If you want a fuss-free fall condiment, I have the perfect recipe for you—a homemade crockpot apple butter recipe. You'll love how simple, delicious, and versatile this recipe is.
If you want a fantastic fall treat to stock your shelves with, use for barter, or give to a friend, you'll love this old-fashioned condiment made with a variety of apples.
This homemade recipe in your slow cooker, crockpot, or wood stove will fill your home with a fragrant apple cinnamon scent. And it is a good way to use up large amounts of apples so you don't need to store apples for the winter.
How to Make Homemade Apple Butter
Making apple butter in a slow cooker is easy. Here's how.
⬇️Want the printable recipe card? It's at the bottom of this post.⬇️
Ingredients You Need
- 6 pounds of apples (a mix of varieties)
- ¾ cup brown sugar, packed firmly
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 vanilla bean or 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Directions
Start by washing your apples well. Core and chop them into small pieces. And remember, no need to peel them.
Toss the apples and apple cider into the crockpot. Then add both types of sugar, cinnamon and vanilla.
Stir everything together until well combined and cook on low for 8-10 hours, giving it an occasional stir.
Once the apples have cooked down and thickened, use an immersion blender to smooth them.
Add the scraped vanilla bean or extract, stir, and cook for another hour. And that's it.
After cooling, ladle your apple butter into mason jars. If you're into canning, this is a great recipe to store for longer periods.
Why You'll Love This Crockpot Apple Butter Recipe
You'll love this old-fashioned apple butter recipe because it's expensive and a great way to preserve apples long-term.
And it's unique because I keep the peel. Removing the apple peeling step saves a lot of time and mess.
So this is a great recipe to toss in the crockpot while you are busy elsewhere because all you need to do is stir it now and then.
The result? A delicious and flavorful spiced apple butter that is great for spreading on toast, bagels, and so much more. Still warm outside where you are? Put some on your ice cream.
Just dump the ingredients in the crockpot and let it do its thing.
Spread it on toast, stir it into oatmeal, or use it in your favorite frugal recipes. The sky's the limit.
We love fruit butter recipes as a simple way to use up extra fruits of all sorts when they're in season. In fact, you might like this peach butter recipe, too — another delicious and easy crockpot fruit butter to try.
With apples as the star ingredient, you're getting all the apples' nutrients, fiber and vitamins. Plus, you control the sugar content.
Apples are often plentiful and cheap, especially if you go apple picking in the fall as a fun family outing. And your home will smell like a bakery, with cinnamon and apples wafting through the air.
How to Use Apple Butter
We love apple butter spread on artisan whole-wheat bread for a hearty breakfast.
It's also delicious mixed into your morning oatmeal or yogurt.
Add it to your charcuterie board and your favorite cheese and sourdough crackers.
And much like our maple bacon jam, it's also delicious as a glaze for grilled meats like chicken or pork.
Apple Butter in a Gift Basket
This crockpot apple butter recipe makes a lovely handmade hostess gift. Cook up a large batch and spoon it into mason jars.
Add customized mason jar labels. Add a jar of strawberry jam, pickled onions, or even cranberry relish for a holiday gift basket.
So, there you go—a simple homemade crockpot apple butter recipe to whip up in your crockpot.
It's frugal, flavorful and flexible enough to use in many dishes.
Plus, it's a fun and delicious way to dive into the fall season.
Crockpot Apple Butter FAQs
Got questions about apple butter? Here are my answers!
How long can I store this apple butter?
Store this homemade crockpot apple butter in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. However, you can turn it into long-shelf-life food. Learn how to start canning and you'll be all set. And it's a flavorful addition to your prepper pantry.
Can I adjust the sugar levels?
Absolutely. Adjust the sugar according to your taste preferences. The apples themselves provide natural sweetness, so feel free to experiment.
Is apple butter the same as applesauce?
No. Apple butter is different from applesauce. Though they may seem similar, they vary in texture and cooking time.
Apple butter is cooked longer, allowing the sugars to caramelize, which gives it a richer, deeper flavor and a smoother texture.
Crockpot Apple Butter Recipe
Learn how to make this easy crockpot apple butter recipe with 6 pounds of unpeeled apples. Frugal, flavorful, and fun.
Ingredients
- 6 pounds of apples (a mix of varieties is best)
- ¾ cup brown sugar, packed firmly
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 vanilla bean or 1 Tablespoon extract
Instructions
- Wash your apples well and scrub them with a clean towel.
- Core and chop apples into small pieces, skip the peeling.
- Toss apples and apple cider into the crockpot.
- Top with remaining ingredients.
- Stir well to combine everything.
- Cook on low heat for 8-10 hours, stirring occasionally.
- When apples have cooked down and thickened up, use an immersion blender to puree apples until smooth.
- Scrape vanilla bean into your mixture (or add the extract), stir well, and allow to cook for another hour.
- Remove from the crock pot and ladle into your clean half-pint mason jars, leave a ¼” headspace if canning.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
To can:
Wipe off the rim of the jar well.
Top with lid and ring.
Process for 15 minutes in a water bath.
Nutrition Information
Yield 115 Serving Size 1 tablespoonAmount Per Serving Calories 23Total Fat 0gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gCholesterol 0mgSodium 1mgCarbohydrates 6gFiber 1gSugar 5gProtein 0g
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