Kristin Maxwell
Published on
Easy Crockpot Apple Butter
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This Easy Crockpot Apple Butter is so simple and cooks overnight in your slow cooker! It’s creamy and sweet and a healthier alternative to jams and jellies.
Spread apple butter on toast, bagels, or homemade biscuits. It can also be used in place of oil in recipes and is especially delicious in my Cinnamon Apple Bundt Cake Recipe
Table of Contents
Crockpot Apple Butter Ingredients
- Apples – You’ll need approximately 5 pounds of apples (10-12 medium size). Core them and roughly chop them; you can leave the skins off if you want, and they will just melt into the butter.
- Sugar – Made with molasses, brown sugar adds warmth to the sweetness. You’ll also add some white sugar to heighten the sweet factor. Depending on the type of apples you use, you may want to ere on the lighter side with the sugar at first.
- Spices – Ground cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
- Salt – Just a pinch. Salt helps to balance the sweetness and heighten the overall flavor of the butter.
- Vanilla extract – Also for flavor balance.
How to Make Apple Butter in the Crockpot
This apple butter recipe is so easy to make!
- Start by chopping 5-pounds of apples and add them to the slow cooker.
- Combine sugars, spices, salt, and vanilla in a bowl and mix that with the apples.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 10 hours.
- Puree the apple mixture with an immersion blender, or transfer to a regular blender and blend until smooth.
FAQ
What Are the Best Apples to Use?
The best apples to use for this recipe are Red Delicious, Fuji, McIntosh, or Winesap as they are softer apples. But you can use any red apples you can find. Some apples will be sweeter than others, so you may need to adjust the amount of added sugar.
Although they are not a favorite, you can also use Granny Smith for a more tart flavor, or yellow delicious for a more mild sweetness.
Do you have to peel the apples?
The best part about this recipe? No peeling required! The skins will break down as they cook and they will just melt into the butter. Leaving the peels on not only makes the process much easier, the skin is the most nutritious part of the apple, so keeping it on is a win-win.
How much does this recipe make?
This batch of apple butter will fill about four cups which can be divided into 4 half-pint jars.
What is Apple Butter Used For?
Apple butter is basically a condensed applesauce that is thick and spreadable and so delicious. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
- As a spread – Rolls, biscuits, English muffins, bagels, toast, or crackers.
- As a topping – Microwave it for a few seconds and use as a syrup for pancakes, waffles, or even ice cream.
- As a gift – Since it can be stored for a while in the fridge, apple butter also makes a great holiday gift. Fill a half-pint jar, tie a ribbon around the lid and gift to friends, neighbors, co-workers and teachers.
Storage
- Cool completely and store in mason jars or another airtight container. This recipe will fill 4 half-pint jars, or 2 pint-size jars, or a one-quart jar.
- Refrigerate for up to a month, or freeze for up to a year. When freezing, make sure to leave at least 1-2 inches at the top for expansion.
- For canning, seal tightly and process in a water bath. Follow the instructions on the mason jar packaging.
Tips
- Only use the low setting on your slow cooker for this recipe – high heat will burn the sugars.
- Let your butter process in the fridge for a day or so before eating. It can have quite a sharp tang that will mellow with age.
More Apple Recipes
- Classic Apple Pie Recipe
- Slow Cooker Apple Pie Filling
- Apple Crumble Recipe
- Apple Oven Pancake
- Pumpkin Apple Bread
- Green Apple Smoothie Recipe
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Easy Homemade Apple Butter
This Easy Crockpot Apple Butter is so simple and cooks overnight in your crockpot! It’s creamy and sweet and a healthier alternative to jams and jellies.
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 10 hrs
Total Time 10 hrs 10 mins
Ingredients
- 10 – 12 Medium Apples approximately 5 pounds, cored and chopped. (Leave the skins on the apples)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup of granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons of ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add chopped apples to a crockpot.
- In a medium size bowl combine sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, ground cloves, salt, ground nutmeg, vanilla extract.
- Pour the sugar mixture over the chopped apples in the crockpot and stir until well coated.
- Cover with lid and cook on low for 10 hours.
- Puree the apple mixture with an immersion blender or a in counter-top blender until smooth.
- Once the apple butter is smooth and cool, store in mason jars or an air tight jar. Store in refrigerator for up to one month or freezer for up to one year.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature on rolls, biscuits, engligh muffins, toast or crackers!
Notes
Yields approximately 4 cups.
Cool completely and store in mason jars or another airtight container. This recipe will fill 4 half-pint jars, or 2 pint-size jars, or a one-quart jar.
Refrigerate for up to a month, or freeze for up to a year. When freezing, make sure to leave at least 1-2 inches at the top for expansion.
For canning, seal tightly and process in a water bath. Follow the instructions on the mason jar packaging.
Nutrition
Serving: 2tablespoonsCalories: 98kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 21mgPotassium: 141mgFiber: 3gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 69IUVitamin C: 6mgCalcium: 14mgIron: 1mg
Can I water bath process this?
Yes, just follow any canning instructions.
Thank you so much for the wonderful recipe and you link for the canning information.
You are so welcome Jeri! Thanks for stopping by.
I’m excited to not have to peel the apples, but I’ll have to use a sweetener other than sugar since my husband must limit his sugar intake. Apple butter is his favorite. When freezing, do you freeze in jars or use another kind of container?
You can freeze in any container that you have. Just remember to leave room at the top for expansion.
I just finished my first batch. My jars are hot and so is my sauce. Can I bottle them hot so that they will vacuum seal the can and then keep it on the shelf?
Hi, I googled your question and this site had some great information: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can_02/applesauce.html
I’d love to make this for my mother for Christmas! How long does it keep in the fridge?
It will keep for a couple weeks in the fridge.
This sounds so yummy. I have apples in my freezer
right now but they are peeled? Would I still be able to use them?
Sure you can use them without the peel! Thaw them first so you won’t have extra water.
This is a magnificent recipe for Apple Butter, not only easy but the Brown Sugar and Vanilla give it a depth of flavor that is perfection. Well done Kristin! Thank you!
You are so welcome Roben! Awesome feedback! Thanks for stopping by.
Super easy and fantastic!
Thank you Julie!
My apples seem done after 7.5 hours. Should I wait the full ten or go ahead and puree them?
If they seem done, you could test them by mashing. If it doesn’t work, you could cook them cor longer.
Just made it for the second time. Figured out the juice. I wish my crockpot was bigger so I can make more at one time I have people lined up for their jar lol.
This is my second batch. Ready to purée it, but I can’t remember if I poured the juice in the blender of should I spoon it out with a slotted spoon. Family and friends love it.
Do I drain the cooked app,es before purring?
Nope, just puree right in your slow cooker with an emulsion blender or pour into your stand blender.
Just made the slow cooker apple butter. Very easy and very delicious. Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful recipe.
You are so welcome Melody, thanks for stopping by.
I love this recipe! Does it need to be refrigerated right away? I was going to make it for gifts, but am worried about it being at room temperature for too long.
It should be refrigerated. If giving as a gift, don’t let it sit out for more than an hour or two.
My first time doing something like this. I love it. It smells great and the taste is even better. I’ll be making it more often. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
You are so welcome Rose! Thanks for stopping by.
What apples do you suggest?
I just finished making this and it tastes and smells amazing! One question… Am I able to hot wash can this recipe?
I’ve never tried canning, but yes you should be able to do that.
Sooo good! My first time making apple butter. It was super easy and a hit with everyone!
Nice! Thank you so much Sharon for taking the time to leave some positive feedback.
Can I peel the apples first.
Sure!
This is delicious! Just blended it & it’s a little loose. Will it thicken when it cools?
Yes it should thicken up a bit.
Ok I have a question,can this be sweetened with honey? And stevia? I’m in recovery from cancer and sugar is dangerous for me
Sure you can try replacing the sugar, but I can’t say how well it would work since I haven’t tried it. Good luck!