Crock Pot Apple Butter Recipe – An Easy Way To Preserve Fresh Apples

Crock Pot Apple Butter is one of the easiest ways to turn fresh-picked apples into a sweet, warmly spiced spread that you can enjoy throughout the fall and winter months.

Although it is called butter, there is no actual butter in this recipe. Instead, sliced apples slowly cook with sugar, cinnamon and cloves until they become soft enough to puree. The mixture then continues to cook until it becomes thick, smooth and deep brown in color.

Apple butter is most often spread on toast, biscuits, pancakes, waffles or muffins. However, you can also use it as a filling for pies, pastries and turnovers. It is even delicious when stirred into oatmeal or served alongside pork chops.

Best of all, this recipe requires very little hands-on work. Once you peel and slice the apples, toss them with the sugar and spices and place everything in the crock pot. Then let the apples cook overnight while you sleep.

By morning, the apples will be soft and your kitchen will smell amazing. Simply puree the mixture and allow it to continue cooking with the lid partially open until it reaches your desired consistency.

Although apple butter was traditionally prepared outdoors in a large copper kettle, there are now several easier ways to make it at home. I have made it on the stovetop, in an Instant Pot and in a crock pot.

However, the crock pot remains my favorite method because the apples can cook low and slow without requiring constant attention. Once it has thickened, spread it on a warm Cinnamon Roll Pancake or your favorite homemade roll for an easy fall breakfast or snack.

What Variety Of Apples To Make Apple Butter

Although you could use just about any apple, the best varieties for making apple butter are soft apples that cook down quickly and easily. Some popular choices include:

• Fuji
• Golden Delicious
• McIntosh
• Jonagold
• Cortland
• Braeburn
• Liberty

You can also use a mix of different apple varieties to create a more complex flavor. For example, you could combine a sweet apple like Fuji with Braeburn apples that are sweet but have a slightly tart flavor with a hint of pear and cinnamon.

Do You Have To Peel Apples When Making Crock Pot Apple Butter?

When it comes to the question of if you need to peel your apples or not before making apple butter the choice is really up to you. Because the cooked apples will be pureed, it is not necessary to peel them.

In fact, many people prefer to leave the peels on, as they contain pectin, which helps to thicken the apple butter and give it a richer flavor. This is the exact reason why an apple is used to make our Strawberry Honey Jam recipe.

However, others prefer to peel the apples to eliminate the chance of a stray strand of a peel being left behind. That is the exact reason that when I make a large batch that I am going to share with family and friends, I prefer to peel the apples.

To make quick work of the process I will use my apple/peeler/corer/slicer. With this tool I can have an entire peck of apples ready for the crock pot in just a matter of minutes.

However if you choose to leave the peels on, you can use an apple corer and wedger to cut the apples. Although I would suggest using one that cuts the apples into 16 wedges instead of 8.

This will allow the apples to cook down quicker because they will be smaller. Of course if you already have an 8 slot apple corer/wedger simply cut each piece in half before adding them to the crock pot.

How To Season Crock Pot Apple Butter

Now that you have your apples picked out, cored and sliced it is time to get them in the crock pot. However, before they start cooking a couple seasonings are added to provide the iconic flavor.

Cinnamon is the primary seasoning for apple butter. Although the amount could be adjusted based on your taste preference a good rule of thumb is to add 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon for every pound of apples that you use.

However, to make the flavor more complex and delicious add a little ground cloves or nutmeg to the apples as well. The flavors pair perfectly with the cinnamon.

Cinnamon has a warm, sweet flavor, while nutmeg has a nutty flavor and cloves have a slightly sweet and pungent flavor. Together, these spices create a complex and flavorful blend that is perfect for apple butter.

Finally, like many jams and jelly recipes, this old fashioned apple butter recipe uses sugar to sweeten the spread. However, if you are looking for a Sugar Free Apple Butter recipe we have one that you will love!

Crock Pot Apple Butter Recipe

*Complete recipe instructions including specific measurements, cook temperatures and times are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to keep reading for helpful tips and tricks when making this recipe.

Yield – 7 half pints

Ingredients:

• 6 lbs. apples *See recipe notes section for recommended apples to make apple butter
• 3 cups sugar, add more or less per taste
• 1 Tbsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

INSTRUCTIONS

First, peel, core, and slice your apples. We find this a breeze to do with our Apple Peeler/Corer/Slicer. However, you can also use a vegetable peeler and knife if you prefer.

Although, when it comes to cutting the apples keep in mind that the thinner the apple slices are, the faster they will cook.

Next, place all ingredients into a 6 quart or larger slow cooker. *Option – Add 1/2 cup of apple cider, 100% apple juice or water in the bottom of the pot if your crock pot tends to run hot. Turn on high for 1 hour, then turn to low for an additional 10-11 hours.  

Uncover and cook for 1 hour longer on low heat to allow the mixture to thicken. However keep in mind that the apple butter will continue to thicken as it cools.

Use an immersion blender, food mill or high speed blender to puree to the desired consistency. Then continue to cook if you want a thicker apple butter spread.

Store in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. Although you can also place it in an air tight container and freeze for up to 12 months.

How To Can Crock Pot Apple Butter

Place the apple butter in warm, sterilized half pint or pint jars. Be sure that you remove any air bubbles in the jar. Do this by running a plastic utensil down the insides of the jars.

Then wipe the rim clean, add a lid and finger tighten the band. Use a jar lifter to carefully place the filled jars in a hot water bath canner.

Bring the water to a boil and process for 5 minutes (adjust for altitude). Turn off the heat and let the jars sit in the hot water for 10 minutes before removing.

Place on a thick towel and let the jars cool for 24 hours. Check to make sure the jars have sealed and then store in a cool dark place for up to 12 months.

Enjoy!

Mary and Jim

Jim and Mary Competti have been writing gardening, DIY and recipe articles and books for over 16 years from their 46 acre Ohio farm. The two are frequent speakers on all things gardening and love to travel in their spare time.

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