Apple Butter in the Crock-pot Recipe
This slow cooker apple butter recipe transforms fresh apples into a rich, thick, and flavorful spread perfect for toast, baking, or as a condiment. Using a crock-pot allows for minimal effort and maximum flavor development, with warm cinnamon notes enhancing the natural sweetness of Gala, Fuji, and Honeycrisp apples. The result is a smooth, spreadable apple butter that is naturally sweetened and deeply comforting.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 to 12 hours
- Total Time: 8 hours 20 minutes to 12 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 6 cups of apple butter 1x
- Category: Condiment, Spread
- Method: Slow Cooking, Simmering, Blending
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 6 lbs apples (peeled and roughly chopped; Gala, Fuji, and Honeycrisp recommended)
- 3 cups white sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Prepare the apples: Peel the apples and chop them roughly into pieces, removing cores but keeping some bits for texture is fine. Use a mix of Gala, Fuji, and Honeycrisp for balanced sweetness and flavor.
- Add ingredients to crock-pot: Place the chopped apples into the crock-pot, then evenly sprinkle the sugar, cinnamon, and kosher salt over the top.
- Cook covered on high: Cover with the crock-pot lid and set to HIGH heat. Let cook for a few hours to soften the apples and start melding flavors.
- Uncover and stir: After a few hours, remove the lid and stir the mixture well to prevent sticking and uneven cooking.
- Simmer uncovered: Continue cooking with the lid off to let moisture evaporate, stirring occasionally to keep the apples from sticking to the crock-pot sides and burning. This will deepen color and thicken the mixture.
- Check for thickness: After about 8-10 hours total, when the apple butter is thick and dark brown and most liquids are absorbed, move to pureeing.
- Puree the mixture: Use an immersion blender directly in the crock-pot to blend until the mixture is smooth. Alternatively, transfer in batches to a blender and puree thoroughly.
- Adjust thickness: If you prefer thicker apple butter, continue simmering on LOW, uncovered, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. This process can take 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on desired consistency.
- Jar the apple butter: Once finished, immediately transfer the hot apple butter into sterile canning jars for storage or gifting. Seal and refrigerate or process for long-term preservation.
Notes
- For a less sweet version, reduce sugar quantity to 2 cups or substitute part of it with brown sugar or honey.
- You can add a pinch of ground cloves or nutmeg for a spiced variation.
- Store apple butter in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks or freeze in airtight containers for up to 6 months.
- Ensure jars are properly sterilized to prevent contamination and extend shelf life.
- Using an immersion blender is easier and safer directly in the crock-pot, but a standard blender works well too.
- Different apple varieties will affect sweetness and texture slightly; adjust sugar accordingly.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons (about 30 g)
- Calories: 80
- Sugar: 19 g
- Sodium: 55 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 0.2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: apple butter recipe, crock-pot apple butter, slow cooker apple butter, homemade apple spread, fall recipes, cinnamon apple butter
Find it online: https://nayabaker.com/apple-butter-in-the-crock-pot-recipe/
