Crockpot Apple Butter
easyhealthyrecipes.com/crockpot-apple-butter/Fall just got cozier with this crockpot apple butter recipe. Sweet-tart apples are slow-cooked with brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger, then blended until smooth and spreadable. Delicious on toast, in oatmeal, or swirl in yogurt!
Recipe makes approximately 20
Equipment Needed
- Large slow cooker ( approximately 6 quarts)
- immersion blender (or countertop blender)
Ingredients Needed
- 5 pounds apples (preferably a mix of Honeycrisp and Granny Smith, weighed before peeling, then peeled, cored, and sliced)
- 1½ cups packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Add 5 pounds peeled, cored, and sliced apples to a large slow cooker.
- Add 1½ cups packed light brown sugar, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ground cloves, ½ teaspoon ground ginger, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Stir to coat the apples evenly.
- Cover and cook on low for 9 hours, stirring once or twice if possible, until the apples are very soft and dark brown.
- Remove the lid and stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 tablespoon lemon juice.
- Use an immersion blender to purée until completely smooth, keeping the blade submerged to prevent splatters. Alternatively, carefully blend in small batches in a blender suitable for hot liquids, following its venting instructions, then return the mixture to the slow cooker.
- Cook uncovered on low for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally and scraping the sides and bottom, until thick and spreadable.
- To check the consistency, spoon a little apple butter onto a cool plate. It should mound softly without a watery ring. Keep in mind that it will thicken more as it cools.
Recipe Notes
Slow cooker timing: Plan on about 11 hours total on low—9 hours covered, then 2 hours uncovered. Timing can range from 10–12 hours depending on your slow cooker and the apples’ moisture content. If the apples aren’t soft enough to blend after 9 hours, continue cooking covered until tender. Use the low setting, not warm.
Apple mix: Aim for roughly equal amounts of sweet and tart apples; about 2½ pounds Honeycrisp and 2½ pounds Granny Smith. Fuji or Gala can replace the Honeycrisp; keep about half the apples tart to balance the brown sugar.
Nutrition Info (Approximate)
Calories: 124kcal | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.04g | Total Carbs: 32g | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 28g | Net Carbs: 29g | Vitamin C: 6mg | Sodium: 35mg | Potassium: 147mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 0.3mg