Here’s a simple, rich, and perfectly spiced Apple Butter recipe—great for toast, biscuits, pancakes, pork, or gifting. 🍎🧈✨
You can make it slow cooker, stovetop, or Instant Pot. I’ll give the slow cooker version first since it’s the easiest and most traditional.
🍎 Slow Cooker Apple Butter
Ingredients
- 5–6 lbs apples (about 12–14 medium; any variety or mix)
- 1–1½ cups granulated sugar (adjust to sweetness)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ½ tsp allspice
- ¼ tsp cloves (optional)
- Pinch of salt
- 1–2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
1. Prep apples
Peel, core, and slice apples. (You can leave peels on—blend at the end.)
2. Load the slow cooker
Add apples, both sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and salt.
3. Cook
- Cover and cook on LOW for 8–10 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Apples will become very soft and dark.
4. Blend
Use an immersion blender until smooth OR transfer to a blender in batches.
5. Reduce & thicken
Cook on LOW, uncovered, for 1–3 more hours until thick, glossy, and spreadable.
6. Add vanilla
Stir in after cooking for the best flavor.
7. Store
Cool fully, then store:
- Refrigerator: up to 2 weeks
- Freezer: up to 6 months
- Canning: water bath for 10 minutes (if desired)
🍏 Tips & Variations
- Best apples: Use a mix—Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith, McIntosh.
- No-sugar version: Reduce sugar to taste; apples may be sweet enough.
- Caramel apple version: Stir in ¼ cup caramel sauce at the end.
- Extra smooth: Blend twice.
- Thicker texture: Cook longer uncovered.
⏱ Instant Pot Version (Quick!)
Ingredients: same as above
Instructions:
- Add everything to the pot.
- Seal and cook 10 minutes on high pressure, natural release.
- Blend smooth.
- Simmer on Sauté (Low) 10–20 minutes to thicken.
🍎 Stovetop Version (Classic)
Simmer apples and spices in a heavy pot for 1–2 hours, blend, then cook on low until thick (1–2 more hours), stirring often so it doesn’t scorch.
If you want, I can also give apple butter BBQ sauce, apple butter pork roast, or apple butter muffins!
