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Homemade Apple Butter

Learn how to make homemade apple butter in the slow cooker! Sweeten with honey (optional) and use apple peels. Perfect for canning - plus four flavors!

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Learn how to make homemade apple butter in the slow cooker! Sweeten with honey (optional) and use apple peels. Perfect for canning – plus four flavors! Goes perfectly on homemade sandwich bread and homemade biscuits.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 lbs apples (washed, quartered, and seeds removed)
  • 1/4 cup honey (optional)

Instructions

  1. Put the apples with the skin on and honey into a slow cooker (I use this one). Cover with the lid and turn on high for 4-6 hours, but no longer than 8 hours.
  2. Reduce heat to low for 8-12 hours.
  3. Puree fruit using an immersion blender (I have this one), or in batches with a blender (I use this one). Be careful since the fruit will be very hot.
  4. With the pureed fruit in the crockpot, prop at least one side of the lid open with a knife or chopstick. This allows the water inside to evaporate, thickening the apple butter.
  5. Cook on low for 2-6 hours, until apple butter is desired thickness.
  6. Store fruit in glass jars in the freezer, or refrigerator, or can using these basic steps.

Notes

  • Cooking the butter on high for an extra hour or two does not affect the butter. (Ask me how I know!) But it will be darker and have a more concentrated flavor.
  • I have made butter by cooking on low first, then high, and the results are the same.
  • Propping both ends of the lid open will speed up the evaporation process, but only do this if you are home. This ensures your butter doesn’t cook down too much, too fast.
  • The skin of the fruit naturally contains pectin, which helps to “gel” the fruit butter.

Nutrition

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