Here’s a classic Apple Butter recipe—sweet, spiced, and perfect for toast, biscuits, or as a topping for desserts.
Homemade Apple Butter Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 lbs (about 8–10 medium) apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
- 1 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup apple cider or water
Instructions
- Prepare the apples:
- Peel, core, and chop apples into small pieces.
- Cook the apples:
- In a large pot, combine apples and apple cider (or water).
- Cook over medium heat, covered, for 20–25 minutes until apples are soft.
- Blend the mixture:
- Use an immersion blender (or transfer to a blender in batches) to puree the apples until smooth.
- Add sugar and spices:
- Stir in granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt.
- Simmer slowly:
- Reduce heat to low and cook, uncovered, for 1–2 hours, stirring frequently to prevent sticking.
- Cook until the mixture is thick, dark, and caramelized to your liking.
- Finish:
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
- Let cool slightly, then transfer to sterilized jars.
- Store:
- Refrigerate for up to 3 weeks, or process in a water bath for longer storage.
💡 Tips:
- Use a mix of sweet and tart apples (like Fuji + Granny Smith) for depth of flavor.
- Stir often during the last 30 minutes to avoid burning.
- Apple butter thickens more as it cools.
If you want, I can also give a slow cooker apple butter version—super easy, hands-off, and full of flavor.
Do you want that version?
