If you thought homemade apple butter was too hard to make, this recipe is for you. Our Slow Cooker Apple Butter couldn’t be easier and makes the perfect spread for so many dishes. We’ve got some ideas below and simple instructions to help you make this easy recipe at home.
Southerners love sauces and spreads, and apple butter is one of our favorites (even though there’s no actual butter in it!) We put this stuff on everything! Apple butter is great with savory dishes like country ham on a homemade buttermilk biscuit, or a pork roast. It’s also good with traditional things like toast or waffles. Use your imagination, and I bet you’ll come up with lots of options.
One of my favorite uses for this Slow Cooker Apple Butter is gifts — like hostess gifts, Christmas gifts, housewarming gifts, or a random Thinking of You gift. Put some apple butter in a pretty jar and tie on a festive ribbon, and voila, the perfect, easy gift.
Testing results for slow cooker apple butter
- We’ve tried different varieties of apples in this recipe, and our preference is to use a mix of mostly sweet apples. We don’t add Granny Smith because they’re too tart for this recipe. We like a mix of Fuji, Gala, and Honeycrisp.
- We’ve kept the sugar amount relatively low since fresh fall apples are naturally sweet. I suggest you taste periodically and add more sugar if desired.
- We’ve tested making apple butter with peeled and unpeeled apples. The unpeeled apples need to cook much longer for the peels to break down enough. Our preference is to just go ahead and peel the apples.
I hope you make this recipe. I think you’ll love it!
Ingredient notes
Here are a few things to know about the ingredients in this recipe.
➡️➡️➡️ The full ingredient amounts and instructions are listed below on the printable recipe card. Scroll below the recipe card for frequently asked questions and tips for success.
Apples: Any variety of sweet and/or slightly tart (not as tart as Granny Smith) apples will work in this recipe.
Lemon juice: A little splash of fresh lemon juice brightens the apple butter.
How to make apple butter in a slow cooker
- Peel and dice the apples.
- Place all the ingredients in the slow cooker and stir to mix the apples with the spices.
- Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours. Use an immersion blender to puree, then cook with the lid off for an additional hour or two, until the desired consistency is reached.
If you make this recipe, please leave a comment and ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below!
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Slow Cooker Apple Butter Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 pounds apples, peeled, cored, and diced
- ½ cup apple cider
- ½ cup brown sugar
- Juice of half a lemon
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place 3 pounds apples, peeled, cored, and diced, 1/2 cup apple cider, 1/2 cup brown sugar, Juice of half a lemon, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves, 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt into a 3-quart slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 8-10 hours, stirring occasionally.
- When apples are tender enough to mash with a fork and dark, remove the lid and use an immersion blender to puree. You can also place the apples in a regular blender or food processor.
- Leave the lid off and stir in 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract. Cook for another hour or two on low until thickened to your desired consistency. Place into jars for storage.
Nutrition
Questions and tips
Storage
Store the apple butter in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for 4-6 months.
I don’t have experience canning, but I believe if you follow safe canning practices, then this recipe should be fine. However, we have not tested this recipe for canning.
You do not have to peel the apples. Eventually, the peeling breaks down, and when you puree the mixture, you’ll barely notice any peel. However, we do prefer to peel the apples initially, as it gives a smoother result.
