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Easy Slow Cooker Homemade Apple Butter Recipe

A close-up of thick, dark brown homemade apple butter served in a small white bowl, with fresh apples in the background.
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Make rich, smooth homemade apple butter using your slow cooker. This easy recipe requires minimal hands-on time and yields a perfect spiced spread for toast, pancakes, or fall baking.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 pounds apples (about 12 medium), peeled, cored, and quartered (use a mix like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith)
  • 1 cup apple cider
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

Instructions

  1. Place the apple quarters, apple cider, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice into the basin of your slow cooker.
  2. Stir the ingredients together until the apples are coated.
  3. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours, or on high for 4 to 5 hours. The apples should be very soft.
  4. Carefully transfer the cooked apple mixture to a blender or use an immersion blender directly in the slow cooker. Blend until the mixture is completely smooth. If you prefer a thinner consistency, add a small amount of water or cider, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired texture.
  5. Return the smooth mixture to the slow cooker. Remove the lid and set the slow cooker to high. Cook for another 1 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally, to allow excess moisture to evaporate and the butter to thicken.
  6. Once thickened, remove from the slow cooker. Let the apple butter cool slightly before transferring it to airtight jars for storage in the refrigerator or proceeding with canning instructions for shelf stability.

Notes

  • For a no sugar added apple butter, omit the brown sugar and add 1/4 cup of maple syrup if you desire extra sweetness.
  • If you do not have a slow cooker, you can make this stovetop by simmering the ingredients in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over low heat for 3 to 4 hours, stirring often to prevent sticking.
  • This apple butter freezes well. Transfer cooled butter to freezer-safe containers, leaving headspace, and freeze for up to 6 months.
  • Use this spread on toast, mix it into muffin batter, or serve it alongside roasted pork for a Thanksgiving side dish.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookincorner.com/easy-slow-cooker-apple-butter-recipe/