Description
This Slow Cooker Apple Butter recipe transforms fresh apples into a rich, spiced spread that’s perfect for toast, muffins, or as a flavorful addition to your favorite dishes. Using simple ingredients and a hands-off slow cooker method, this homemade apple butter is smooth, naturally sweet, and infused with warm cinnamon and optional nutmeg for an irresistible fall flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 6–8 apples, washed, cored, and chopped (enough to fill your slow cooker)
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Apples: Wash, core, and chop the apples into even pieces. Add them to the slow cooker to start the cooking process.
- Add Spices: Sprinkle the cinnamon and optional nutmeg evenly over the chopped apples in the slow cooker.
- Initial Cooking: Cook the apples on high for 2 hours. This softens the apples, making them ready to blend.
- Blend the Apples: Carefully scoop the hot cooked apples into a blender and blend until smooth. Do this in batches if necessary, ensuring to allow steam to escape safely during blending to prevent burns.
- Second Cooking: Return the blended apple mixture to the slow cooker and cook on low for 4 to 6 hours. Stir occasionally and cook until the apple butter thickens to your preferred consistency.
- Cool and Store: Either let the apple butter cool completely inside the slow cooker or transfer it to a container to cool before refrigerating. The apple butter will thicken further once chilled.
- Storage: Store the cooled apple butter in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
Notes
- Use a variety of apples for a balanced flavor; sweet and tart apples work well together.
- Be cautious when blending hot ingredients to avoid steam burns.
- The apple butter thickens more as it cools, so don’t worry if it seems slightly runny when hot.
- Adjust spices to taste; add more cinnamon or nutmeg if desired for a stronger flavor.
- This apple butter makes a great gift when packaged in jars during the fall season.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 70
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 2mg
- Fat: 0.1g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 0.2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg