and Apple Butter?
- What are Some Ways to Cook Apples?
- Ingredient
- How to Make Apple Butter
- How do you know when apples are done cooking for apple butter?
- How to puree apples for apple butter
- Tips
- FAQ
- Ways to Use Apple Butter
- Apple Butter Recipe
Do you ever see those jars of apple butter at specialty grocery stores? You know, the ones with the adorable labels and big price tags? I used to buy them because I did not realize how easy it is to make your homemade apple butter.
Well, it’s so easy, and I can’t wait to show you! If you go apple picking during the fall, this is the way to use all of the apples up. It’s so simple, and you can use it in all kinds of ways.
Easy Crockpot Apple Butter Recipe
- Apple butter takes a while to cook, so using the crock pot to make it is perfect. It’s a few easy steps, and then you leave them to cook until they’re softened.
- The longer they cook, the more caramelized they get. Caramelization equals tons of flavor!
- If you’ve ever made homemade applesauce, this is a similar process – it just takes a little longer to cook.
Slow cooker apple butter tastes like fall, and it makes your house smell like fall, too, while it cooks. So it’s a double win that will get you in the fall spirit.
What is the Difference Between Applesauce and Apple Butter?
They are very similar, but applesauce is not cooked as long as apple butter. Apple butter has a deep golden color which is the caramelization that happens while they cook. It’s also pureed and then reduced until it’s thickened and spreadable.
What are Some Ways to Cook Apples?
Apples can be cooked in all kinds of ways – on the stove, in the oven, and in the slow cooker or crockpot!
For apple butter, there’s no easier way to cook the apples than in the crockpot. You don’t have to babysit them. They just simmer and cook until they are softened and delicious.
Ingredient
Apples: Sweeter apples like fuji, gala, Honeycrisp, red delicious, or similar work well for apple butter.
Sugar: This recipe uses both Granulated Sugar and Brown Sugar. The brown sugar adds a bit of depth to the sweetness.
Cinnamon: A MUST in any apple butter recipe!
Vanilla: For flavor
Salt: Adds dept and makes it not too sweet.
How to Make Apple Butter
- Slice and core the apples: I leave the skins on, but you can peel them if you prefer. Cut the apples into small chunks, so they cook faster.
- Add to Crock Pot: Put the apples in the bottom of a 7-quart slow cooker and top them with both kinds of sugar and cinnamon. Toss them to coat them evenly.
- Cook: Cover the crock pot and cook the apples on high for three to five hours. Stir them after two hours.
- Puree: Once the apples are cooked, puree them.
- Thicken: Cook the pureed apples for 30 minutes to an hour longer on high in the crock pot. Leave the lid askew so steam can escape while they cook. This will allow the mixture to reduce and thicken.
- Flavor: Once it reaches your desired thickness, stir in the salt and vanilla. Let the apple butter cool, and then store it in jars.
How do you know when apples are done cooking for apple butter?
You should cook them until the apples are translucent. Every crock pot is different, and this took about four hours in mine.
How to puree apples for apple butter
- The easiest way to puree them is with a hand blender. I do this right in the crockpot. This is the hand blender I use.
- If you don’t have a hand blender, you can use a regular blender, but you should puree them in batches. Be careful not to overfill the blender and leave the lid cracked so the heat doesn’t cause a blow-up. This is my favorite blender.
- You can also use a food processor, but it can be hard to get the apples completely pureed this way.
Tips
- How to use apple butter: We love to spread it on toast, English muffins, and bagels for breakfast!
- How to store apple butter: Once you’ve made your apple butter, it will keep in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. You can also freeze it in freezer containers.
FAQ
Apple butter is made with apples, sugar, and spices. They are cooked together until the apples break down and the liquids reduce, creating a thickened spread. It’s similar to applesauce but cooked much longer, so the apples caramelize and turn golden brown.
I have not tested canning this recipe, but it is freezer-friendly. If you want to can apple butter, you should check out this post from Foodie with Family with basic canning tips.
Yes, it will keep in the freezer for several months.
If you refrigerate it, it will keep for up to a week. Or freeze it for several months.
You can use any apple, but I prefer a sweeter variety like gala, fuji, or Honeycrisp. If you want your apple butter to be more tart, try Granny Smith or pink lady. You can also do a combination of apples.
The easiest way is to blend it with a hand blender right in the crock pot. Or, use a stand blender or food processor.
This recipe makes a small batch of apple butter which is two to three cups.
Yes, it doubles great, but may need to cook the apples longer.
It’s all about the cooking time. Once you’ve pureed the apples, leave them to cook with the lid slightly askew on the crock pot. This will allow steam to escape, which will help thicken the butter. The amount of time it takes will vary depending on how much liquid needs to evaporate.
Ways to Use Apple Butter
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Apple Butter Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 lb (1400g) apples (fuji, gala, honeycrisp, red delicious or similar)
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100g) packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Slice and core apples. You can peel them if you want but I don’t. Cut them into small chunks (smaller pieces cook faster).
- Place apples in the bottom of a 7qt slow cooker. Top with both sugars and cinnamon then toss to combine.
- Cover and cook on high for 3-5 hours, stirring after 2 hours. Cook until the apples look translucent, this took about 4 hours in my slow cooker.
- Use a hand blender to blend the apples and their liquid into a smooth sauce. If you don’t have a hand blender you can do this in a regular blender, but work in batches being careful not to overfill the blender with hot apples and leave the lid cracked when you run it so it doesn’t explode.
- Once your apples are blended, place them back in the slow cooker (if you’ve removed them to blend). Continue cooking on high with the lid cracked for 30 minutes to an hour, or until the mixture reduces to your desired thickness.
- Stir in salt and vanilla then let cool and place in jars or freezer containers. At this point you can can the mixture if you wish or use the cooled apple butter in other recipes or on toast. Without canning apple butter will last about 2 weeks if stored in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Information
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate
Apple Butter is so easy to make in your crock pot or slow cooker! Not only does it taste fantastic spread on toast, but it also makes your house smell amazing while it cooks!
All text and images © DOROTHY KERN for Crazy for Crust. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, or link back to this post for the recipe. Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be accurate.
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Published on: September 8, 2021