Let’s make your home smell like autumn AND give you a tasty treat. Today’s recipe is an extremely easy apple butter made in your slow cooker. Put everything in and let it cook for hours. The result is a yummy spread that can be used in so many ways this fall and winter. I like it best simply on homemade biscuits. You can also spread it between layers of a cake. Use it as a condiment for pork chops or pork roast. It is fabulous to use on fall thumbprint cookies. Have a cheese tray with sharp cheddar and crackers and apple butter on the side at your next party. Yum!
I’m using mostly Macintosh apples but you can use any good cooking apple like Jonathon and Granny Smith. Add a couple of Galas, Golden Delicious, Fuji, or Honey Crisp apples for a little natural sweetness. A combination of apples will give you a more complex flavor. The amount of sugar used will depend on the natural sweetness of the apples. Add about a cup and then taste test. Adjust as needed.
Do the saucer test to see if it is done. Put a saucer in the freezer an hour or so before your butter is ready. After taking the cold saucer out, put a small teaspoon of the butter on the plate. If your butter is runny, then keep cooking, you are not ready to jar it up. Once it mounds up and trust me you will know what I mean when you see it, then you can jar that yummy goodness. Small 4 oz jars of homemade apple butter make a superb Thanksgiving hostess gift or Christmas gifts.
Slow Cooker Apple Butter
Use organic when available, makes about 3 pints
Slow Cooker Apple Butter
Ingredients
- 5 lb apples cored, peeled, and chopped small
- 3/4 cup orange juice
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp teaspoon salt
- 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Check apples for bruises or bad spots and cut away before chopping or discard mushy apples
- Add all ingredients except vanilla into slow cooker or crock pot
- Stir well
- Cover and cook on low about 10 hours
- Stir occasionally
- Remove lid, add vanilla, stir, and let cook uncovered for two hours to thicken slightly
- Stir every 30 minutes of last hour
- Use immersion blender until smooth and free of lumps
- Or cool and use regular blender in batches
- Store apple butter in covered sterile glass jars in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks
- Optional freeze for longer use
Now think of all the ways you can enjoy it!
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I’ve never had apple butter but it sounds and looks delicious. Thanks for the recipe. Enjoy and have a great week and thank you for visiting my blog last week.
You’re welcome Jill – hope you week is wonderful!
Carol,
This looks so good! I have not had apple butter since I was a kid!! Thanks for visiting and for taking the time to leave such a sweet comment!!
Hugs,
Debbie
Have a beautiful day Debbie!
I can practically smell it here, it looks so good!
Your home will smell fantastic!
I’m certain that this is yummy! I love baked apples with cinnamon etc. Wishing you a tasty week!
thank you – hope your week is wonderful!
I have not heard of apple butter before but it does sound delicious! It has so many uses. I think it would be great on crackers x #MMBC
This looks so good and I would love to try this. Can you tell me how you go about freezing it? Is a sealer a good option for that? This will make such cute gifts as well. Thanks so much for sharing.
a sealer sounds like it would work – let me know how it works
You have literally made my day to see this!! We have 3 apple trees in our garden and we haven’t been on top of picking them for storage this year thanks to flu- this gives me ideas of how to make the most of them other than chopping and freezing for crumbles/pies! Thank you!! #MMBC
What a wonderful recipe, I will try this out. Thanks for sharing Carol.
It looks and sounds amazing! Thank you for sharing the recipe. #MMBC
My hubby loves apple butter, I’m sure he would be thrilled if I made this. I love that no special equipment is needed!
I love slow cookers – put it on and go do something else.
That sounds so good!!
My Corner of the World
I can imagine this would go great with cheese and crackers. I have to give this a go! Also, my favourite type of receipt is for the slow cooker. #MMBC
I make apple puree a lot but I don’t cook it for ten hours. I’m definitely going to try this recipe to see how the taste differs to mine :o)
#MMBC
I’d like to know what you think if you give it a try. Slow cookers mean you don’t have to watch for burning while it cooks.
This is s a great idea! I make homemade applesauce but this would be fun to try. I saw your link on the try-it link party—thanks for sharing!
Thanks Amy. I visited your blog and like your post on Halloween movies. There are lots of family favorites there but I couldn’t find your comment button. Sorry! Thanks for visiting!
I haven’t had apple butter since I made it with my mom as a kid! This looks so good. I may just have to make a batch!
It’s really easy with a slow cooker and immersion blender. Thanks for coming by!
Never heard of apple butter but looks delicious.
Why have I not made this before! Thanks ever so much for sharing this Carol. we have so many apple trees round here and I will definitely be trying this one.
Pinning for later. x
let me know what u think – Happy Weekend!
I make so many apple products but not the butter. I can imagine adding this to thumb print cookies. I might just make a pot or two. Thank you for sharing. #mmbc
I can definitely think of lots of ways to use your lovely apple butter, Carol! I also think it will make the house smell lovely when it’s cooking! Thank you for sharing, and for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party.I’m featuring this post at the party this week. Hope to ‘see’ you there!
Thank you for featuring my apple butter April! I’m always happy to visit you each Monday but this makes my visit extra special.
Hi Carol!
Your applebutter looks delicious! Thanks so much for sharing your posts on Farm Fresh Tuesdays!
I’m featuring this recipe tonight, Congrats!
I can’t wait to see what you’ve been up to this week. 🙂
Thanks so much for the feature Lisa! I’m honored – it’s a great way to start the week!
I love apple butter! Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party. Have a great week.
I’ve never had apple butter, but it sounds so delicious. I’ve pinned it to try later.
Thank you for sharing your recipe at Create, Bake, Grow & Gather this week Carol. I’m delighted to be featuring it at tomorrow night’s party.
Hugs,
Kerryanne
Thank you so much for the feature. Apple butter is delicious and I think you’re going to like it!
YUM, looks good! Thanks so much for linking up with me at #AThemedLinkup 12 for Crock Pot and Instant Pot Recipes, open February 28 to March 10. All entries shared on social media if share buttons installed.