Do you want to learn how to make apple butter? Would you like to learn how to can apple butter? This apple butter recipe will teach you everything you need to know to make and can the perfect apple butter!
This site contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I may earn a commission. Please click here for more information about cookies collected and our privacy policy.
Apple Butter Recipe
I love apple butter! It tastes so smooth and delicious!
But, apple butter is more than just a delicious spread for my toast. It is a memory!
My great-grandmother, MaMa, made the BEST apple butter! I loved it so much! She would make huge batches at a time and send lots of jars home with me.
Unfortunately as a girl, I didn’t really pay attention to the process she used to make this amazing apple butter. I wish so badly that I would have!
I miss her so much, and I am so sad that I never had her write down her recipe for me!
I have asked every family member that could possibly have a copy of it, but alas, nobody has it.
I’ve actually come to the conclusion that, like most great-grandmothers, MaMa didn’t even have a written copy of her recipe! I really think she just did it from memory. She just added ingredients until it tasted right!
Apple Butter Recipe Crockpot
But, I have good news!
I have found a recipe that I was able to make taste really, really close to (if not the same as) MaMa’s recipe!
My cousin Jody had a great recipe that she shared with me. I tweaked it a bit to make it my own, and now have an apple butter that I absolutely LOVE!
And, the awesome thing about this recipe is that it is made with honey instead of sugar! Making it a guilt free apple butter!
You heard me right….delicious and healthy!
Why I didn’t make this sooner I don’t know! But trust me, I will never be without it again!
Slow Cooker Apple Butter Recipe
Another awesome aspect of this recipe is how incredibly easy it is to make!
When my great grandmother made apple butter she had to constantly stir a giant pot of apple butter on top of the stove or over a fire.
This recipe though is made in the crockpot! That means, occasionally stirring and pretty much letting it sit!
How awesome is that?!
How to Make Apple Butter
So let’s get started and make some delicious apple butter!
There are lots of different varieties of apples that you can use. I used Arkansa Black apples and it turned out great!
First you need to wash, quarter, and core your apples. But guess what?! You do not have to peel them! Yay! lol
Once the apples are prepared add them to the crockpot. You need enough apples to completely fill your crockpot. I have an 8 quart crockpot and I filled it to the top with my apple pieces.
Once the apples are in you need to add water. Add enough water to cover about 1/3 of the apples.
Cover your crockpot and cook on low for 10-12 hours. You can do this at any time but this recipe is safe to do overnight.
How to Make Apple Butter in a Crockpot
After the apples have cooked down for the allotted amount of time you need to puree them.
I use a Vitamix blender so that I can be sure all of the skins are blended well. Nobody wants chunks or skins in their apple butter! The Vitamix leaves it super smooth!
As you pour or scoop the pureed apple out of the blender you need to measure it. You will need to know how many cups of puree you have. My 8 quart crockpot yielded about 15 1/2 cups of puree.
Once all of the apples are pureed and measured it’s time to add the ingredients that will transform your puree into the delicious flavor of apple butter!
Sugar Free Apple Butter
For the amount of puree that this recipe makes (about 15-16 cups) you need to add 2 cups of honey.
Then add the juice of a whole lemon, or at least 3 Tbsp of juice.
Next add 4 tsp of cinnamon and 3/4 tsp of ground cloves.
Mix everything well and then return the puree mixture to the crockpot.
Cook the puree until it has cooked down to the consistency of apple butter. I find that I need to stir it occasionally to keep it from sticking to the sides or getting too well done around the edges. It should take about 1 day to cook down to the right thickness.
I also periodically tilt the lid slightly so that steam doesn’t build up in the crockpot. Letting the lid sit that way for a while will also speed up the cooking time of your apple butter.
And while it’s cooking it will make your house smell amazing!!! I love how warm and cozy my house smells when making apple butter! Just like MaMa’s house:)
Canning Apple Butter
Once your apple butter has reached the desired consistency it’s time to preserve it!
If you are planning on eating it all very quickly you can just add it to jars and store it in the fridge. But I seriously doubt you will be able to eat all of this apple butter before it spoils!
The best solution is to can the apple butter so that it can become shelf stable. I love being able to open my cabinets and see all the jars of apple butter that are stored there!
Preserving Food
Canning your food is also a great way to be self sufficient. Trust me, in a natural disaster you do not want to be unprepared. Canning your own food is a great way to be prepared for a time that food might not be readily available. You can learn more about being Self Sufficient here.
Also canning your own food is much healthier than buying store bought canned food! Glass jars are the best to preserve food in, far superior to the cans you get in the store. Glass does not leach nasty chemicals into your food!
If you would like to find more canning recipes then be sure to check out 140 Home Canning Recipes and Instant Pot Canning Recipes!
And for detailed canning instructions, as well as awesome charts to help keep your canned goods organized, you NEED to use the Food Preservation Planner!
Don’t get overwhelmed during canning season! You don’t have to research and look up canning times and info every fall at canning time!
The Food Preservation Planner is a time and sanity saver! It contains cheat sheets, inventory lists, meal planning, additional recipes, and more! You definitely need this for your sanity!
Crockpot Apple Butter for Canning
To can this apple butter you need to scoop the apple butter into sterilized pint or quart jars. An 8 quart crockpot full of apples should yield about 5-6 pints of apple butter.
Be sure to use a funnel to keep the apple butter from getting on the edges of the jars. The jar rims need to stay clean so that the lids will seal properly. If anything gets on the rims wipe them clean.
Next you need to secure your lids and rings on the jars.
Place them in the water bath canner and fill with water. The water should come at least an inch above the tops of the jars.
Boil for 10 minutes and then carefully, using your canning tongs, remove from boiling water.
Allow to sit until cool and then check to be sure that each of the jars are sealed.
Store your jars in the pantry or a kitchen cabinet and then stand back and admire your supply! You have successfully made and canned your own apple butter!
Wasn’t that easy? And doesn’t this homemade apple butter taste amazing?! Leave me a comment below letting me know how much you love it!
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! Oh, and be sure to save the recipe for later! Your grandkids might want to make apple butter one day just like yours and they will want your recipe;)
Crockpot Apple Butter Recipe
This apple butter tastes just like grandma's! Smooth, delicious, and full of homemade goodness!
Ingredients
- Enough Apples to fill an 8 quart crockpot
- 2 Cups Honey
- Juice of 1 Lemon
- 4 tsp. Cinnamon
- 3/4 tsp. Ground Cloves
Instructions
- Wash, quarter & core apples. (do not peel)
- Fill 8 quart crockpot with apples and cover 1/3 of apples with water.
- Cover and cook for about 10-12 hours or overnight.
- Puree everything in the crockpot until smooth.
- Add honey, lemon juice, cinnamon, and cloves to puree and mix well.
- Return puree mixture to crockpot and cook until it reaches the desired consistency. Approx. 1 day. Tilting the lid will help to speed up the process as it lets the steam escape. Stir occasionally.
- One it reaches the desired consistency add to quart jars and water bath process for 10 minutes according to instructions listed in above article.
- Store in pantry and enjoy! Refrigerate after opening.
Learn How To Use The Kombucha Continuous Brew System!
