Slow Cooker Apple Butter
This easy slow cooker apple butter recipe transforms 5 pounds of apples into a delicious spread.Perfect for spreading on toast, using in baking, or gifting. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 5 lbs apples a mix of sweet and tart varieties
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prep the apples: Wash, peel, core, and chop the apples into roughly 1-inch cubes. Don't worry about being too precise – they'll break down during cooking.
- Mix ingredients: Add the chopped apples to your slow cooker. In a separate bowl, mix the sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Pour this mixture over the apples and stir to coat evenly.
- Cook: Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours, or on high for 4-6 hours. The longer you cook, the darker and richer your apple butter will become.
- Check for doneness: Your apple butter is ready when it's dark brown and has reduced significantly. A spoon should stand up in the mixture without falling over.
- Blend: Use an immersion blender to puree the apple butter until smooth. If you don't have an immersion blender, carefully transfer batches to a food processor.
- Finish cooking: If your apple butter isn't thick enough, continue cooking uncovered on low for 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Cool and store: Let the apple butter cool completely before transferring to clean jars. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or freeze for longer storage.
Notes
For the best results, choose a mix of apple varieties. Fuji, Gala, and Honeycrisp offer sweetness, while Granny Smith provides tartness. This combination will give your apple butter a complex, well-rounded flavor.