Description
This slow cooker apple butter transforms fresh apples into a rich, velvety spread with brown sugar, vanilla, and warm fall spices. Long, gentle cooking concentrates the apple flavor and creates a deeply caramelized finish.
Ingredients
6 pounds apples (about 15 apples)
¾ cup brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Peel and core the apples, then slice them into wedges.
- In a medium bowl, combine the brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Stir until evenly combined.
- Place the apple wedges in the slow cooker. Add the sugar and spice mixture and stir until the apples are evenly coated.
- Cover and cook on low for 10 hours, until the apples are very soft and darkened.
- Stir in the vanilla extract. Remove the lid and continue cooking uncovered for 2 hours to evaporate excess moisture and thicken the apple butter.
- For a chunky texture, mash the apples with a potato masher. For smooth apple butter, blend with an immersion blender or carefully transfer the mixture to a food processor and blend until silky.
- Let the apple butter cool before transferring it to clean, airtight containers. It will thicken slightly as it cools.
Notes
Use apples that soften well during long cooking, or combine sweet and tart varieties for a more complex flavor.
For less-sweet apple butter, reduce the brown sugar or granulated sugar to taste.
For stronger spice flavor, add extra cinnamon or a small pinch of allspice.
A splash of lemon juice can be added before cooking for a brighter flavor.
For an especially thick, smooth consistency, blend the apple butter and continue cooking uncovered until it reaches the desired thickness.
Store cooled apple butter in airtight containers in the refrigerator or freeze in freezer-safe containers with room for expansion.
If the apple butter separates during storage, stir well before serving.
Serve on toast, biscuits, pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, or yogurt.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 hours
- Category: Condiment
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 385 kcal
- Sugar: 84 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 101 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
