Do you have a special recipe that you make every year? One that your friends and family can’t wait for? I have several seasonal recipes I make that my family looks forward to. One of those recipes is the Pumpkin Cranberry Bread. Another of my seasonal recipes is Crockpot Apple Butter.
Related: Pumpkin Cranberry Bread
I have been making apple butter for a number of years. I gather the wild apples at our cabin to use for this delicious spread. Part of the joy I get is from making something that I picked myself and then prepared. But you don’t need a source of wild apples. You can make this delicious crockpot apple butter with store bought or orchard apples.
For the best tasting apple butter I like to use a variety of apple flavors. So choose a couple of different apple varieties, a sweet and a tart work well together. Apple butter is really a simple recipe. It just takes apples, a little apple cider or water, some sugar, lemon juice and spices. You allow the apples to simmer until softened and then puree them into a lovely spread.
This batch will make about 4-5 pints of apple butter. You can water bath process the jars but I choose not to do that. It will keep well in the refrigerator for several months if your family doesn’t eat it all first. I usually give away 3-4 jars and then I will freeze any excess that we can’t eat right away. And this apple butter freezes beautifully. So you can pull a jar out next summer and it will remind you of the wonderful flavors of fall.
Also since I am using wild mountain apples, I do peel my apples. The skins often have damage done to them by bugs. If you are using orchard or store bought apples without a wax coating, you should be able to include the skins and save yourself some work.
Ways to use your delicious Crockpot Apple Butter…
- Eat it on biscuits or toast
- Add it as a glaze to roast chicken or pork
- Top your waffles and pancakes with warmed apple butter
- Swirl it into a cake right before baking
- Layer it in the middle of spice cake
- Add it to your pumpkin muffins
- Spread it as the filling for homemade cinnamon rolls
- Use it to flavor a latte
- Add it to a spiced hot apple toddy
- Eat it right out of the jar
Any way you use it will be totally delicious. So on to the recipe.
This intensely spicy apple spread can be used in place of jam. Anywhere you need a sweet apple taste is a good place for apple butter. You can cut the recipe in half if your Crock Pot isn't large enough for this amount.
- 6 lbs apples, any variety
- 1/2 cup apple cider or water
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp cloves
- 1 tsp nutmeg
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Peel and core apples. Cut into chunks and place in Crock Pot.
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Add the apple cider, lemon juice, sugar and spices. Stir.
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Cook on high for 1 hour. Turn the heat down to low and cook for another 3-4 hours. Give it an occasional stir. You can also use a potato masher to break up the apples as they cook.
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Either use an immersion blender or your food processor to puree the apples into a smooth, creamy spread. If the apple butter is not thick enough, return to the crockpot for 30-60 minutes to thicken. Pour into sanitized jars and refrigerate right away.
Back to that special family recipe. I hope that you too will create something special that you make for your family and friends year after year. A seasonal tradition that your family will look forward. I like to use my crockpot apple butter as a thoughtful autumn hostess gift. You’re welcome to use it too. If you make this apple butter and your family loves it, then start making it every year. Before long, your family will be thrilled when you set a jar on the table to spread on their biscuits or pancakes. A family tradition in the making.