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This easy Crockpot Apple Butter recipe transforms five simple ingredients into a smooth, warmly spiced spread with just 10 minutes of prep. Cook it on HIGH for about 4 hours or LOW for 6 to 8 hours, then blend until silky and spreadable.
Serve it on toast, pancakes, biscuits, oatmeal, or yogurt. It is also delicious paired with cheese, baked brie, pork, and your favorite fall desserts.
Table of Contents
- Kellie’s Note Better Apple Butter
- Why You Will Love This Apple Butter Recipe
- Ingredients for CrockPot Apple Butter
- How to Make Apple Butter in the Crockpot
- Using a Standard Blender
- Kellie’s Tips for Thick, Smooth Apple Butter
- Apple Butter Troubleshooting
- Apple Butter Variations
- How to Store and Freeze Apple Butter
- Apple Butter Recipe
- More Easy Apple Recipes
This apple butter recipe is awesome, and super easy to make in the crock-pot. Yummy!
– Matt
Kellie’s Note
Better Apple Butter
We went apple picking a lot in the fall, and I quickly learned that bringing home the apples is the easy part. Figuring out how to use all of them is another story.
That’s when I created this easy Crockpot Apple Butter recipe. Add everything to the slow cooker, let the apples soften and fill the house with cinnamon and spice, then blend them into a smooth spread. It is one of the easiest ways to turn an abundance of apples into something everyone will actually be excited to eat.
I’ve been making this apple butter recipe for decades and have no plans to stop anytime soon. Add it to your apple recipe arsenal for your next apple orchard trip this fall!
Why You Will Love This Apple Butter Recipe
- Just five ingredients: Apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.
- Only 10 minutes of prep: The slow cooker does most of the work.
- Low in added sugar: Five pounds of apples need only ¼ cup of brown sugar.
- Two cooking options: Cook it on HIGH for a faster batch or LOW for a longer, hands-off method.
- Smooth and spreadable: Blend the softened apples until silky.
- Sweet and savory uses: Serve it with breakfast, cheese, baked goods, sandwiches, or pork.
- Great for extra apples: It is an easy way to use apples after apple picking or clear out the fruit drawer.
Ingredients for CrockPot Apple Butter
You only need five ingredients:
- 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.
How to Make Apple Butter in the Crockpot
- Prepare the apples. Peel, core, and chop the apples into evenly sized pieces.
- Fill the slow cooker. Add the apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Stir to coat the apples.
- Cook until soft. Cover and cook on HIGH for about 4 hours or LOW for 6 to 8 hours. The apples should be very soft, darker in color, and easy to mash with a spoon.
- Blend until smooth. Use an immersion blender directly in the slow cooker, or carefully transfer the mixture to a standard blender in batches.
- Check the consistency. The apple butter should be thick, smooth, and spreadable. It will continue to thicken as it cools.
- Reduce if needed. If the apple butter is thinner than you prefer, continue cooking it uncovered, stirring periodically, until more moisture evaporates.
- Cool and store. Allow it to cool before transferring it to airtight containers.
Using a Standard Blender
Hot apple mixture creates steam, so do not fill the blender to the top or seal hot steam inside the pitcher. Work in small batches, vent the lid according to the blender manufacturer’s instructions, and cover the opening loosely with a kitchen towel to help contain splashes.
Return the blended apple butter to the slow cooker if it needs additional thickening.
Best Apples for Apple Butter
Softer apples break down more quickly and produce smooth, creamy apple butter. Good options include:
- Fuji
- McIntosh
- Jonagold
- Golden Delicious
- Gala
For the best flavor, combine two or three apple varieties and include both sweet and tart apples.
Honeycrisp apples also work, but their firmer texture may require additional cooking time. Very tart apples may also need a little more sugar, so choose varieties based on how sweet you want the finished apple butter to taste.
Peeling the apples gives this recipe its smoothest texture. Leaving the peels on may produce a more rustic result, depending on the strength of your blender.
Kellie’s Tips for Thick, Smooth Apple Butter
- Use more than one apple variety. Mixing sweet and tart apples creates a fuller flavor.
- Cut the apples evenly. Similar-size pieces soften at approximately the same rate.
- Use the apples as your timer. Slow cookers vary, so check that the fruit is completely soft instead of relying only on the clock.
- Look for a darker color. The apples should deepen in color as they cook and concentrate.
- Test the consistency. A spoonful should hold its shape instead of immediately spreading into a thin puddle.
- Cook uncovered if it is too thin. Extra cooking allows excess moisture to escape.
- Do not over-thicken it. Apple butter becomes thicker as it cools.
- Add vanilla after cooking. Stir in a splash after blending for extra warmth without cooking away the flavor.
- Adjust the spices. Pumpkin pie spice, chai spice, cloves, allspice, or cardamom can change the flavor of the finished batch.
What Is Apple Butter?
Despite the name, apple butter does not contain dairy butter. It is a thick, concentrated apple spread made by cooking apples until they become very soft, dark, and richly flavored.
Apple butter cooks longer than traditional applesauce, which allows more moisture to evaporate and the natural apple flavor to become more concentrated. The cooked apples are then blended into a smooth, spreadable consistency.
This recipe is intended for refrigerator or freezer storage. For shelf-stable canning, use a tested apple butter canning recipe and follow its exact ingredient quantities, jar sizes, processing times, and altitude instructions.
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.
Apple Butter Troubleshooting
My apple butter is too thin
Continue cooking it uncovered so excess moisture can evaporate. Stir periodically and check the consistency frequently. Remember that it will become thicker as it cools.
My apple butter tastes too tart
The flavor depends heavily on the apple varieties. Stir in additional brown sugar a small amount at a time until the flavor is balanced.
My apple butter is too sweet
Add more unsweetened cooked apple puree if you have it available. For your next batch, use less sugar or include more tart apples.
My apple butter is not smooth
Blend it for longer, or process it in smaller batches in a high-powered blender. For an especially refined texture, press it through a fine-mesh sieve or food mill.
My apples are not soft after the suggested time
Continue cooking until they collapse easily when pressed with a spoon. Firmer apple varieties and different slow cookers may require additional time.
Apple Butter Variations
- Vanilla apple butter: Stir vanilla into the apple butter after blending.
- Chai-spiced apple butter: Replace the individual spices with your favorite chai spice blend.
- Pumpkin-spiced apple butter: Use pumpkin pie spice for a classic fall flavor.
- Apple-pear butter: Replace a portion of the apples with ripe pears.
- Extra-spiced apple butter: Add a small amount of cloves, allspice, or cardamom.
- No-added-sugar apple butter: Use naturally sweet apple varieties and omit the brown sugar.
- Chunky apple butter: Blend most of the mixture, leaving a small portion with more texture.
Test major substitutions before adding exact quantities or timing changes to the recipe card because different fruits and sweeteners can affect moisture and cooking time.
Ways to Use Apple Butter
Breakfast Ideas
- Spread it on toast, English muffins, biscuits, or scones.
- Spoon it over pancakes, waffles, or French toast.
- Stir it into oatmeal or overnight oats.
- Swirl it into yogurt or cottage cheese.
- Spread it on bagels with cream cheese.
Savory Serving Ideas
- Pair it with cheddar, goat cheese, or baked brie.
- Add it to a turkey, ham, or grilled cheese sandwich.
- Spoon it over pork chops or pork tenderloin.
- Add it to pulled pork sandwiches or sliders.
- Serve it on a fall cheese or charcuterie board.
Baking Ideas
- Stir it into frosting or whipped cream cheese.
- Use it in apple butter bars, cakes, muffins, or quick breads.
- Swirl it into cheesecake batter.
- Use it as a filling for hand pies.
- Layer it into thumbprint or sandwich cookies.
How to Store and Freeze Apple Butter
Allow the apple butter to cool before transferring it to storage containers.
- Refrigerator: Store in an airtight jar or container for up to 3 weeks.
- Freezer: Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months for the best quality.
- Leave room for expansion: Leave approximately ½ inch of space at the top of the freezer container.
- To thaw: Transfer the container to the refrigerator and allow it to thaw overnight.
- Before serving: Stir the thawed apple butter to restore an even consistency.
Apple butter can be served cold, at room temperature, or gently warmed.
How to Warm Apple Butter
Place the amount you need in a small saucepan over low heat and stir until warmed through. You can also microwave it in short intervals, stirring between each interval.
Apple Butter Recipe
Equipment
- slow cooker
- Immersion blender or standard blender
- Airtight jars or storage containers
Ingredients
- 5 pounds apples, peeled, cored, and evenly chopped
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Combine. Add the apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg to the slow cooker. Stir until the apples are evenly coated.
- Cook. Cover and cook on HIGH for about 4 hours or LOW for 6 to 8 hours. The apples are ready when they are very soft, darker in color, and collapse easily when pressed with a spoon.
- Blend. Use an immersion blender to puree the apples directly in the slow cooker until smooth. Alternatively, carefully transfer the mixture to a standard blender in batches, venting the lid to allow steam to escape.
- Check the consistency. The apple butter should be thick and spreadable. If it is thinner than you prefer, continue cooking uncovered, stirring periodically, until it reaches the desired consistency.
- Cool. Allow the apple butter to cool before transferring it to airtight jars or containers.
- Store. Refrigerate for up to 3 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months.
Notes
- Cooking time can vary based on the apple varieties and your slow cooker. Use the texture of the apples as your guide. They should be completely soft before blending.
- Apple butter will continue to thicken as it cools. If the blended apple butter is too thin, cook it uncovered until excess moisture evaporates.
- When using a standard blender, work in batches and vent the lid so steam can escape. Store refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.
- Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months, leaving approximately ½ inch of room at the top for expansion.
- This recipe is intended for refrigerator or freezer storage. Use a separately tested recipe for shelf-stable canning.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
More Easy Apple Recipes
Have more apples to use? Try one of these easy fall recipes next:
- Easy Apple Fritters
- Homemade Apple Cider
- Easy Slow Cooker Apple Crisp
- Homemade Apple Dumplings
- Easy Apple Cobbler
- Easy Candy Apple Recipe // Video
- Homemade Pear Butter
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