✔ Updated · less sugar, thickening trick, storage times and step photos
Slow cooker apple butter is the easiest fall project I know: apples, cider vinegar, sugar and warm spices cook low and slow until dark, glossy and spreadable. My whole house smells like apple pie.
At a glance
The one tip that matters: Prop the lid open with a wooden spoon for the last hour or two. The steam escapes and the apple butter thickens properly.
Why You'll Love This Apple Butter
- Almost hands-off, the slow cooker does the stirring-free work.
- Deep caramel flavor, from a long, gentle cook.
- Not overly sweet, so the apples still taste like apples.
Step-by-Step Photos
Here's how it comes together. Exact amounts, times and temperatures are in the recipe card below.
Tips for Success
- Mix your apples. Sweet apples like Fuji, Gala or Honeycrisp plus a tart one like Granny Smith give the best balance. Soft, older apples are perfect here.
- Start with less sugar. I start with 2 cups total and taste after blending. Very sweet apples need even less.
- The cold plate test. Spoon a little onto a chilled plate. If no watery ring forms around the edge and it holds its shape, it's done.
- No peeling version. Leave the peels on for more color and body, then blend very well. A high-speed blender makes them disappear.
- Spice it your way. Add a pinch of allspice or ginger, or a splash of bourbon at the end for a grown-up version (it's for adults, and the alcohol won't all cook off).
- Food safety note. Because this recipe isn't canned, it is not shelf-stable. Keep it in clean jars in the fridge and use it within about 3 weeks, or freeze it.
Slow Cooker Apple Butter
40
servings (1 tablespoon)30
minutes10
hours45
kcal10
hours30
minutesPeeled, sliced apples cooked low and slow in the crockpot with cider vinegar, white and brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves until deep brown, then blended smooth and cooked uncovered until thick and spreadable. Makes about 5 cups.
Ingredients
4 pounds apples, peeled, cored and sliced (a mix of sweet and tart)
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar (or apple cider for a milder flavor)
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar, or to taste
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
- Put the apples in a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. Add the vinegar, both sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt and toss to coat.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 10 hours (or HIGH for 5), stirring once or twice if you’re around, until the apples are very soft and deep caramel brown.
- Blend until smooth with an immersion blender, or carefully in batches in a regular blender. Stir in the vanilla and taste for sugar and spice.
- Prop the lid open with a wooden spoon and cook on LOW 1 to 2 hours more, stirring now and then, until thick enough that a spoonful holds its shape on a cold plate.
- Cool, then spoon into clean jars. Refrigerate up to 3 weeks or freeze up to 1 year.
Notes
- I used Granny smith apples in my recipe but I don’t believe this should impact the output much.
- Cinnamon is a nice additional to this recipe, however isn’t necessary.
- No canning involved.
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More Apple Recipes
Got more apples? Make my Cracker Barrel-style fried apples, an apple crisp or a big jar of apple pie filling. Apple butter is also lovely on warm biscuits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does apple butter have butter in it?
No. Apple butter is just apples, sugar and spices cooked down until thick, smooth and spreadable like butter. The name refers to its texture, not the ingredients.
How long does homemade apple butter last?
Up to 3 weeks in clean, covered jars in the fridge, and up to 1 year in the freezer. Leave 1/2 inch of headspace in freezer jars. Unless it's properly water-bath canned, don't store it in the pantry.
Why is my apple butter runny?
It needs more time with the lid off. Prop the lid open and keep cooking on LOW, stirring now and then, until a spoonful holds its shape on a cold plate. This can take 1 to 3 hours depending on your apples.
What apples are best for apple butter?
A mix works best. Use mostly sweet, soft-cooking apples like McIntosh, Fuji or Gala, plus one or two tart Granny Smiths for brightness.
What can I do with apple butter?
Spread it on toast, biscuits or pancakes, swirl it into oatmeal or yogurt, use it as a glaze for pork chops or roast chicken, or serve it with cheese on a snack board.
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