Crockpot Apple Butter Recipe
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This crockpot apple butter recipe is easy and perfect for fall. Throw all of the ingredients into your slow cooker and let it work some magic. The end result is a delicious, flavorful spread that you’ll love on toast, biscuits, or even just by the spoonful! It also makes a great addition to baked goods or savory dishes.
What is apple butter?
Apple butter is similar to jam. It is made from cooking apples for a long time with sugar and spices which caramelizes the apples and offers a deeper flavor than applesauce. While there is no actual butter in apple butter, it gets its name from being a type of spread. Apple butter is often used a condiment. You can use as an apple spread on bread, biscuits, toast, muffins, scones, crackers, etc. But it can also be used as an ingredient in recipes to offer a sweetener and extra flavor. Like applesauce, it can also be a substitute for some of the eggs, oil and other fats in recipes.
Apple butter is a fabulous way to use up leftover apples. I was blessed with a bountiful harvest from the Cortland apple tree in my backyard and needed a way to use a larger quantity of apples. I already made pan fried apples and this apple dump cake with fresh apples but that doesn’t use nearly enough. I knew it was a good time to make apple butter in the crockpot.
This apple butter has always been a family favorite. Growing up, my grandmother would often give us homemade goodies during visits. My favorites were the homemade maple syrup made by Grandpa and apple butter made by Grandma. This homemade apple butter recipe is easy and results in a delicious, flavorful spread. Give it as a gift or keep it all for yourself!
What is in apple butter?
To make this crockpot apple butter recipe, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- apples: You’ll need approximately 6 to 6 1/2 pounds of apples, around 20 medium sized apples. This recipe is pretty forgiving so a little more or a little less than that is just fine.
- white granulated sugar: I like to use a combination of sugar but you can use all white sugar if preferred.
- brown sugar: I prefer to include brown sugar which is really just white sugar with molasses added. It adds a richer, more caramelized flavor.
- cinnamon: Because what is apple butter without cinnamon?
- cloves: I love the the sweet and spicy addition of cloves in my apple butter and is considered a classic ingredient.
- nutmeg: Really complements the cinnamon in this recipe.
- salt: A little goes a long way. It helps to break down the apples.
How to Make Crockpot Apple Butter
Peel, core and chop apples. I did fill a big bowl half way with water and added the apples to it as I chopped. It was how I learned to make all apple goodies growing up. By putting them in water and stirring occasionally as I go, it helps to prevent browning because it reduces the amount of oxygen that can get to the apples. Does it matter if you use browned apples in a recipe such as this? Probably not. Letting apples brown can affect the taste but I doubt it does very much in a recipe like this. I used extremely soft, over ripe apples for applesauce this past week and it resulted in an amazing applesauce. So do what you like in this regard.
Add your chopped apples to the crockpot. Just be sure you fully drain the water first because we aren’t making applesauce. Water is not an ingredient in this apple butter recipe.
Mix together sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt in a small bowl. Pour over chopped apples. Stir together apples and sugar mixture.
Cover and heat on high for 1 to 2 hours. Stir and reduce heat to low. Cook an additional 9 to 11 hours or until thick and dark brown, stirring occasionally.
Remove cover off crock pot. Mash apple mixture gently with a potato masher to get rid of big chunks. Cook uncovered an additional 3-6 hours or until the mixture is a dark brown and is thick. This timing a general guideline and can vary. Refrigerate apple butter in airtight container for up to 3 months.
What is Apple Butter Used for?
Apple butter is used as both a condiment and as an ingredient for recipes in both sweet and savory dishes. Makes a great addition to a charcuterie board or as a homemade holiday gift. (Get canning instructions). Here are just a few recipes with to use apple butter!
- No-Bake Apple Pie Parfaits – Stir in apple butter with chopped apples in this simple layered dessert.
- Mini Apple Butter Cupcakes – Only four ingredients are needed for these mini cupcakes that are a great addition to your fall celebrations.
- Apple Butter Sugar Cookies – Soft and chewy sugar cookies with apple butter frosting. Yum!
- Turkey Apple Panini – Apple butter is the perfect condiment to compliment the flavors of turkey, apple, bacon and cheese
- Apple Butter Roasted Chicken – This sheet pan meal with roasted potatoes and onions is a unique way to enjoy that rich apple butter flavor.
- Chipotle Apple Butter Grilled Ribs – This recipe is for sweet and spicy ribs cooked on a charcoal grill looks divine.
- Apple Butter Baked Beans – Add a seasonal touch to this classic side dish by adding apple butter to baked beans.
Apple Butter Recipe Video
For step-by-step instructions on how to make apple butter, check out this video breaking it all down!
Crockpot Apple Butter
This apple butter recipe is easy to make in the crock pot and it's a great way to use up those fall apples. Just peel and chop your apples, add some sugar and spices and then let your slow cooker do all the work. You'll love this apple butter on toast, biscuits muffins and more!
Ingredients
- 6 to 6 1/2 pounds of apples approximately 20 medium sized apples
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
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Peel, core and chop apples. Add apples to crock pot.
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Mix together sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt. Pour over chopped apples.
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Stir together apples and sugar mixture. Cover and heat on high for 1 to 2 hours. Stir and reduce heat to low.
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Cook an additional 9 to 11 hours or until thick and dark brown, stirring occasionally.
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Remove cover off crock pot. Mash apple mixture gently with potato masher to get rid of big chunks.
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Cook uncovered an additional 3-6 hours or until the mixture is a dark brown and is thick.
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Refrigerate in airtight container for up to 3 months.
Recipe Video
Best Apples for Apple Butter
Wondering what apples make the best apple butter? Softer apples make the best apple butter because they break down the easiest and cook faster. Firm apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrip work better for baked goods like pies.. You can use a single variety or a combination for a more complex flavor. Here is a list of some great apples for apple butter:
- Cortland (the variety I use for this recipe)
- Fuji
- Braeburn
- McIntosh
- Idared
- Liberty
- Golden Delicious
See how easy it is to make crockpot apple butter? This fall recipe will add some delicious flavor to your breakfast, and it’s a great way to use up all those apples. If your apples are still crisp, serve them with this delicious apple dip. Let me know how it goes if you give this apple butter recipe a try!
