Slow Cooker Apple Butter
Warm cinnamon, nutmeg, and maple notes pair perfectly with slow-cooked apples to create a decadent homemade apple butter that is perfect for fall when apples are fresh and in season.
Servings 4 8-oz jars
Calories
Ingredients
- 3 lbs apples, peeled, cored and chopped use a mix of sweet and tart apples (Honeycrisp, Gala, Granny Smith, Macintosh)
- 1 cup unfiltered apple cider
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 cinnamon sticks or 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 pinch sea salt
- 1 tablespoon molasses
Instructions
- Peel, core, and cut the apples. Place them into the slow cooker.
- Top with apple cider, vinegar, maple syrup, spices, salt and brown sugar.
- Cook in the slow cooker on low for 8-10 hours, stirring occasionally.
- You'll notice the apple butter transforms into a gorgeous chunky spiced applesauce. You can take a little out to serve with breakfast. Pour the applesauce mixture into a food processor or blender and process until smooth.
- Place the apple butter back into the slow cooker and add the molasses. You can also taste for sweetness here and add more maple syrup if needed, but I find the second step helps to intensify the flavors, so you don't want to get carried away with adding sugar when the flavors will mellow out after simmering for an hour. Simmer on high heat for one hour, stirring frequently.
- Allow the apple butter to cool, then place into glass jars with lids and store in the refrigerator.