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. All you need is apples, brown sugar, and spices!
We love making this apple butter and putting on toast in the morning or using it in Apple Butter Pork Chops!
I 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 a 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 recipes.
Recipe Ingredients
- Apples – You can use any variety; my favorite is variety is gala or Fuji. I like to use fresh juicy apples; it makes for better apple butter.
- Brown sugar – I add the brown sugar at the beginning of the cooking time. This will deepen the color of the apple butter as it cooks.
- Spices – This is the key to flavorful apple butter. We use cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg in this recipe.
Step-by-step directions
Step 1 – Start with 5 pounds of apples. You can use any variety; I use gala.
Step 2 – Peel, core, slice five pounds of apples and add to a 6-quart or larger slow cooker.
Step 3 – Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
Step 4 – Stir to coat the apples with the seasonings and brown sugar.
Step 5 – Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 5 hours or LOW for 8-10 hours.
Step 6 – When the cooking time is up, place the apple butter into a blender and place on the lid. Also, place a towel over the top of the cover in case the blender lid leaks. Hold the lid and pulse until smooth. Or, if you have an immersion blender, place it right into the slow cooker and blend until smooth. OR use an immersion blender right in the slow cooker to blend the apple butter.
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.
How do I serve apple butter?
- Toast or croissants
- Biscuits
- Ice-cream
- Use in milkshakes
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
- Slow Cooker Apple Butter Meatballs
- Apple Butter Bread recipe by Don’t Sweat the recipe
How to store Apple Butter:
- This is not a canning recipe; canning requires a special recipe and precautions.
- You can store it in small plastic or glass containers and refrigerate it 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. Straight sided mason jars are freezer safe (not ones with rounded shoulders).
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Slow Cooker Apple Butter
Equipment Needed:
- Blender or an immersion blender
Ingredients:
- 5 lbs. apples Any variety works fine! (I use gala)
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- 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:
- 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. Straight-sided mason jars are freezer safe (not ones with rounded shoulders).
- Thaw in the fridge the day before you need to use it.
Nutrition Information:
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
Made it once and it was DELICIOUS! Just filled up my Crock-Pot again.
Will pumpkin spice work?
Yes, that would work well.
Has anyone ever made this apple butter with brown sugar substitute?
I made this last night and it is perfect!! I cooked it an additional hour-ish on high with the lid cracked till the extra liquid evaporated. It blended up with the perfect consistency. Thanks for the recipe! ❤️
I used 4 pounds peeled & sliced apples because I forgot to weigh my apples pre-peal. Ha
Tried for Thanksgiving & it was delicious! Making for Christmas as Stocking Stuffers. TYSVMFS this recipe, super easy & utterly delightful!!!
Made with 1/2 the sweetener, was still ☆☆☆☆☆
I see it says the recipe makes 15 servings. What is the size of each serving?
Sorry, I don’t have that information. I apologize.
Would you suggest light or dark brown sugar for this recipe?
I would use light, though either will work.
I just made this to try tonight! Someone gifted me an entire bushel of macintosh apples. I gifted some and kept some.
I used, Mac’s of course and three Pink Lady apples left over from Thanksgiving.
Oh my gosh! The flavor is so very much like what my mom used to make! The spice ratio is perfect, they compliment each other without overpowering each other.
My Mac apples were very fresh and juicy (I did low for 9 hours, pureed and then returned it to simmer on high as suggested for thickening up thin butter. Thank you so much for sharing!
Most of this batch is for gifts and I may make more tomorrow! My house smelled absolutely HEAVENLY today!
Amazing. Just made 1 st. Amazingly delicious
What do you use to thicken apple butter if it’s too thin?
I wouldn’t add anything, or it will taste off. I like to turn my slow cooker to high with the lid off for about an hour. Or you can do this on the stove top, though won’t take as long, stir often.
Safe canning instructions:
https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can_02/apple_butter.html