Cranberry Apple Butter
17 Comments Dec 15, 2016
Updated Jun 20, 2025
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This cranberry apple butter is one of my favorite fall slow cooker creations—sweet, tangy, and perfect for the holidays!
Recipe Highlights
- The slow cooker does all the work
- Great for gift giving around thanksgiving or Christmas
- A unique festive flavor
- Makes the house smell amazing when cooking – like a potpourri!
Cranberry Butter Ingredients
- Apples – Use your favorite variety (or a mix!). Gala, Fuji, or Honeycrisp all work well.
- Fresh Cranberries – These add tartness and help balance the sweetness.
- Brown Sugar – Adds rich, caramel-like sweetness to the butter.
- Cinnamon & Cloves – Warm spices that give this spread its cozy flavor.
- Salt – Just a pinch to enhance all the flavors
How to make Cranberry Apple Butter:
- Toss everything into the slow cooker and let it work its magic.
- Let the fruit get soft and rich with all those cozy spices.
- Blend it smooth until spreadable and silky.
- Cook a little longer with the lid off until it thickens to perfection.
Sarah’s Notes & Variations
Use any apple variety you like—Gala, Fuji, or Honeycrisp work beautifully.
Want more tang? Add a splash of orange juice or zest.
If you prefer it extra smooth, strain it after blending.For extra warmth and holiday flavor, add a generous sprinkle nutmeg and cardamon.
Store in jars in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or freeze for longer.
Cranberry Apple Butter Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. apples, peeled cored and sliced (I used granny smitabout 6 cups total after being cut
- 12 oz bag fresh cranberries
- ½ tsp. ground cloves
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 cup orange juice
- ½ cup brown sugar, add this at the end to taste
Instructions
- Add the sliced and peeled apples to the slow cooker, note don’t worry about using the exact amount of apples as me, somewhere close is fine. Add the cranberries, clove, cinnamon sticks and orange juice.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 5 hours or low for 8, without opening the lid during the cooking time.
- When the cooking time is done, remove cinnamon sticks and discard. Ladle everything into a blender, add the sugar. I used a half cup of packed brown sugar and that was good for my taste. Use less if you don’t like things too sweet, you can always add more. Blend everything together until smooth.
- I think this tastes better after being refrigerated overnight. Great on biscuits or croissants.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More Apple butter and sauce recipes here:
Pumpkin Applesauce and Raspberry Applesauce are great for fall lunches, snacks, or holiday spreads.
Christmas Jam and Slow Cooker Cranberry Sauce make perfect gifts or additions to festive meals.
For something sweet and homemade, try Strawberry Applesauce, classic Crockpot Apple Butter, or rich Pumpkin Butter.
Is this recipe safe for canning?
No, I am not a canning expert, I apologize.