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Rich, sweet Apple Butter cooked low and slow is one of life’s simple pleasures! Tart apples are turned into a warm spicy butter that’s delicious slathered on toast, biscuits, or sweet potatoes. This homemade recipe beats store-bought every time!
If you are an apple lover, this recipe is for you! Apples are also the star of Apple Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread and Apple Strudel in these warm, fall recipes.
Apple Butter is one of my husband’s favorite things in life. He loves it on toast, waffles, biscuits, and, his ultimate, as a dip for sweet potato fries.
Not only does Mr. SS love it, but he has also passed along this passion to our 2 sons. So, with all of this apple butter obsession happening in my house, I decided to come up with a recipe of my own.
My Slow Cooker Apple Butter is rich, buttery, slightly sweet with an amazingly intense flavor. As a bonus, the slow cooker does all the work. The apples, cooked with warm spices, are turned into a thick warm “buttery” spread that is totally irresistible.
Ingredients For Homemade Apple Butter
- Apples – I use Granny Smith, Gala and Macintosh
- Butter
- Brown Sugar
- Granulated Sugar
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Salt
- Water
What Kind Of Apple Are Best For This Recipe?
For this recipe, you can use almost any kind of apple. I like a combination of Granny Smith, Macintosh, and Gala for a sweet yet tangy flavor. Other varieties to consider:
- Gala – sweet with a soft texture.
- Fuji – readily available in the grocery store and they are great for cooking, baking, or eating as a snack.
- Granny Smith – crisp and tart with a firm crunchy texture.
- Jonagold – mellow flavor that’s not too sweet and wonderful for baking and cooking.
- Honey crisp – juicy, sweet, and super crunchy.
Tools I Use To Make This Recipe
- Crock Pot – one of my favorite kitchen small appliances.
- Apple Corer – makes cutting up the apples easy.
- Immersion Blender – perfect for blending the apples right in the slow cooker.
What’s The Difference Between Apple Butter And Apple Sauce?
Apple Butter is richer and thicker than apple sauce. With the help of the slow cooker, the apple cooks down and has a concentrated flavor. Once the apples are blended, the texture is somewhat smooth, like butter or preserves.
How To Store
Slow Cooker Apple Butter will keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
It also freezes well. After cooling, place the Apple Butter in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to serve, thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Ways To Serve Apple Butter
- Homemade Apple Butter so good with warm toast, English muffins and delicious slathered on Pumpkin Coconut Muffins.
- It’s the secret ingredient in Easy Apple Spice Cake.
- I turn Apple Butter into a dip for Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries.
- It’s incredible served with Marinated Pork Tenderloin.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 pounds of apples (I used a mixture of granny smith, macintosh & gala)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- Wash, peel, core and chop apples.
- Coat inside of slow cooker with butter and place apples inside.
- Sprinkle brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt over apples. Gently stir to mix. Pour water over mixture.
- Place lid on slow cooker, set to low for 8 hours.
- After cooking time, remove lid and let cool for 30 minutes. Using an immersion blender (regular blender on pulse or potato masher will also work) blend apples until smooth.
- With lid off of crock pot, continue to cook apple butter for 1 to 1 ½ hours until thickened.
- Let cool & store in airtight container in refrigerator.
Want To Know More About Slow Cooking?
If you are new to cooking with a Crock Pot or just don’t know where to start, I’ve got something to help. I’ve put together a helpful guide with tips and recipes to get you using a slow cooker like a pro!
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I have made this twice. It is really really good. I have put this in 12 half pint canning jars. I heard the jars pop. Is that then canned? Was wondering how to make it last longer then a week or two?
Thanks
Hey there Carolynn!
Thank you so much for your interest in this recipe and your phenomenal rating, I am so happy to hear that you’ve been enjoying this Apple Butter! Canning is a bit of a different process than this recipe, this slow cooked apple butter will last about 2 weeks in the refrigerator, but for apple butter to be shelf stable for long periods of time you will need to purchase canning equipment. Canning is not my area of expertise, but you can use this apple butter recipe for canning. The link below will take you to a food blog that focuses of food sustainability and canning, so I would recommend that you follow my recipe to make your apple butter, and then follow the linked instructions for canning your apple butter once it’s prepared. I hope this is helpful, let me know how everything turns out, I’d love to hear your thoughts on canning if you give it a try!
https://www.sustainablecooks.com/apple-butter-in-crockpot/#recipe
~Donya
Does this make a pint or quart? Would recipe double without adjustments?
Hey there Carol!
That is a great question! This recipe will make one full pint, and then you’ll have a little bit extra. If you want more than that I would recommend doubling the recipe. I hope this helps, let me know how it turns out if you end up giving the recipe a try. Thank you for your interest and support, have a great rest of your day!
~Donya
Made this last weekend, and I just love how easy and delicious. Will make some more this week.
Rubye
what is the shelf life?
Hey Kathy – I think it keeps well for about a week in the fridge without total "canning processing." I've never processed it but I'm sure it would work out well. Let me know know how you like it.
xo,
Donya