Slow Cooker Homemade Apple Butter. A simple recipe for homemade apple butter that is made in the slow cooker. Use slow cooker apple butter as a spread or in your fall recipes. It is one of the best apple recipes, and perfect to make when you have gone apple picking.
Slow Cooker Apple Butter
I am so ready for fall, I know I am getting a bit ahead of things right now with bring out the pumpkin and apples but I just can not help myself. I am ready for fall and when everyone starts going apple picking I want you all to have these fall recipes ready to go!
Apple butter is like the most amazing fall recipe that you can make. It is like eating fall on a spoon! And it is SUPER easy to make with only a few minutes of prep time. The hardest part about making apple butter is the waiting, it takes 11 hours to make apple butter in the crockpot.
What is Apple Butter?
Apple butter is a concentrated version of applesauce that is produced by a long, slow cooking process that caramelizes the sugar in the apples turning the apple a deep brown making a flavorful thick apple preserve. It is similar to applesauce but thicker and with a more intense apple flavor.
What does apple butter taste like?
Apple butter tastes like happiness in a jar that you are happy to eat with a spoon. A rich apple flavor with hints of cinnamon and spices.
What is apple butter used for?
There are so many different ways that you can enjoy apple butter. Spreading apple butter on some fluffy homemade bread is on of my favorite ways to enjoy it. It is also perfect for spreading on english muffins, toast, muffins and biscuits.
You can use apple butter in place of the apple pie filling in apple cinnamon rolls, apple pie rollups or add it to oatmeal including our homemade apple cinnamon oatmeal or maple overnight oats.
Making waffles or pancakes? Add a spread of apple butter on top of them for a flavorful fall breakfast. You can also add apple butter IN your fluffy homemade pancakes. We also like to change out the jelly in our French toast roll ups for some rich apple butter!
Use apple butter in place of applesauce in recipes for a more intense apple flavor.
You can also use apple butter in savory dishes, like chicken and pork by spreading it on top during the last few minutes of cooking.
Making sweet potatoes? We love making our microwaved sweet potatoes and adding a bit of apple butter when we are mashing them to intensify the flavors.
There are also some classic fall and winter recipes that you can add some apple butter to that will intensify the flavors including chili and butternut squash soup.
Use as a glaze for roasted veggies. Squash, carrots and Brussel Sprouts taste amazing when they are oven roasted and then mixed with butter and apple butter.
Best Apples for Apple Butter
When you are making apple butter the great thing is that just about any type of apple will work. This is why using apples from apple picking is perfect because just about any type of apple will work. I do prefer to use sweeter varieties of apples like Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious and McIntosh. You can also use different varieties at the same time when you are making apple butter.
How long does apple butter last for?
After making apple butter you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 months or in the freezer for up to 6 months. It is important to store apple butter in an airtight container.
How do you know if Apple Butter has gone bad?
The best way to tell if apple butter has gone bad is to smell it and look at it. If it develops an odd odor, flavor or appearance or you see mold then it is no longer good for consumption and should be discarded.
Slow Cooker Apple Butter Ingredients
- apples
- sugar
- ground cinnamon
- ground cloves
- ground nutmeg
How to Make Slow Cooker Apple Butter
Peel, core and slice your apples. You can make apple butter leaving the peels on if you want to.
Place them in the crock pot with the sugar and cook on low for 3 hours, stirring every hour.
After the apples have cooked for 3 hours add the spices in with the apples and give it a quick stir.
Turn the heat up to high and continue cooking for another 8 hours with the lid slightly ajar to allow moisture to escape. Give it a quick stir every 2 hours.
Continue cooking until the mixture is dark brown and thick.
Once cooked fully, use an emersion blender to smooth. If you do not have one you can add all contents of the crockpot to a blender and pulse until smooth.
Spoon apple butter into mason jars and secure the lids tightly. If freezing leave room at the top of the jar.
Easy Apple Recipes
Slow Cooker Homemade Apple Butter
Ingredients
Instructions
- Peel, core and slice your apples. Place them in the crock pot with the sugar and cook on low for 3-4 hours, stirring about every hour.
- Add the spices in with the apples.
- Continue cooking for another 8 hours or so with the lid slightly ajar to allow moisture to escape.
- Stir every hour or two until you reach the desired thickness.
- Once cooked fully, use an emersion blender to smooth. If you do not have one you can add all contents of the crockpot to a blender and pulse until smooth.
- Spoon apple butter into mason jars or an air tight container and secure the lids tightly. If freezing leave room at the top of the jar.
Comments & Reviews
Linda @ Home Cooking says
Hi I’m new to your site and a new follower. I love apple butter and now, thanks to you I can make my own! Thanks for sharing. Blessings.
Miz Helen says
Hope you are having a great week and thanks so much for sharing your great post with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen