Apple Butter in the Slow Cooker
Make homemade apple butter in the slow cooker with fresh apples and warm spices. This easy homemade spread is perfect for fall.
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Servings: 32 Servings
Calories: 45kcal
Ingredients
- 3½ lbs apples (peeled and cored)
- ⅔ cup brown sugar (or more if needed)
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon cloves
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg (freshly ground)
- 1 vanilla bean (split down the middle)
- ½ cup water (optional)
Instructions
- Wash, peel, and core apples, then chop into evenly sized pieces and add to a slow cooker.
- Add brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, ground cardamom, ground cloves, salt, freshly grated nutmeg, and 1 vanilla bean, slit down the middle.
- Cover and cook for two hours on low. Stir after two hours and add ½ cup of water if the mixture is too dry.
- Cook for two more hours, then remove the cinnamon stick and vanilla bean and blend with an immersion blender until smooth.
- Continue cooking with the lid slightly ajar or completely off, stirring occasionally, until the apple butter is thick, dark, and spreadable. This can take up to 3 to 4 more hours.
Notes
- See post for canning instructions.
- If possible, use a mixture of apples. Combining sweet and tart varieties can give your homemade apple butter a more balanced flavor.
- Adjust the sugar to taste. Apples vary in sweetness, so start with less sugar and add more after the apples have softened.
- Don't rush the cooking process. Apple butter develops its rich flavor and dark color as it cooks down. Allow extra time for moisture to evaporate after blending.
- For extra smooth apple butter, run the apple mixture through a food mill!
- Once the apples are blended, uncover the slow cooker to help excess moisture to evaporate. Stir occasionally to prevent the mixture from sticking around the edges.
- Check the consistency before calling it done. Apple butter should be thick and spreadable, not watery like applesauce. Remember that it will thicken a little more as it cools.
Nutrition
Serving: 2tablespoon | Calories: 45kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 0.2g | Sodium: 38mg | Potassium: 61mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g
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