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Ultimate Homemade Apple Butter: Stovetop vs. Slow Cooker

A glistening, dark mound of homemade apple butter served on a small white plate.
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Learn how to make rich, deeply spiced homemade apple butter using either the classic stovetop method or the easy slow cooker method. This spread is perfect for toast, biscuits, or gifting.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 pounds apples (Fuji, Honeycrisp, or a mix), peeled, cored, and chopped
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/2 cup water (for stovetop only)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the apples: Peel, core, and chop 6 pounds of apples. You can skip peeling if you plan to blend thoroughly later for a very smooth apple butter.
  2. Combine ingredients: Place the chopped apples, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice into a large pot (for stovetop) or the basin of your slow cooker.
  3. Stovetop Method: Add 1/2 cup of water to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 2 to 3 hours, stirring every 30 minutes, until the apples are very soft.
  4. Slow Cooker Method: Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high for 4 to 5 hours, until the apples are completely soft. Stir occasionally.
  5. Blend for smoothness: Once the apples are very tender, use an immersion blender or carefully transfer the mixture in batches to a standard blender. Blend until you achieve a smooth apple butter consistency. For an old-fashioned, slightly textured spread, pulse briefly.
  6. Thicken the butter: Return the blended mixture to the pot or slow cooker (if using a blender). Cook uncovered over low heat (stovetop) or on the high setting (slow cooker, lid off) for 1 to 2 hours, stirring frequently, until the apple butter is thick enough to mound on a spoon and does not run when drizzled. This step concentrates the flavor.
  7. Cool and store: Let the apple butter cool completely. Transfer the homemade apple butter to clean jars. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks or process using a water bath canner for long-term storage.

Notes

  • For a natural sweetener apple butter option, reduce the total sugar by half and add 1/4 cup of maple syrup during the last hour of cooking.
  • The best apples for apple butter are tart cooking apples like Granny Smith mixed with sweeter varieties like Gala or Honeycrisp.
  • This spiced apple spread freezes well for up to 6 months if you are not canning it.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://hungryhearld.com/apple-butter-ultimate-stovetop-slow-cooker-recipe/