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Home » Breakfast » Slow Cooker Apple Butter

Slow Cooker Apple Butter

by Sarah Olson on May 1, 2020 45 Comments

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collage of apple butter photos for pinterest
Slow Cooker Apple Butter

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!

slow cooker half full of cooked apple butter

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.

Ingredients for apple butter, apples, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and brown sugar.

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.
4 photo collage of how to make apple butter. Apples. Sliced and peeled apples. Apples with seasonings. Stirred apples.

How to make Apple Butter in the Crockpot:

  1. Start with 5 pounds of apples. You can use any variety, I use gala.
  2. Peel, core, and slice five pounds of apples and add to a 6-quart or larger slow cooker.
  3. Add 1 cup of brown sugar, one tablespoon of cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg, a pinch of cloves, and two dashes of salt.
  4. Stir to coat the apples with the seasonings and brown sugar.
apples after cooking for apple butter
  • 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.
finished apple butter in crockpot

How can I serve apple butter?

  • Toast or croissants
  • Biscuits
  • Ice-cream
  • Use in milkshakes
apple butter in jars

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
Apple butter on grain toast

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 butter or applesauce recipes:

  • Slow Cooker Cinnamon Applesauce
  • Slow Cooker Pumpkin Applesauce
  • Slow Cooker Strawberry Applesauce
  • Slow Cooker Raspberry Applesauce
  • Slow Cooker Pumpkin Butter
  • 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 half full of cooked apple butter

Slow Cooker Apple Butter

4.94 from 15 votes
Thick and cinnamon spiced apple butter made in the slow cooker.
Print Pin Rate
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: apple butter
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 5 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 15
Calories: 136kcal
Author: Sarah Olson

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
US Customary – Metric

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
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 store this 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.

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
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    Filed Under: Breakfast Tagged With: apples, breakfast, Crock pot, crockpot, slow cooker

    Comments

    1. Jeannie says

      October 11, 2020 at 5:07 am

      Do you use light or dark brown sugar?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        October 11, 2020 at 9:46 am

        You can use either. I believe I used light for this.

        Reply
    2. Ruth Gosselin says

      September 20, 2020 at 11:42 pm

      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

      Reply
      • Linda says

        October 18, 2020 at 9:35 am

        Seems like you answered your own question as to what went wrong…

        Reply
    3. Terry Frill says

      September 5, 2020 at 2:47 pm

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
    4. Celia Lysek says

      July 7, 2020 at 8:37 pm

      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.

      Reply
    5. April says

      May 17, 2020 at 4:34 pm

      5 stars
      What a neat site I found. Thank you Sarah

      Reply
    6. Michelle says

      May 12, 2020 at 10:18 am

      Hello !! What if you don’t have a blender.

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        May 12, 2020 at 10:51 am

        Do you have a food processer? If not you can use a potato masher or whisk, but the texture will be more of an applesauce but still good!

        Reply
        • Fran says

          September 5, 2020 at 4:27 pm

          Grate your apples – then they really break down and no need to use a blender. You can use a box grater or food processor.

          Reply
    7. P K says

      May 7, 2020 at 10:46 pm

      Sarah,
      Should the brown sugar be packed or loose?
      PK

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        May 8, 2020 at 7:40 am

        Packed

        Reply
    8. Alycefaye Stewart says

      May 6, 2020 at 10:32 am

      4 stars
      I make mine in the slow cooker but buy two jars of apple sauce…saves a lot of mess and during winter it smells wonderful in the kitchen !!!

      Reply
    9. Michelle says

      August 16, 2019 at 7:28 am

      Hello,
      What type of apple is best to use?

      Reply
      • Edwina palmer says

        August 30, 2019 at 1:42 pm

        Fiji or winesap

        Reply
    10. billie says

      November 11, 2017 at 11:36 am

      Can anyone tell me how much this actually makes? I’ll need to buy jars and don’t want extras. Thank you!

      Reply
    11. Kelly says

      September 14, 2017 at 6:16 am

      How do you freeze it if you aren’t canning it . What container would you use ?

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        September 14, 2017 at 6:41 am

        I’ve always froze my jams in glass jars, leave a good inch on the top. They do sell freezer jam Tupperware (plastic) in the canning section though.

        Reply
      • Claire Culley says

        May 6, 2020 at 1:13 pm

        Three litre ice cream containers or 500 ml takeaway cartons

        Reply
    12. Karen says

      October 20, 2016 at 5:26 pm

      Definitely going to make this! Instead of putting the hot apple butter in a blender, I’m going to use my handy immersion blender…one of my favorite kitchen gadgets!

      Reply
    13. Brianna says

      August 28, 2016 at 6:45 pm

      Hi Sara. I am using mostly green, tart apples from my garden. How much more sugar would you suggest I add to sweeten? Thank you!

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        August 28, 2016 at 8:27 pm

        Hi Brianna! It’s so hard to tell. If it was me I would do the recipe as is, then taste after blending it and add more sugar to taste then.

        Reply
    14. Angie says

      August 17, 2016 at 11:14 pm

      Hi there! I’m making only half of your recipe, but am wondering if I should cut the time down?

      Thanks, Angie.

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        August 18, 2016 at 7:32 am

        Yes, I think 8 hours would be plenty!

        Reply
    15. Susan Kimberly says

      September 9, 2015 at 9:29 am

      Best wishes to you. Thank you for recipe

      Reply
    16. clair says

      August 26, 2015 at 12:43 pm

      How much does this recipe make? I’d like to be prepared with as many has as necessary.

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        August 26, 2015 at 12:51 pm

        I want to say it was about 5-6 half pints.

        Reply
    17. K says

      August 16, 2015 at 6:27 am

      This looks nice and easy! Do you think it might work for fresh figs? Maybe a little less time in the slow cooker because it’s a softer fruit than an apple? Just letting my mind wander and brainstorm!!

      Reply
      • Sarah Olson says

        August 16, 2015 at 8:24 am

        I think you could use anything you would like. I’ve made peach butter, and cooked it the same amount of time 🙂

        Reply
    18. Grandma Kc says

      July 12, 2015 at 4:48 pm

      5 stars
      Darn! I just bought apple butter yesterday but I really want to make this! I made fresh cherry freezer jam this week and I’m really in the mood!

      Reply
    19. Roger E. Huff says

      July 12, 2015 at 3:28 pm

      Question, can this be canned in jars? It is low in acidity so it will have to be PC’ed. Just wondering if you or if you know someone who has done this.

      Reply
      • Tammy says

        July 24, 2015 at 12:32 pm

        Roger, I was thinking the same thing. So, I researched “canning crockpot apple butter” on Google. I found a recipe on www. Simply canning.com that is almost identical to this one. I figure this recipe must be canning safe too then. When Apple picking time comes here in Illinois, I’ll give it a try.

        Reply
      • Mary Slone says

        October 12, 2016 at 4:56 am

        Yes you can can this apple butter. You need to have your jars rings and Lids ready use hot Cars 2 Ladle the hot liquid in and then take your rings and Lids out of a hot water put them on your jars after you have wipe the rims and put them in a hot water bath canner for 10 minutes. They turned out great and they should seal very quickly. SSI with other people yes you can use Splenda instead of real sugar just be careful that Splenda can be a little tart. so please taste the apple butter to make sure that is the right taste. Enjoy and happy canning!

        Reply
        • Karen says

          October 14, 2016 at 11:21 am

          Thank you for the information!

          Reply
      • Janice says

        October 2, 2019 at 11:00 am

        you can process it in a water bath canner for 10 minutes

        Reply
    20. Robert says

      July 12, 2015 at 1:21 pm

      5 stars
      Good luck Sarah!

      Reply
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