Sweet, cinnamon-y and smooth, the very best Crock Pot 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.

Apple butter in a weck tulip jar with a spoon and apples in the background.


Crock Pot Apple Butter

I finally went apple picking for the first time in my life. Yep, I never got all dressed up in fall gear to go trekking through an orchard with my family to pick an apple from a tree.  I thought it would be a fun thing to do on a cool, sunny Saturday with Landon so we finally went to Frecon Farms which is about an hour outside Philadelphia.

I don’t know what I expected….I thought it would take much longer….strolling through the orchard to search for apple perfection but it really only took about 5 minutes to fill the bucket.

And that bucket gets quite heavy quickly….then you need to carry the very heavy bucket back to the little tent to pay for the apples that may not be exactly perfect because your kids are just picking with reckless abandon.

So, the afternoon was left wide open for napping because apple picking….it’s exhausting. And hot…..so very hot. No need for boots…or a flannel because it’s still really hot during apple picking season.

If you’re 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.

The Very Best Slow Cooker Apple Butter Recipe | TheSuburbanSoapbox.com

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.

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 in a white oval bowl on a twig placemat.

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. 

  1. Place all the ingredients in the bottom of a slow cooker or Crock Pot. Stir to combine.
  2. Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours.
  3. Transfer the apple mixture to a blender and puree until smooth. (alternatively, you can puree directly in the slow cooker with an immersion blender.)
  4. 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.

Apple Butter in a jar with a white spoon propped up against the side and apples in the background.

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. 

Pro Tips

  • 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 to mix 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 another level of flavor.
apple butter in a jar with a blue napkin underneath and a white spoon in front of it.

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 little bites of heaven.

More Apple Recipes

Want to see what else we’re cooking up? Follow us over on Instagram!

apple butter in a jar with a blue napkin underneath and a white spoon in front of it.

Get the Recipe: Apple Butter Recipe

Yield: 12
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
An over abundance of apples means the best Apple Butter is in order. So easy to make with the help of your slow cooker and a few pantry staples.
5 from 4 votes
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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

Equipment

  • 1 slow cooker

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

Can be made up to 3 weeks in advance and store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
Calories: 118kcal, Carbohydrates: 31g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 3mg, Potassium: 214mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 24g, Vitamin A: 104IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 22mg, Iron: 1mg
Author: Kellie
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American