Tangy, sweet, and lightly spiced Apple Butter is my middle son’s favorite homemade fruit spread and it’s way past time I share it with you.
Several years ago, I started making fruit jams, jellies, butters, and sauces at home and discovered just how simple they are to make and how much better they taste than store-bought.
I used a jar of apple butter in this Spiced Apple Butter Pork Roast a while back and realized that I’d never shared the recipe for the butter itself.
I’ve made a few different versions of apple butter; this one is my favorite. The apple flavor is not overpowered by loads of different spices and it isn’t too sweet for my tastes.
Slow Cooker Apple Butter
When made on the stove, making apple butter can require a considerable amount of time and far more effort.
However, with a crockpot, all the stovetop hassle is removed. Simply toss in the ingredients and walk away.
It really is that easy and it is the only way I made this recipe for the past ten years.
While it can take up to 8-10 hours to make this slow-cooker apple butter, the vast majority of that time is completely hands-off.
Once everything is in the crockpot, you’re free to carry on with your day without giving the apple butter another thought.
Get this started in the morning and enjoy the fragrance of simmering apple butter all day long, or put it in the crockpot before you go to bed to wake up to the aroma of cinnamon and apples.
The mouthwatering aroma as the apples simmer is one of my favorite things about making apple butter in a slow cooker.
Can I can this?
If you are new to canning, this is a great place to start. I use a simple boiling water bath for this recipe which requires little more than sterile jars and lids and a pot big enough to fit your jars.
Be sure to follow proper canning procedures for safety and effectiveness. When finished, your canned apple butter will last for months or up to a couple of years with no refrigeration required (until unsealed, of course).
As you know, people LOVE getting homemade gifts. (I know that I sure do! Homemade gifts are my favorite kind of gift.)
Make a big batch of this spread a few times a year so you always have a jar on hand to give as a teacher gift, hostess gift, or to share with a friend “just because.”
How to Use Apple Butter
I’m not exaggerating when I say the uses are countless. Of course, it’s delicious as a spread for toast, muffins, and crackers.
Who can resist a peanut butter and apple butter sandwich? Peanut butter and apples are a classic combination that everyone loves.
It is also mind-blowingly good in Spiced Apple Butter Pork Chops, as an ingredient in marinade or sauce for chicken, and naturally in all kinds of desserts and baked goods.
Make an everyday quick breakfast more exciting by mixing a generous spoonful into a bowl of oatmeal or yogurt.
If you’re looking for more homemade jam recipes, take a look at my Homemade Peach Jam , Habanero Peach Jam, and Cranberry Pepper Jam.
For more slow-cooker, apple-y goodness, look no further than my Stuffed Apples Recipe.
Crock-Pot Apple Butter Recipe
- Place the apples in the crockpot and top with the sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Cover with lid and set to HIGH. After a few hours, uncover, stir and continue cooking with the lid off.
- Continue simmering until the mixture is thickened and dark brown. Stir occasionally, as needed to prevent sticking. When the liquid is absorbed, after 8-10 hours, blend until smooth. (I use an immersion blender right in the crockpot.) However, you can also transfer the apple mixture to a blender and puree it that way.
- Once the apples are pureed, you can adjust the thickness by leaving the apples in the crockpot on LOW and uncovering it. It will slowly thicken that way. Stir occasionally, to prevent sticking to the sides of the crockpot. (I typically leave mine to simmer that way anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours.)
- When the mixture has thickened and is finished, transfer it immediately into sterile canning jars.
This apple butter is everything you could want from a homemade preserve and so much more. It is:
- Packed with tangy, ever-so-slightly spiced goodness
- Just the right amount of sweet without being too sugary
- Full of apple flavor
- Easy to make, preserve and store
- Versatile enough to use in all kinds of both sweet and savory recipes
- Did I mention EASY?
Once you make this once, I know you’ll want to return to this recipe again and again.
Can I Make A Smaller Batch?
YES! I often make this recipe with just a couple pounds of apples, 1 cup of sugar, 2/3 teaspoon of cinnamon and a pinch of salt. It works beautifully to use up a few apples that are near the end of their deliciousness.
Just transfer the finished smaller batch into a jar and store in the refrigerator.
Slow cookers or crockpots are an appliance of which I have more than one. If you are an avid slow cooker user like I am, you might understand the need for more than one. So, let’s talk about my favorites:
First up is this 6-quart slow cooker that has a locking lid. These crockpots are fantastic for transporting foods. Mine has gone everywhere from church potlucks to barbecues, game nights to Thanksgiving dinner. However, fair warning, these slow cookers run crazy hot. Low is closer to a boil than a simmer, the warm setting actually simmers. So trust me when I say HIGH is high.
My everyday slow cooker is this 8-quart Crockpot. It’s my go-to appliance for cooking large roasts and big batches of chili. Fun fact: did you know that a full 4-quart cooker, actually cooks more slowly than a half-full 8-quart cooker?
For just cooking a few pounds of chicken to shred for enchiladas or other smaller recipes, this 3-quart version is perfect.
Thanksgiving has become a breeze since I have mastered how to hold all of the side dishes using these medium-sized round slow cookers.
If you aren’t a fan of the idea of keeping more than one slow cooker in the house, these CrockPockets are a game-changer when it comes to preparing and holding multiple dishes at the same time. They slide into a standard 6-quart crockpot, dividing it into two sections that are perfect for serving different side dishes or keeping taco fillings warm for parties.
Apple Butter in the Crock-pot
Ingredients
- 6 lbs apples peeled and roughly chopped, I’ve used Gala, Fuji and Honeycrisp apples in the past
- 3 cups white sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Place the apples in the crockpot and top with the sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Cover with lid and set to HIGH. After a few hours, uncover, stir and continue cooking with the lid off.
- Continue simmering until the mixture is thickened and dark brown. Stir occasionally, as needed to prevent sticking.
- When the liquid is absorbed, after 8-10 hours, blend until smooth. (I use an immersion blender right in the crockpot.) However, you can also transfer the apple mixture to a blender and puree it that way.
- Once the apple butter is pureed, you can adjust the thickness by leaving the apple butter in the crockpot on LOW and uncovering it. It will slowly thicken that way.
- Stir occasionally, to prevent sticking to the sides of the crockpot. (I typically leave mine to simmer that way anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours.)When the apple butter is finished, transfer it immediately into sterile canning jars.
Notes
Nutrition
{originally published on 4/12/12 – recipe notes updated 8/19/21}
Sue/the view from great island says
Great recipe, how I do love my crockpot! Does it matter what kind of apple you use?
Mary says
I've used several different varieties of apples and they were all delicious. I did love the batch made with Honeycrisp apples best of all, but that is only an option when I find a serious sale on those apples!
Anonymous says
do you add any liquids to the crock pot
Mary says
You don't need to add any liquid at all.
Becki's Whole Life says
This is great, Mary. I do my applesauce in the crockpot and this sounds like it has such great flavor and spices. My girls would love this for breakfast.
Jenn says
I love apple butter… my mom used to make it all the time when I was younger. I even remember the very last jar of it that she gave me as I was heading off to college… Oh how I wish I would have cherished that last jar more!!! This recipe seems so easy! May have to start making my own jars now!!
Tricia @ saving room for dessert says
My mom made the best Apple Butter. Making it in the crockpot sounds wonderful – must give it a try!
Whitney says
What is the yield of this recipe?
Joanne says
I am now having the STRONGEST craving for using this as a vanilla ice cream topper. I blame this on your last post. 😛
Mary says
It is awesome that way, Joanne! I warm it slightly and then pour a bit on top of the cold ice cream.
Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking says
Oh our whole family loves apple butter and this recipe sounds awesome!!
Loveforfood says
I'm going to try some of recipes for sure, and I'm going to share them with my friends.
The Slow Roasted Italian says
Your apple butter looks amazing. We are still exploring all the uses of this fabulous creation!
Gloria says
Mary this look delicious I wanna make:))
sweetcarolinescooking.com says
Apple butter…heck YES!! I can't even count how many ways I could use this. I'd be happy just eating the butter plain or on a piece of toast. Yum!
Marjie says
You just might have given me a reason to go buy a crockpot. I do love apple butter, above all other bread spreads save lemon curd.
Pam says
I love, love, love apple butter. I've never thought to make my own – yum!
Words Of Deliciousness says
Your apple butter sounds yummy. What a great way to make it. Sounds nice and easy.
Pacheco Patty says
I've always been curious to try this method for apple butter, thanks for sharing!
Kj says
how many jars does this make? I've never canned before so will need to pick up some jars it'd be nice to know how many I should pick up. Also… what kind of jars should I look for? Will the mason kind be okay?
Mary says
I use Mason jars as well. 4-5 jars should be all that you need. I'll try to remember to note the exact number the next time that I make this recipe. Good luck!
lorraine brown says
for one person ,i used small jars,,,good receipe
Donna K. says
This sounds so good. However I cannot use white sugar or artificial sweetners. I can use Stevia but how much would I use?
Patti Airel says
How much steva can I use instead of sugar? I am a diabetic. Or can you suggest a replacement?
Thanks
Mary Younkin says
I haven’t made this with a sugar alternative, Patti.
LISA WOOD says
How long will this keep in the fridge without a water bath?
Mary Younkin says
If it’s sealed, it should be fine for at least a month, Lisa. That said, I know that personally we’ve kept it in the fridge for longer without a water bath.
Kati says
There are no sugar added Apple butter recipes out there if you look.
M Moore says
I buy stevia “baking blend” from kroger. The front of the package states “measures cup for cup like sugar”. This stevia product is also used for coffee, baking and all my sweetening needs. Hope this helps.
Sue Anders says
Do you have nutrition breakdown for this?
Mary Younkin says
That isn’t something that I track, Sue. However, you can copy and paste the ingredient list into any nutrition calculator online to get the nutritional info.