How To Make Apple Butter - A Simple Recipe

Discover a simple and delicious apple butter recipe that requires just a few ingredients and easy steps. Perfect for spreading on toast or adding to your favorite dishes.

If you're looking for a way to capture the essence of fall in a jar, look no further than this simple and delicious apple butter recipe. With just a handful of ingredients and easy steps, you can create a spread perfect for toast, biscuits, or even as a flavorful addition to oatmeal and pancakes.

Friends, you're in for a delightful treat with this simple apple butter recipe. Nothing says fall quite like the natural scent and beauty of apples. As this apple butter cooks, it will fill your home with the warm, comforting aroma of spiced apples. And then comes the best part—eating the apple butter! I love using apple butter on homemade pancakes and waffles. When spread on hot pancakes, it warms up, creating the perfect comfort food for chilly fall mornings.

A common comment I often get is “What is apple butter?” Apple butter is a thick, rich spread made from apples that have been cooked down with sugar and spices until they reach a smooth, buttery consistency. Despite its name, it doesn't contain any butter. The term "butter" refers to its spreadable nature, similar to how nut butter is named.

Apple butter is typically flavored with warm spices like cinnamon allspice, and nutmeg, giving it a deep, autumnal taste. It's often used as a spread on bread, toast, or biscuits, but it can also be used as a topping for pancakes, waffles, yogurt, oatmeal, or as a flavoring in baked goods. The long cooking process caramelizes the sugars in the apples, intensifying their natural sweetness and flavor.

What are the best apples to use for making apple butter?

The best apples for making apple butter are those that are naturally sweet. Some popular choices include:

Fuji: Sweet and crisp, providing a nice balance of flavors.

Gala: Mildly sweet with a good texture for cooking.

Honeycrisp: Sweet and juicy, with a firm texture.

Jonathan: Sweet-tart flavor that works well in apple butter.

McIntosh: Soft and sweet, they cook down well and provide a smooth texture. Mixing different varieties can also enhance the depth of flavor in your apple butter.

How many apples are in a pound?

You may have gone apple picking before, and like me, you might have been surprised by the final cost, especially when my children were younger and each wanted to fill a bag with apples. I would think, "It's just a couple of bucks per pound." However, pounds add up quickly with apples. Did you know that a bushel of apples can weigh between 42 and 48 pounds? In fact, only three medium apples make up a pound.

NOTE For this apple butter recipe, you'll need approximately 18 medium apples. However, you can easily cut the recipe in half. Keep in mind that the apples cook down significantly, so it may seem like a lot at first, but they'll reduce in volume as they cook.

The yield of apple butter from 6 pounds of apples can vary depending on factors like the variety of apples, how much they cook down, and the consistency you're aiming for. Generally, 6 pounds of apples will produce about 6 to 8 half-pint jars of apple butter. This is an estimate, and the actual amount may vary slightly.

I love this set of 8-ounce mason jars. It comes with both canning lids and convenient storage lids, so once you open a jar of apple butter, you can easily use the screw-on lid. It's super convenient! This apple slicer/corer is a must-have.

Apple Butter Recipe:

Ingredients:

- 6 pounds of apples

- 2 cups of apple cider or apple juice

- 1/2 cup of granulated sugar (adjust to taste up to 1 cup) or honey

- 1 cup of brown sugar (adjust to taste)

- 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon

- 1/2 teaspoon of ground allspice (optional)

- 1/2 teaspoon of ground nutmeg (optional)

- 1/2 teaspoon of salt

- 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract (optional)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Apples:

- Wash, core, and cut the apples into chunks. You can leave the peels on as they will cook down and add flavor.

2. Cook the Apples:

- In a large pot or slow cooker, combine the apples and apple cider (or apple juice). Cover and cook on low heat until the apples are very soft, about 10-12 hours in a slow cooker or 2-3 hours on the stovetop.

3. Blend the Apples:

- Use an immersion blender to puree the apples until smooth. If you don't have an immersion blender, you can use a regular blender in batches. Return the apple puree to the pan.

4. Add Sugar and Spices:

- Add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and salt. Stir well to combine.

5. Cook Down the Apple Butter:

- Continue to cook on low heat, uncovered, until the mixture thickens to your desired consistency. This can take several more hours in a slow cooker or about an hour on the stovetop. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

6. Finish the Apple Butter:

- Stir in the vanilla extract, if using. Taste and adjust the sweetness or spices if needed.

7. Store the Apple Butter:

- Allow the apple butter to cool. Transfer it to sterilized jars and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. For longer storage, you can process the jars in a water bath canner.

How long does apple butter stay good?

Homemade apple butter can stay good for about 2 to 3 weeks when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If you want to extend its shelf life, you can also freeze it for up to a year. For long-term storage at room temperature, you can preserve it using a proper canning method, which can make it last up to a year as well. You may be wondering whether you should freeze or can your apple butter.

Both freezing and canning are good methods for preserving apple butter, but the choice depends on your preferences and storage needs:

Freezing: Quick and easy, freezing preserves the flavor and texture of apple butter for up to a year. It requires less equipment and effort than canning. However, it does require freezer space, and once thawed, the texture may change slightly.

Canning: Canning allows you to store apple butter at room temperature for up to a year or longer. It requires proper canning equipment and following safe canning procedures to avoid spoilage. Canned apple butter is convenient for gifting and doesn't take up freezer space.

Ultimately, the best method depends on how much time and effort you're willing to invest and how you plan to store or gift the apple butter.

Enjoy your homemade apple butter on toast, biscuits, or as a delicious spread for various dishes! You may also enjoy my apple cinnamon muffin recipe and don't miss out on my pumpkin cream cheese muffin recipe, these muffins taste like pumpkin roll, without all the work.

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