Description
This Slow Cooker Apple Butter recipe transforms a mix of sweet and tart apples into a rich, smooth, and flavorful spread. Slowly cooked for hours with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, this apple butter is perfect for spreading on toast, adding to recipes, or gifting during the holidays. The low and slow cooking method in a slow cooker allows the apples to break down perfectly, developing deep flavors and a luscious texture with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Apples
- 5 lbs apples (a mix of sweet and tart varieties)
Spices and Sweeteners
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prep the apples: Wash, peel, core, and chop the apples into roughly 1-inch cubes. Don’t worry about precise cuts as the apples will break down during the long cooking process.
- Mix ingredients: Add the chopped apples to your slow cooker. In a separate bowl, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Pour this spice and sugar mixture over the apples and stir well to coat evenly.
- Cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-6 hours. The long cooking time allows the apples to slowly break down and the flavors to deepen, resulting in a rich, dark apple butter.
- Check for doneness: The apple butter is ready when it is dark brown, reduced significantly in volume, and thick enough that a spoon can stand upright without falling over.
- Blend: Use an immersion blender directly in the slow cooker to puree the mixture until smooth. If unavailable, carefully transfer the apple butter in batches to a food processor or blender to achieve a smooth consistency.
- Finish cooking: If the apple butter is still too thin after blending, cook uncovered on low for an additional 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally until it reaches your desired thickness.
- Cool and store: Allow the apple butter to cool completely. Transfer it to clean jars and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or freeze for longer storage.
Notes
- Use a blend of sweet and tart apples for the best flavor balance.
- Adjust the sugar to your preference for a sweeter or less sweet apple butter.
- For smoother apple butter, make sure to blend thoroughly and cook down to a thick consistency.
- Store apple butter in sterilized jars to maximize shelf life.
- You can add a splash of vanilla extract or apple cider for an extra flavor twist.
- This recipe can be doubled or scaled depending on the size of your slow cooker.
