Making apple butter in a crockpot is a fantastic way to fill your kitchen with a delicious, spiced aroma while letting the slow cooker do most of the work. Here’s a simple recipe to get you started:
Crockpot Apple Butter Recipe
Ingredients:
- 6 cups peeled, cored, and chopped apples (about 6-8 medium apples, a mix of sweet and tart apples works best, like Fuji and Granny Smith)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional, but helps preserve color and adds a touch of brightness)
Instructions:
- Prepare the Apples: Peel, core, and chop the apples into small chunks. Place them in the crockpot.
- Add Sugar and Spices: Sprinkle the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, and salt over the apples. If using, add the lemon juice as well.
- Cook: Cover the crockpot and cook on low for 8-10 hours, or until the apples are very soft and break apart easily. Stir occasionally if you’re around, but it’s not crucial.
- Blend: Once the apples are cooked, use an immersion blender to blend the mixture until smooth. Alternatively, you can transfer the apple mixture in batches to a regular blender and blend until smooth.
- Reduce: If the apple butter is too thin, you can cook it uncovered on the low setting for an additional 1-2 hours to thicken it up to your desired consistency.
- Taste and Adjust: Taste your apple butter and adjust the spices or sweetness if needed.
- Store: Transfer the apple butter to sterilized jars while still hot. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or processed in a water bath canner for longer storage (up to a year).
Enjoy your homemade apple butter on toast, pancakes, or even as a topping for yogurt!