Apple Butter Recipe

By Amy Dong
Updated Sep. 19, 2024

This Apple Butter Recipe is healthy, delicious, and so easy to make in a slow cooker. Despite its title, there is no butter or any other kind of fat in it; it’s pure apple goodness at its best.

A jar of homemade apple butter with a spoon inside. — Apple Butter is just the thing for spreading on toast, muffins, pancakes, and in lieu of the jelly for PB&J’s.

Why This Recipe Stands Out

We’re always looking for ways to make use of fall apples, and this apple butter recipe is one of our favorite apple recipes. Here’s why:

Maximum Fall Flavors The combination of fresh apples and fall spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves is a match made in heaven. Also see our Upside Down Apple French Toast Bake.
No Preservatives: We love making our own spreads and sauces because we know exactly what goes into them. This apple butter is all-natural, like our Homemade Cranberry Sauce.
Use it on Everything: Spread it on toast, cornbread muffins, buttermilk pancakes, Belgian waffles, or use it in place of jelly in your PB&J.
Great for Gifting: Need a thoughtful gift for a friend or neighbor? A jar of this apple butter is just the thing. We also love gifting Lemon Curd.
Keeps Well – This apple butter will keep in the fridge for several weeks.

Key Recipe Ingredients

Sweet and Tart Apples – The star of our recipe, apples, are rich in natural pectin, which helps to thicken the apple butter as it cooks. We recommend using a mix of sweet and tart apples for a more complex flavor.
Light Brown Sugar – We use light brown sugar to sweeten the apple butter and add a subtle caramel note. Make sure to pack it lightly for the right amount of sweetness.
Ground Cinnamon – Cinnamon is a classic spice that pairs beautifully with apples. It adds warmth and depth to the apple butter.
Ground Nutmeg and Cloves – These two spices are used in small amounts to add a hint of earthiness and warmth to the apple butter. Be sure to use freshly ground nutmeg for the best flavor.

Substitutions And Variations

This homemade apple butter recipe is already perfect, but here are a few variations and substitutions to try:

Apples: You can use any variety of apples, we love mixing sweet and tart apples for a well-balanced flavor. You can also try this recipe with pears or a combination of apples and pears.
Spices: The combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves gives this apple butter its classic flavor, but you can definitely play around with the spices. Try adding a dash of allspice, cardamom, or even a bit of ground ginger.
Extract: You can omit the vanilla extract, or a touch of almond extract or orange extract for a different flavor profile.

Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

Combine sugar and spices in a bowl.
Add the spice mixture to the apples in a slow cooker and cook on low for 10 hours.
Stir in vanilla and cook for an additional 2 hours.
Puree the mixture until smooth and creamy. Store in clean jars and refrigerate.

For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below.

How To Prep Ahead

Take a look at some of our favorite prep-ahead strategies for this apple butter recipe:

Prep Apples Beforehand: You can save time on the day of cooking by prepping the apples ahead of time. Peel, core, and slice the apples, then store them in an airtight container in the fridge until you’re ready to use them.
Premix Spices: Sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt can be pre-mixed and stored in an airtight container at room temperature several days in advance.
Entirely Make Ahead: Apple butter will keep in the fridge for several weeks in an airtight container, such as a mason jar. So feel free to make it entirely in advance for when the craving strikes!

A spoonful of dark brown apple butter is held above an open jar filled homemade apple butter. — This homemade apple butter is made with fresh apples, fall spices, and brown sugar. No preservatives here!

Commonly Asked Questions

What types of apples are best for making apple butter?

We recommend using a mixture of apples for the best flavor. We love Honeycrisp, Fuji, Golden Delicious, McIntosh, or Braeburn.

Do I need to add liquid to the slow cooker?

No, you don’t need to add any liquid to the slow cooker. The apples will release their own juices as they cook, and the slow cooking process will concentrate the flavors.

Why do I need to cook the apple butter uncovered for an additional 2 hours?

Cooking the apple butter uncovered for an additional 2 hours to allow excess moisture to evaporate and for the apple butter to thicken further. This will give it a more concentrated flavor and a smooth, spreadable texture.

How long does homemade apple butter keep?

Homemade apple butter can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. It can also be frozen for up to 6 months.

Did you make this?

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