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. You may also like my slow cooker caramel apple butter.
What is the difference between applesauce and apple butter?
- Slow Cooker 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).
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
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:
Sarah’s 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.
Jackie says
Can I leave the peel on the apples and then use mixer to chop them up.
Sarah Olson says
No, the peel definity has a texture even when chopped.
Teresa Cook says
I am excited to make this. How many small mason jars will this make?
Sarah Olson says
I do not have measurements, I apologize.
Kristi says
I didn’t really know how I would feel about apple butter but I had a lot of apples to use up and my friend was saying how much she loved it. So, I followed your recipe exactly and it is delicious. I think I’ll save some for us 😉 Thank you for making this so easy to follow!
D. McCormick says
Where is the recipe?
Sarah Olson says
In the recipe card right above where you left this comment.
Jeanie says
My grandsons LOVE apple butter, although it took lots of persuading to get them to taste it at first. They are excited to get this, will have with homemade biscuits while they are here for Thanksgiving!
Ldeen says
Can I cut back on sugar? Or is there a replacement?
Sarah Olson says
You can’t cut back definitely.
Kalika says
I used half the sugar and it tasted great
Paige Kreiling says
What are the measurements for pumpkin pie spice? 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon?
Sarah Olson says
Yes, that will work great.