Description
A rich and flavorful homemade apple butter made by slow cooking peeled and chopped apples with sugar and warm spices until thick and deeply caramelized. Perfect as a spread, topping, or ingredient in desserts.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 5 ½ pounds apples, peeled, cored, and finely chopped
- 4 cups white sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare Apples: Peel, core, and finely chop 5 ½ pounds of apples, ensuring they are all roughly the same size for even cooking.
- Place Apples in Slow Cooker: Transfer the chopped apples into the slow cooker pot, preparing for flavor infusion and cooking.
- Mix Spices: In a medium bowl, combine 4 cups of white sugar with 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Stir well to combine evenly.
- Combine Spices with Apples: Pour the sugar and spice mixture over the apples in the slow cooker and stir thoroughly to evenly coat the apple pieces.
- Cook on High: Cover the slow cooker and cook the mixture on High heat for 1 hour to start the softening and flavor melding process.
- Reduce Heat and Slow Cook: Lower the slow cooker setting to Low. Cook the apple mixture for 9 to 11 hours, stirring occasionally, until the apples break down, the mixture thickens, and the color deepens to a dark brown.
- Final Uncovered Cooking: After the initial cooking period, remove the cover and continue cooking on Low for an additional hour to evaporate excess moisture and intensify flavors. Stir with a whisk if a smoother texture is preferred.
- Store the Apple Butter: Spoon the finished apple butter into sterile containers, then cover and refrigerate or freeze for longer storage.
Notes
- Use firm apples like Granny Smith, Gala, or Fuji for best flavor and texture.
- Stir occasionally during cooking to prevent burning on the bottom.
- The long cooking time develops the rich, caramelized flavor essential to good apple butter.
- Adjust cinnamon and cloves to your taste for milder or spicier apple butter.
- Ensure containers are properly sterilized to extend shelf life when refrigerated or frozen.
