Description
Wake up to the delightful aroma of homemade apple butter with this effortless slow cooker recipe. Enjoy a rich, spiced spread that’s perfect for toast, oatmeal, or pancakes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6–8 pounds of apples (Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Braeburn)
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (optional)
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- a pinch of allspice
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup water (about)
Instructions
- Prepare the Apples: Peel, core, and chop the apples into roughly 1-inch pieces. Place them directly into the slow cooker, squeezing a little lemon juice over them to prevent browning.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the brown sugar, granulated sugar (if using), cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, lemon juice, and water over the apples. Stir to coat the apples with the spices and sugar.
- Start the Overnight Cook: Cover the slow cooker and set it to the LOW setting. Let it cook overnight.
- Morning Check & Initial Mash: In the morning, check the apples; they should be soft. Use a potato masher to break down any larger chunks or blend for a smoother texture.
- Further Reduction & Thickening: Keep the slow cooker on LOW, remove the lid, and cook for another 1-3 hours, stirring occasionally until thickened and darkened.
- Cool and Store: Once desired thickness is reached, turn off the slow cooker and allow it to cool completely before transferring to jars or containers.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 8-12 hours
- Category: Condiment
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
- Calories: 50
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 1 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: For the best flavor, use a mix of sweet and tart apples. Adjust spices according to your taste, and remember that the apple butter will thicken as it cools.