How to Make Apple Butter

If you enjoy this tasty twist on jam, but can’t find it available commercially in your area, try making apple butter yourself. It used to be messy and extremely time-consuming to prepare, but if you use a slow cooker it's much easier to make, so you can be eating apple butter in a day!

Ingredients

• 4 1/2 lbs. cooking apples, washed and quartered
• 4 cups white sugar
• 1/3 cup of apple cider
• 1/2 teaspoon powdered cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Steps (click to watch video)

1. Quarter the apples; peel them first if you prefer them without the skin. Put the chopped apples into the slow cooker, then slowly add the sugar. Stir to coat.

2. Pour the apple cider in the slow cooker to prevent the fruit from sticking to the bottom. Add the spices and stir.

3. Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 3 hours. Turn down the heat, and cook on low for about 9 hours.

• Check the apples after five hours. They should be very soft and there should be a large amount of juice.

4. Place some of the apples and juices in a blender with a ladle; don't fill more than halfway. Process fruit until smooth, stopping every few seconds to allow steam to escape. Continue blending until all apples have been processed, putting the processed fruit in a bowl as you go.

5. Pour the mixture back into the slow cooker. Cook uncovered on high anywhere from 1 to 4 hours; if you want to add any more spice to the mixture, do so now.

6. Preserve the apple butter by canning or skip the canning procedure and place the hot fruit in jars, bottles, or smaller containers to give as gifts.