Apple butter! A childhood favorite of mine, made incredibly easy in the slow cooker. One of my favorite things about fall.
My family and I recently had the pleasure of attending an Apple Festival along the Blue Ridge. This is an event we have attended just about every October since my children were babies. It’s a wonderful event on a farm and campsite in the mountains surrounded by streams of running water. They have apple picking, hay rides and climbs, tons of vendors, delicious food, etc. We never leave without full bellies, lots of pictures, and apples, of course.
This year we came home with LOTS of apples. A LOT more than I anticipated.
This is ok, I absolutely love apples, and all the wonderful things to make from them.
If you’re one of those weirdos who has never had apple butter, you are missing out on a popular fall favorite. Apple butter is delicious on buttered biscuits, toast, crepes, scones, oatmeal, and biscotti. It also pairs incredibly well with most pork dishes like roasts and chops. Apple butter’s consistency is perfect enough to even serve as a great dip for…apples. Also, chicken nuggets, believe it or not. Apple butter deserves far more recognition than it receives.
During our time on the mountain, I observed the “old timers” cooking up the apple butter the old fashioned way, in a big cast iron cauldron over open flames, stirring occasionally. Obviously, I would not be making apple butter the same way, but slow cooking it, absolutely.
This is an ALL DAY or overnight recipe. I usually start very early in the morning, and it’s done by late evening. I do allow my apple butter to cool in their jars overnight on the counter. It’s perfectly fine to do so.
Apple butter is also a wonderful gift both to make and receive. Food gifts are my favorite gifts!
Please enjoy this fall staple! Here’s how to make it:
Slow Cooker Apple Butter
Equipment
- Slow cooker, veggie peeler, corer, immersion blender or the like, large slow cooker, 6qt or larger
Ingredients
- 14 apples, any variety (approx 5-6 lbs, fills up a 6 qt. slow cooker)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Peel, core, and chop apples. Place in slow cooker.
- Combine the sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Pour over apples and stir well.
- Cover and cook on low for 10 hours.
- Uncover, stir in vanilla, and continue cooking uncovered another 1 1/2 -2 hours. The mixture will be dark brown and thickened.
- Puree the apples using an immersion blender until smooth. Alternatively, pour the apples into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. The mixture will be extremely hot, use caution.
- Pour the apple butter into mason jars or other containers. Keep covered in the fridge up to two weeks.
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