Homemade Apple Butter
Apple butter is thicker than applesauce with a rich caramelized flavor and warm fragrant spices. It's used as a spread, topping, or snack. This homemade apple butter recipe is easy to make from scratch on the stovetop in as little as two hours.
Yields 44 servings
Ingredients
- 4 lbs (1.8 kg) apples, (roughly 10 small-medium apples)
- ½ cup (118 ml) apple juice, apple cider, or water
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 cup (200 g) light brown sugar, gently packed*
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Core and chop apples into chunks. Peeling, optional. Place apples into a large stock pot.
- Add apple cider, lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Stir together.
- Cover and cook (light simmer) over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until apples have become very soft. Approximately 1-2 hours, depending on the variety of apple.
- Use an immersion blender to puree apples in pot or spoon into a blender and puree in batches. Return pureed apples to the stovetop to cook for an additional 30-60 minutes or until thick, and a deep brown color. Check doneness by placing a spoonful onto a plate and allow to cool. If there is no water separation, the apple butter is ready.
- Spoon mixture into jars. Refrigerate 3 weeks up to 1 month.
Notes
- YIELD: 5 1/2 cups of apple butter
- SUGAR: Keep in mind, the sweetness of your apples will determine how much sugar you will need to add. Apple juice will also add sweetness. Adjust the added sugar according to your apples and preferences.
- TO FREEZE: Spoon apple butter into freezer containers for several months up to one year.
- FOR CANNING: Ladle into sterilized jars, wipe the rims clean, screw on fresh lids and submerge in boiling water for 10 minutes. Remove jars from water and cool to room temperature. Processed jars of apple butter will keep at room temperature for several months.
Nutrition
Serving: 2 Tbsp | Calories: 42kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.004g | Sodium: 15mg | Potassium: 54mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 23IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.1mg