Make a delicious apple butter at home with all the rich fall flavors.
Apple butter is just a super concentrated applesauce that is cooked until you get a caramelized color and rich apple flavor. You can serve it on breads, pancakes muffins, or just eat it on its own.
Ingredients –
- 6 medium apples – choose a sweet variety
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- dash of salt
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract ( optional)
Method:
Slice apples into small pieces and remove the core. You do not need to peel the apples. In a slow cooker or crock pot, add in all the ingredients
Let it simmer for 6 hours on low until the apples have become soft and the mixture has now combined and thickened. Turn off the slow cooker and then use an hand blender to puree the apples until smooth. Cook the apples again for another 2 hours help it thicken. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container. You can store the apple butter in the fridge for up to 1 month or up to a year in the freezer.
How to Can the apple butter ?
Take a large pot and place a steamer stand inside it. Place 4-5 jars on the steamer rack and fill the pot with water up to the rim of the jars.
Take a large pot and place a steamer stand inside it. Place 4-5 heat proof jars on the steamer rack and fill the pot with water upto the rim of the jars and bring to a boil. Reduce the flame and simmer for few mins. In the meantime wash the lids in hot, soapy water. Remove the jars from the water bath using jar lifters.
Fill the hot jars with the hot apple butter, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Screw on the lids and lower the jars into the boiling water bath. When the water returns to a boil, process in the water bath for 10 minutes.
Remove the jars from the water bath and set on a clean dishtowel. As the jars cool, you should hear the lids “popping” as they seal the jars.