This homemade apple butter is a delicious spread perfect for toast and baking. Made with fresh apples and warm spices, it’s an easy slow cooker apple butter recipe that anyone can make at home.
Whether you’re looking for the best homemade apple butter for canning or a sugar-free option, this traditional apple butter recipe with cinnamon and cloves will satisfy your cravings.
Creating the Perfect Apple Butter
Making a creamy apple butter spread at home is a delightful experience that brings warmth and comfort to any kitchen.
With an easy slow cooker apple butter recipe, you can transform fresh apples into a rich, spiced treat.
This traditional apple butter recipe incorporates cinnamon and cloves, creating a flavor profile that is perfect for toast and baking.
Ingredients for Success
The foundation of a great apple butter lies in the ingredients.
Start with about six to eight medium apples, peeled, cored, and chopped.
Combine these with sugar, or a sugar-free substitute if you prefer, along with ground cinnamon, cloves, and optional nutmeg for an extra layer of flavor.
Don’t forget a splash of lemon juice and a hint of vanilla extract to elevate the taste.
These simple ingredients come together to create the best homemade apple butter for canning or enjoying right away.
Slow Cooking for Rich Flavors
The magic of this recipe happens in the slow cooker.
After mixing your ingredients, cover and let them cook on low for about eight hours.
This slow cooking process allows the apples to soften and the spices to meld beautifully, resulting in a thick, creamy apple butter spread.
Stir occasionally to ensure even cooking, and watch as the aroma fills your kitchen, inviting everyone to gather around.
Blending to Perfection
Once the cooking time is complete, it’s time to blend the mixture.
Using an immersion blender, puree the apple mixture until it reaches a smooth consistency.
If you don’t have an immersion blender, transferring the mixture to a standard blender in batches works just as well.
This step is crucial for achieving that creamy texture that makes apple butter so irresistible.
Storing Your Apple Butter
After blending, pour your homemade apple butter into sterilized jars.
Allow it to cool before sealing, and store it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
For those interested in preserving their apple butter longer, processing in a water bath for canning is an excellent option.
Enjoying Your Apple Butter
Once you have your jars filled, the possibilities are endless.
Spread this spiced apple butter with cinnamon and cloves on toasted bread for a delightful breakfast or snack.
It also works wonderfully in baking, adding a unique flavor to muffins and cakes.
Whether you’re enjoying it fresh or preserving it for later, this creamy apple butter spread is sure to become a favorite in your home.
Easy Slow Cooker Apple Butter Recipe
This spiced apple butter features a blend of sweet apples, cinnamon, and cloves, cooked slowly to develop rich flavors. The recipe takes about 8 hours in a slow cooker and yields approximately 4 cups, perfect for spreading on toast or using in baking.
Ingredients
- 6 cups peeled, cored, and chopped apples (about 6-8 medium apples)
- 1 cup sugar (or sugar substitute for a sugar-free version)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Apples: Peel, core, and chop the apples into small pieces.
- Combine Ingredients: In a slow cooker, mix the chopped apples with sugar, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, lemon juice, and vanilla extract.
- Cook: Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, stirring occasionally, until the apples are soft and the mixture is thickened.
- Blend: Use an immersion blender to puree the mixture until smooth, or transfer to a blender in batches.
- Store: Pour the apple butter into sterilized jars and let it cool before sealing. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or process in a water bath for canning.
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes
Nutrition Information
- Servings: 4 cups
- Calories: 100kcal per 2 tablespoons
- Fat: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
