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Perfect Homemade Apple Butter Recipe

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4 from 3 reviews

This Perfect Homemade Apple Butter recipe is an easy slow cooker delight that delivers a rich, concentrated apple flavor with a hint of spice. Using sweet apples combined with brown sugar, honey, and Chinese Five Spice, this apple butter is thick, smooth, and far better than store-bought versions. It’s naturally sweetened and slow-cooked to achieve the perfect consistency, great for spreading on toast or adding to recipes.

Ingredients

Apples

  • 3 ½ pounds apples (8 to 9 medium apples), cored and chopped into ½-inch pieces (no need to peel)

Sweeteners & Liquids

  • 1 cup (200 grams) brown sugar
  • ½ cup (165 grams) honey
  • 1 (12-ounce) bottle non-alcoholic apple cider

Spices & Seasoning

  • 1 tablespoon Chinese Five Spice
  • Pinch of salt (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Apples: Core and chop the apples into ½-inch pieces. There is no need to peel them as the skins will soften during cooking.
  2. Toss Apples with Sugar and Spice: In a large bowl, toss the chopped apples with brown sugar and Chinese Five Spice until evenly coated. Then transfer this mixture into your slow cooker.
  3. Add Honey and Cider: Pour honey and the bottle of non-alcoholic apple cider over the apples in the slow cooker. Season with a pinch or two of salt if desired, which enhances the flavors.
  4. Cook on Low: Cover the slow cooker and cook the apple mixture on the LOW setting for 10 hours to allow the flavors to meld and the apples to soften thoroughly.
  5. Reduce Liquid on High: After 10 hours, uncover the slow cooker and switch to the HIGH setting. Cook for an additional 2 hours to reduce the liquid around the apples, thickening the mixture.
  6. Puree the Apple Butter: Use an immersion blender to puree the apples in the slow cooker until the mixture is silky smooth. If it seems too thin, continue cooking uncovered for another hour or until desired thickness is achieved, remembering it will thicken more as it cools.

Notes

  • Chinese Five Spice adds a unique flavor depth, but you can substitute with ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice if unavailable.
  • The apple butter will thicken as it cools; avoid overcooking to prevent it from becoming too stiff.
  • You do not need to peel the apples; the skins will blend smoothly during pureeing.
  • Add a pinch of salt to balance and enhance sweetness, but it’s optional based on your preference.
  • If the apple butter is too runny after pureeing, continue cooking uncovered in the slow cooker to reduce the liquid.

Find it online: https://cookedbysarah.com/perfect-homemade-apple-butter-recipe/