This homemade apple butter is velvety, rich, and tastes like apple pie! With both slow cooker and stovetop instructions, you can easily make it this Fall!
Perfect on top of a homemade biscuit or roll, a slice of toast, or even by the spoonful, you’ll love the spiced apple flavor, with just enough sweetness to keep you coming back for more.
In the past, I’ve only made apple butter in the crockpot (those directions will be in the recipe notes section), which is great when I remember to plan ahead. Buuuuut if you’re like me, sometimes the mood for apple butter strikes you when you didn’t put everything in the slow cooker hours ago. This version can be made in about an hour or hour and a half, which may seem like a long cooking time, but a lot of it is hands off.
If you’ve never had apple butter, you might be wondering what the heck it is!
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN APPLESAUCE AND APPLE BUTTER?
They’re both similarly flavored, and made by cooking apples with spices and some sugar until tender. But where apple butter differs is that instead of stopping when it’s nice and saucy, you continue to cook it down until it becomes darker in color, more concentrated, thick, and glossy.
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH APPLE BUTTER?
Honestly my favorite thing to do with apple butter is grab a spoon and dig in! However, spreading some on a slice of toast or a freshly baked biscuit or roll is a VERY close second. I know a lot of people use it to bake with (like apple butter bars or apple butter pumpkin pie), and it’s even used in sauces (such as ribs or glazed over a ham). It’s pretty versatile!
You might be wondering if apple butter is healthy, since it’s made from apples. Sadly, it’s pretty high in sugar, and therefore calories, but it does contain some fiber from the apples themselves. I wouldn’t put it in your list of diet-approved foods just yet, but it’s wonderful for a treat!
HOW LONG BEFORE APPLE BUTTER GOES BAD
That answer depends on how you’re storing it. If you are canning it in sterilized jars, it should keep just about indefinitely. In the refrigerator, it’ll last several weeks to a month. In the freezer, about 4-6 months.
WHAT ARE THE BEST APPLES TO USE TO MAKE APPLE BUTTER?
Generally softer and sweet varieties are best, since they break down faster. Fuji’s and Braeburn are my all time favorites, but I’ve used red delicious many times with great results as well.
CAN I USE GRANNY SMITHS?
I personally wouldn’t… at least not as the ONLY apple variety. I love baking with granny smith apples, but their tart flavor isn’t quite what you’re looking for here. If you really want to use some, I’d go with a 50/50 mix of Granny Smith’s and a soft and sweet variety.
PRO TIPS FOR MAKING HOMEMADE APPLE BUTTER:
- Choose your apples wisely. Go for the sweet and softer varieties mentioned above.
- To peel or not to peel. It’s totally up to you! If you decided not to peel, you’ll have TINY flecks of skin in the finished product… but honestly, no one will notice, and it doesn’t effect the taste. For these photos, I very roughly peeled them, so there was still a bit of skin on them.
- Be patient. Apples can take a while to break down… especially if you use a crisp variety of apple.
- If you have an immersion blender, by all means, use it. If not, your blender or food processor should do the trick.
When you’re craving a taste of Fall, any time of year, pick up a bag of apples from the grocery store and whip up a batch of this easy homemade apple butter!
OTHER GREAT APPLE RECIPES
- Old Fashioned Apple Crisp – this recipe is super popular right now!
- Caramel Apple Pie Bars
- One Pan Pork Chops and Apples
SHOP THE RECIPE:
- Blender – My favorite blender! Total workhorse!
- Dutch Oven – the heavy bottom ensures even heating, and it’s so versatile!
- Crockpot – I own several crockpots, but this is the one I use the most!
- Weck Jars – perfect for homemade spreads, these jars are too cute to pass up!
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @the_chunky_chef on Facebook and Instagram!
Ingredients
- 3 lbs apples (softer, sweet varieties)
- 2/3 cup light brown sugar , packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 3/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp allspice
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- Dash of salt
- 3/4 cup apple cider
Instructions
- Peel, core and chop apples. Add all ingredients to slow cooker and stir until well mixed.
- Cover and cook on low setting 6-8 hours or until the butter is thickened and broken down. Overnight works well for this too.
- Transfer to a food processor to purée.
- If apple butter is too thin, transfer back to crockpot, remove lid and cook on low until thickened. Stir often as apple butter thickens to prevent scorching.
- Cool completely and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Apple butter can be frozen as well.
Want to save this recipe for later? Click the heart in the bottom right corner to save to your own recipe box!
Chef Tips
STOVETOP DIRECTIONS:
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Peel, core and chop apples. Add all ingredients to a large dutch oven or heavy bottomed pot. Stir well, then heat over MED heat until apples are soft, about 20 minutes.
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Use an immersion blender to puree the mixture. Alternatively, transfer the mixture to a regular blender and puree, then pour back into the same pot.
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Cook over LOW heat for approximately 45 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent spattering, until apple butter has thickened to desired consistency.
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Cool completely and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Apple butter can be frozen as well.
Nutrition Disclaimer
The Chunky Chef is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
Recipe originally shared on 12/2/2014, and has been updated with tips and tricks, stovetop directions and new photos.
Patti W says
I made this last year for the first time and it’s great. This year I have a roaster oven that has crock pot settings and it was so good. I made a batch of 4 and used a liner and hot packed 18 jars. It turned out amazing
I am making another batch tomorrow and doing a 6 batch. Then half of my apple Xmas gifts are done. With each apple butter they are getting a apple crumble pie
Thank you I will send another post with your receipt
Gretchen Cervantez says
This is my Go-To recipe, whenever I get an over abundance of Apples, year round😋
Christine says
I made this today and it tastes amazing!!! Great recipe! Thank you
Lee Anne Rothrock says
Can you hot water bath can this once it’s done? Thank you!
The Chunky Chef says
I’ve not tested it myself, but I’m sure it could be 🙂
Deedra Miller says
Excellent apple butter!! Gave as Christmas gifts. I used Fuji apples. I did have to cook longer, probably 1 1/2 hours to get to the thickness I liked. I didn’t not use the cider because I did not want to purchase big jug so I used water instead. With next cooking will use less water 1/4c. Thanks for recipe!
Normand Dubois says
Use the peelings and cores to make a batch of apple cider vinegar. Put the peelings, then the cores on a 1 gallon jug. Add (spring) water and some vinegar mother if you have some, Over that a food quality plastic bag that has water in it. This will keep the peels and cores submerged. The jar should have an inch or two of headroom. Cover with a piece of cloth or a coffee strainer held onto the jar with a piece of string or a rubber band. Place out of bright light, periodically check that all seems right, and look for bubbles that indicate that fermentation is occurring. Sample in 3-4 weeks. Strain the finished absolutely delicious vinegar into appropriate vessels. You can also easily make a couple of jars of jelly with the peels and cores. No need to add pectin!
Gretchen Cervantez says
Thanks for the recipe for Apple Cider. I always have A little Mother around the kitchen 😉
Lisa Young says
Perfect. Not too sweet, not too spicy.
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
This looks absolutely delicious! Yummy! I gotta make this! Looks great!
Anna says
I can never get enough of apple butter. So delicious! Love this slow cooker version!
Jamielyn says
Apple butter is one of my weaknesses! Looks SO easy and delicious!
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
It looks and sounds so good! I’d happily eat this with almost anything!
Mahy Elamin says
Wow, what a wonderful idea of apple butter! This is really a tasty version for breakfast! I want to eat it every day! I’m sure this is very tasty.
Dee says
Yummy! Gotta try this soon
Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says
The crockpot is essential during the fall. I would slather this on everything
smalltowngirl says
I made apple butter for the first time this summer! It was soooo good! We’re almost out now! LOL
MyAdventuresInDinnerTime says
Lol its so addicting!!! I need to make more and freeze it 🙂
smalltowngirl says
Ever try canning? Its super fun!
MyAdventuresInDinnerTime says
I haven’t… it’s something I really want to try though! 🙂
smalltowngirl says
I learned this last summer and LOVE it. I have a few posts on my page if you want to check it out 🙂
MyAdventuresInDinnerTime says
I’ll definitely check it out! 🙂
Aunt Sandie says
My Mom always made Apple Butter. This looks like a yummy simple recipe. I can’t wait to try it and spread it on toast.
MyAdventuresInDinnerTime says
I hope you love it!! It’ll definitely be made again… and again 🙂
Julie is HostessAtHeart says
Pinning. I loved this as a child, and look forward to making this.
MyAdventuresInDinnerTime says
It’s so much fun, mostly because of how easy it is… plus you get a great end result