Get out slow cooker and your favorite apples and make a batch of Crock Pot Apple Butter! Fall means apple season and I think that means favorite fall recipes. Don't you just love the smell of apples and cinnamon? With all this fall fruit in season right now, there's no shortage of yummy things you can make, and your house will smell so good! So grab yourself a couple bags of apples and let's start cooking.
This is one of my favorite fall recipes, check out my easy apple butter recipe. You'll love to make it and love to eat it even more!
DIY Crock Pot Apple Butter
I just used a bunch of apples I found on sale to make a batch of apple butter. I don't have a true recipe I use, so don't compare to your grandmother's 5 generation old recipe. I'm not patient enough to follow recipes to the letter, so I kind of go along and make it up where I need to. Your taste buds won't lie to you, ever… so I figure winging it is ok. Besides, this is a Jen Goode quick and easy recipe – we think it tastes great and that's all that matters.
Ingredients:
- 8-10 Apples
- Brown sugar
- Cinnamon
- Allspice
- Water
- You also need a spoon and a crock pot and a bit of patience. Your house will smell like fresh apple pie for hours before this is ready to eat.
Note: you can use any kind of apples, about 8 or more works well. This time around, Cameo apples were on sale, so that's what I grabbed. I've also mixed apple varies. Experiment, you'll find your favorites. You can use less or more apples depending on the size of your crock pot.
Instructions
- Cut apples, removing core but leave the skin. Doesn't really matter how small you cut them, just cut them enough to make sure you're not cooking seeds and core pieces.
- Add about 1/2 cup of brown sugar.
- Add 2 teaspoons of cinnamon.
- Add 1/2 teaspoon Allspice – you can use 1/4 nutmeg instead or omit all together if you'd like. These spices just add a little more distinct flavor.
- Add at least 2 cups of water to start.
- Cook on high, covered for at least 4 hours. Stir occasionally and check the water level. It needs to always be a little moist. When the apples start becoming really soft and mooshy, feel free to mash them a bit, add more sugar or spices as desired.
- Cook down until the mixture becomes a dark soft paste. I usually cook mine about 8 hours just to make sure all the flavors are really melted together and the texture is creamy.
- Let cool a bit, pour into a blender and puree. Can/store as desired.
(2014 update – I've upgraded our Oster to a Ninja – sing and dance!)
Customize your Apple Butter
You can make other fruit spreads with this same process. You don't have to cook other fruits as long, it all depends on the consistency you want. Feel free to replace sugar with your own desired sweetener, just make sure to test a small batch first.. not all sweeteners taste the same when cooked for long periods of time. Also, if you plan on being gone, make sure to add extra water and cook on low. This way the water will cook away slower but your apples with soak in all that flavorful goodness.
Enjoy Homemade Apple Butter all year long
Apple butter is usually a fall favorite, but you can make it all year long. Change up your recipe for the apples that are in season. Use apple butter as a topping on toast, waffles, pancakes and other yummy treats. You can also give small mason jars of this delicious treat as gifts. Tie a bow and add a label and or gift tag and you're set.
New pictures for you to enjoy! I originally shared this apple butter recipe about 2 years ago so I thought it was time to share some new photos. Can you smell the cinnamon from there?
I'd love to hear if you try this recipe. Apple butter is so delicious and this recipe is so easy. You can adjust the sugar and the spices to your taste. Making apple sauce is very similar.. I'm not sure I know the difference other than the color and my husband doesn't dance with happiness for apple sauce. I could wrap this up in jar with a bow and he'd think it was his birthday!
Do you love apple butter too?
My husband would eat all of this himself.
Haha, mine too!! We should join forces and have a big Apple Butter making day!
I made your apple butter today. yum yum. I am diabetic so I only used 1/4 cup splenda brown sugar. and I also used an immersion blender to blend while hot in the crock pot. worked very well. I also used the pumpkin pie spice and the cinnamon. Turned out amazing, I will be making this again. thank you. gail
Oh I’m so excited to hear you made this recipe and I love that you shared your version. Thank you so much, I’m going to have to try the pumpkin pie spice!
How long will it last in the fridge?
Beth, I’m sorry, I’m not quite sure how long it will last – my family eats it up pretty quick. That said, I would guess at least a couple weeks. If it’s seals tight in the canning jars (like when you make jam) it should last much longer.
Do you cook on high for the whole 8 hours? And how much does this recipe make? Looks so good. Do you think you could peel them and not blend them at the end?
I play with the heat settings depending on when I am making the apple butter. Usually if I’m making it overnight, I’ll lower the heat to low, just because I don’t want to sleep with it on high and unattended. As far as quantity, I can usually fit about 6 pint sized mason jars. I think if you peeled the apples you wouldn’t have to blend as much.. blending helps the texture. You might have more of a chunky apple butter.. or a thick apple sauce. The skin does add some flavor. Play with it and see what you like best!
I have been making slow cooker apple butter for the last ten years. Two reasons to leave the apple peel on: 1) most of the nutrition in fruit & veggies is right below the peel, 2) apple peels contain a lot of pectin & the apple butter will thicken on it’s own. I usually start mine on high around 6 pm. At bedtime I decrease to low heat & let it bubble away all night. Fill your slow cooker as full as possible as the level shrinks as the apples cook. I put mine in jars, let it cool & then freeze. I use appe pie or pumpkin pie spice instead of straight cinnamon. Yummy & failproof! Your house will smell so GOOD!
Thank you for sharing Trish! I will have to try apple pie or pumpkin pie spice. We use the All Spice in our pumpkin pie too. I’ll have to mix it up and try it all out. I love apple butter making days, definitely does make the house smell delicious!!
I made some…it came out Delicious. I grew up with Apple Butter & have always liked it. Getting ready to make some more today. Thank you for the recipe…it’s a Keeper
Oh I’m so glad you like this recipe Rosalie! I think Apple butter should be a year round staple in the pantry, don’t you? Thank you so much for stopping by to share this note.
Mine didn’t turn out so hot. After putting in blender it was to thin like water
I’m so sorry to hear it! Sometimes, once it cools it thickens… Or you can boil down some of the liquid.
cant have the sugar, do u know what sugar substitute would work best, spendid, sweet and low , any others. thanks
Hi! I am not sure which sugar substitute would work best.. what about Stevia for baking? Or honey? I’m sorry I don’t have a good answer for you!
I want to try this recipe. Love apple butter but it’s a little pricey at the store. I would think you would want to peel the apples first. Can I or should I leave peel on?
I’m sorry I missed your question! I would leave the peel on, but you can try it both ways and see which you like better.
I’ll never buy apple butter again, so easy used my apple peeler, no more than 5 min every things in the crockpot its on hi and I’m on the computer. The first batch was gone in a week. My family can’t get enough. Thank you so much for sharing.
Oh I’m so excited to hear you like this recipe, thank you for stopping back by!
Do you have to refrigerate the apple butter? I don’t can so I’m not really sure how to store it. Thanks
Hi Michelle, I don’t do a lot of canning either, so I’m not positive what and how the preserving part works… so I just refrigerate all of apple butter.
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! My whole family LOVES Apple butter! Everyone from my grown up kids and their kids clear up to the grandmothers/fathers! I’m waiting for a decision on the appeal about my disability case. It’s been 3 years waiting so far. The lack of the 2nd income had put a hurtin’ on us & are now living paycheck to paycheck. Just 5 miles from us is a Apple orchard called Apple Works. They have great prices on their freshly picked Apples of all flavors. Given our financial situation I’m going to make this Apple butter, pkg. nicely as you suggest & give this out for Xmas gifts! I have no doubt it will be a great hit! Thank you so much for posting and for the gift idea! Wow! You truly made me & my husband so much more relaxed now about not going broke w/Xmas gifts, but also giving something they all LOVE! 2 questions though: 1) how many jars should I give? Can’t decide, 1 or 2?? 2) you think they will mind everyone getting the same thing??
Lovely idea Renee, I’m so glad to hear this recipe might just do the trick for you. I hope everyone enjoys it!
I think 1 jar is plenty with a lovely little gift card. Homemade is always awesome in my book! All the same thing, I think that’s perfectly ok too… make different cards or labels for each and each gift will feel special. 😀
I LOVE apple butter! Never thought of making my own-but I do have a crock pot.But I have to give this a try.
Beth, I’d love to hear how it turns out for you!