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I love fruit butters. Seeing that it is fall and I am 1 1/2 hours away from my favorite apple orchard, which sells great apple butter, I guess I have to make it myself.
I am always up for a new challenge in the kitchen, but really, this recipe couldn’t be any easier. In fact, if you can make the applesauce, then you can make this apple butter. Just a few more ingredients to spice it up and a little more time on the stove, and then you will have this luscious, creamy, spicy, and oh-so-satisfying apple butter.
Spread it on toast, put a dollop on some yogurt (with some toasted walnuts for crunch), or when nobody is looking, take a big spoonful straight from the jar:)
Like most cooking, adjust the spices according to your own taste. If you don’t have cardamom, that’s o.k. If you like ground ginger, then add more. Make it for you, make it your own. I almost forgot– when you do make it, your house will smell just like an orchard!
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Apple Butter
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 pounds of cooking apples, peeled, cored and quartered (I used Golden Delicious)
- ½ cup white granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 cup apple cider
- 2 cups water
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
Instructions
- In a large stock pot, add all the ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and cover. Simmer until apples are soft, 20-30 minutes.
- Remove from the heat. Mash the apples with a spoon or potato masher right in the pot or pass the mixture through a food mill set over a large bowl. Return the apples to the pot and set over low heat. Stir occasionally to keep the mixture from burning. Cook for 3-4 hours until the apples are thick with a deep brown color.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks, freeze for up to 1 year, or place in hot sterilized jars using the canning method. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Oh wow thank you for this recipe! Im an American living in The Netherlands and they don't sell this year. All the recipes I have found require you to can the apple butter and let me tell you..the canning items here are so over the top expensive. I'm so excited to make this..thank you!
Hi, Sonya! Thanks for stopping by. Hope you enjoy the recipe.
Nicole, what can I use as a substitute of apple cider as I cannot get it where I live?
I would reduce two cups of apple juice to one cup for a concentrated flavor and use that in lieu of the cider.