A few years back during a visit to New England my husband and I stumbled upon an apple orchard with a cider mill. It was a delightful place with all kinds of delicious treats. One of our favorites was the apple butter. We weren’t familiar with apple butter at the time and we fell in love with it.
All the incredible flavors of slow cooked apples and cinnamon in a spread that could make anything taste delicious. Our only regret was buying only one jar. We have tried over and over again to find an apple butter that even comes close to being as incredible as that one.
I decided to take things into my own hands this year and make some myself. I had no idea what to expect when I started researching how to make apple butter, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out how easy it is.
Granted, for the best results you want to cook it long and slow. But the convenience of a slow cooker makes the process incredibly easy. In the end you have a smooth flavorful spread that goes perfectly with anything. And the added bonus is your home will smell incredible for days to come.
Fill jars to keep in the fridge for up to two weeks, or freeze for later use. Or better yet, fill up a few jars to give away as gifts. But a little tip from a friend, keep an extra jar for yourself…no regrets.
Ingredients
- 5 ½ pounds of apples peeled, cored and sliced
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup of light brown sugar
- ½ tablespoon of cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon all spice
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Place apples into your slow cooker. In a medium bowl combine the remaining ingredients and pour over apples, mixing them together.
- Cover and cook on high for 1 hour.
- Reduce heat to low and cook for another 10 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Uncover and continue to cook for an additional 1 hour on low. Using an immersion blender, blend until it reaches the desired smoothness.
- Spoon into sterile containers and store in your refrigerator for up to two weeks, or freeze for future use.
- Serve on breads, muffins, etc. or give away as gifts.
