Make a big batch of Slow Cooker Apple Butter for a fraction of what it costs at the store. Makes plenty to give as gifts and enough to stock your freezer.
We love making this apple butter and putting on toast in the morning or using it in Apple Butter Pork Chops!
I’ve rarely buy apple butter at the store, the price is always through the roof. With my easy recipe for apple butter in the slow cooker, you will never have to buy it again! This recipe freezes great and makes a great gift. This is not a canning recipe, so be sure to refrigerate or freeze.
What is the difference between applesauce and apple butter?
- Applesauce is runnier and not blended up to smooth consistency like apple butter.
- Apple butter has a richer dark color and is spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
- Apple butter is similar to a jam and great on toast or even in recipes.
How to make Apple Butter in the Crockpot:
- Start with 5 pounds of apples. You can use any variety, I use gala.
- Peel, core, and slice five pounds of apples and add to a 6-quart or larger slow cooker.
- Add 1 cup of brown sugar, one tablespoon of cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg, a pinch of cloves, and two dashes of salt.
- Stir to coat the apples with the seasonings and brown sugar.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 5 hours or LOW for 8-10 hours.
- When the cooking time is up, place the apple butter into a blender, place on the lid. Also, place a towel over the top of the lid in case the blender lid leaks. Hold the lid and pulse until smooth. Or if you have an immersion blender, place right into the slow cooker and blend until smooth.
- OR use an immersion blender right in the slow cooker to blend up the apple butter.
How can I serve apple butter?
- Toast or croissants
- Biscuits
- Ice-cream
- Use in milkshakes
My apple butter is too thin, how can I thicken it?
- Some apples are juicier than others and I sometimes have to thicken my apple butter.
- After blending leave the apple butter in the slow cooker.
- Turn the slow cooker to HIGH and leave the lid off.
- Cook for 45-60 more minutes, stirring often.
Recipes to use up your apple butter:
- Apple Butter Little Smokies
- Slow Cooker Apple Butter Pork Chops
- Slow Cooker Cider Braised Pork Roast
- Apple Butter Snickerdoodles Recipe by Crazy for Crust
- Apple Butter Bread recipe by Don’t Sweat the recipe
- Apple Butter Old Fashioned Cocktail – Recipe by Simply Happy Foodie
How to store Apple Butter:
- This is not a canning recipe, canning requires a special recipe and precautions.
- You can store in small plastic or glass containers and refrigerate for up to a week.
- Freeze what you know you won’t use right away, leave about an inch of room at the top of your containers or jars. Freeze for up to a year.
- Thaw in the fridge the day before you need to use it.
Try another one of my fruit recipes:
- Slow Cooker Cinnamon Applesauce
- Slow Cooker Pumpkin Applesauce
- Slow Cooker Strawberry Applesauce
- Slow Cooker Raspberry Applesauce
- Slow Cooker Banana Jam
- Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Butter
Want to make more magic in your crockpot? Stay up to date and subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube.
Slow Cooker Apple Butter
Thick and cinnamon spiced apple butter made in the slow cooker.
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Servings: 15
Calories: 136kcal
Equipment Needed:
- Slow Cooker- 6 quart or larger
Ingredients:
- 5 lbs. apples Any variety works fine! (I use gala)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
- 2 dashes salt
Instructions:
- Peel, core and slice the apples.
- Add the apples to the slow cooker. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
- Stir.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 5 hours or LOW for 8-10 hours.
- After the apples have cooked, place them and any liquid that the apples made into a blender, cover with lid, and a towel on top of that (to prevent burns, in case the lid flies off). Hold the lid on while the blender is on. Pulse for about a minute, until very smooth.OR use an immersion blender right in the slow cooker (as shown in the video).
How to Video:
Recipe Notes:
How can I use my apple butter?
- Toast or croissants
- Biscuits
- On ice-cream
- Use in milkshakes
- Some apples are juicier than others and I sometimes have to thicken my apple butter.
- After blending leave the apple butter in the slow cooker.
- Turn the slow cooker to HIGH and leave the lid off.
- Cook for 45-60 more minutes, stirring often.
- This is not a canning recipe, canning requires a special recipe and precautions.
- You can store in small plastic or glass containers and refrigerate for up to a week.
- Freeze what you know you won’t use right away, leave about an inch of room at the top of your containers or jars. Freeze for up to a year.
- Thaw in the fridge the day before you need to use it.
Nutrition:
Calories: 136kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 57mg | Potassium: 181mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 82IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg
Made this recipe?I want to see your photos! Tag me on Instagram @themagicalslowcooker
My apple butter doesn’t freeze. What am I doing wrong?
I make my apple butter like this every year when apples are fresh. Place in jars when cooled and freeze. I never concern myself with exacts when it comes to the apples. Have to make twice as much to keep family supplied!
How many apples equal 5 lbs.?
Depends on the size of your apple. I probably used 8-10 medium apples.
No need to add any liquid?
No, there will be plenty from the apples.
Hi! I don’t have a way to weigh my apples. Can you tell me in cups how much the sliced apples yields before cooking?? Thanks!
Hi! It doesn’t need to be exact. My guess is about 10 cups. If you have a 6-quart slow cooker it will be about 3/4 full.
I want to make this right, so is the 5lbs of apples before or after you peel and core?
Before. It doesn’t have to be exact.
Do you use light or dark brown sugar?
You can use either. I believe I used light for this.
Hey Sarah I’m wondering what went wrong I made your apple butter exactly as recipe says only difference I made is I used splenda brown sugar blend instead of regular brown sugar found out I goofed and used a whole cup instead of a half cup like the conversation on the bag but even with only that mistake my apple butter turned out the consistency of apple sauce and a light brown color not dark and very thick
Seems like you answered your own question as to what went wrong…
Made your recipe exactly as written, cooked on High for 5 hours, then used the immersion blender. A total success!!! The flavor was perfect! Thank you for a great, easy to make, apple butter recipe.
Been making Apple butter since I was in my 20’s with my Great Aunts recipe, while everything else is pretty much the same, never heard of using brown sugar.
What a neat site I found. Thank you Sarah