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Sweet, cinnamon-y and smooth, the very best CrockPot Apple Butter recipe is the easiest thing you’ll ever make.
Spread it on sandwiches, crackers with cheese, or top a wheel of creamy brie for a wonderfully simple appetizer.
Why It’s On Repeat All Year Long
We went apple picking one time, that’s it. Apple picking, it’s exhausting. And hot, so very hot. No need for boots, or a flannel shirt because it’s still still summer weather during apple picking season in the Philadelphia area.
If do go pick some apples and not really feeling a nap, you can come home and peel some of those apples to make the very best Crock Pot Apple Butter recipe, and then take a nap. Or not. But either way, your house will smell amazing.
We make this homemade apple butter recipe all year long. It’s a great way to use up leftover apples that you wouldn’t just snack on. It’s also so easy, just toss everything into the slow cooker and turn it on. And if you didn’t use up all your apples yet, try this easy Easy Apple Cobbler
Ingredients for CrockPot Apple Butter
- Apples – Any variety of apple will work but I like to use a mix of tart and sweet apples for the best flavor. See below for the best apples for Apple Butter.
- Sugar – Brown sugar contains molasses which gives the apple butter depth and richness. You can use light brown sugar or dark brown sugar, if you’re using a sweeter variety of apple, you can omit the sugar.
- Spices – Warm spices are the signature flavor in apple butter, I use cinnamon, nutmeg and ground ginger. You can use your favorite spices to make it your own.
For the full ingredient list and instructions, see the recipes and below.
What is apple butter?
Homemade Apple Butter is such a treat. It’s a little confusing by the name, it’s not actually Apple butter. It’s a sweetened, very concentrated form of apple sauce where the apples have been cooked down until they’re thick and caramelized turning the butter a deep caramel color. ‘
The concentration of sugars make the shelf life much longer as a preserve making this apple butter perfect for canning using a water bath method of canning.
You can use your apple butter as a spread for sandwiches, a topping for pancakes, drizzled over waffles or as a punch of real apple flavor in so many recipes.
How To Make Apple Butter
This Slow Cooker Apple Butter recipe couldn’t be easier to make. It’s basically a “dump everything in the slow cooker and go” kinda recipe which I love because you can just set it and forget it.
- Prep. Place all the ingredients in the bottom of a slow cooker or Crock Pot. Stir to combine.
- Cook. Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours.
- Blend. Transfer the apple mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. (alternatively, you can puree directly in the slow cooker with an immersion blender.)
- Store. Transfer the apple butter to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
It really couldn’t be easier, because really, like every other slow cooker recipe and this Pear Butter, it doesn’t take much effort to make this at all.
The scent of apple butter cooking away all day in a Crock Pot couldn’t be more heavenly. Slightly spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, it will smell like fall exploded in your home. Totally intoxicating, warm and inviting. I’m making a batch if we ever have to sell our home because it will sell in about 10 seconds flat.
Best Apples For Apple Butter
Really, to be honest here, any apple will work for making a Homemade Apple Butter recipe but some apples work better because they cook down more easily. For my homemade apple sauce, I sometimes will use a firmer apple so I can make a chunkier apple sauce but for Apple Butter I want it to be smooth and creamy.
So, when making Apple Butter, I reach for a softer variety like Fuji, McIntosh, Jona Gold or Golden Delicious. I’ve made Apple Butter with Honey Crisp apples but the cooking time ended up being just a bit longer.
kellie’s tips for the best apple butter
- My best tip for cooking apple butter is to use a variety of apples in your recipe for the best flavor.
- Switch up the spices to make your apple butter your very own. I love to use this Pumpkin Pie Spice or Chai Spice Mix to shake things up.
- Skip the sugar if you’re trying to limit your sugar intake. You can substitute with honey, agave or no sugar at all.
- Add a splash of vanilla for an additional warm hint of flavor.
Recipes Using Apple Butter
Bake up a batch of these Apple Butter Cheesecake Streusel Bars and snack away. It’s one of the best bar recipes around! I also like to use it as a topping for a wheel of brie for a simple appetizer or add a dollop to these pulled pork sliders.
More Apple Recipes
- Easy Apple Fritters (no rise time needed!)
- Sparkling Apple Cider Sangria
- Homemade Apple Cider
- Easy Slow Cooker Apple Crisp
- Homemade Apple Dumplings
- Super Easy Candy Apples
Want to see what else we’re cooking up? Follow us over on Instagram!
Apple Butter Recipe
Equipment
- 1 slow cooker
Ingredients
- 5 pounds apples, peeled, cored and chopped
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in the bottom of a slow cooker or crock pot and stir to combine. Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6-8 hours.
- Transfer the apple mixture to a blender and puree until smooth.
- Transfer the apple butter to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What is the serving size for the nutrition information posted?
One serving is 1/2 a cup….I recalculated the nutrition information so be sure to look at it again before you try it. Thanks!
What a great idea! I can’t wait to try this.
Thank you! I hope you love it.
Oh my, this apple butter looks fantastic!! I can’ t wait to try it!
Thank you so much!
This apple butter recipe is awesome, and super easy to make in the crock-pot. Yummy!
Thank you!
I love apple butter. Grew up eating this stuff, yum! Thanks for this easy looking recipe. Can’t wait to make