The things we do for the people we love!
I am a pretty simple kind of gal. I like my routines, I like the foods I like and I don’t like trying new things or making changes to my routine… until that is, I started on this food revolution/adventure I’m on. If I were asked to list 10 things to put on my toast or biscuit, Apple butter wouldn’t be one of them. I had never even heard of it before I met my husband. (Shocker, I know), I know by now, most of you think that I lived in a cave or I was grew up isolated from the world. But neither of those things are true. When it came to food, I had tunnel vision, I only ever saw the few things I knew and liked. Everything else was like a foreign country to me.
My husband has been asking me to come up with an apple butter recipe since we have been married. I was not looking forward to this for 2 reasons. 1. Apples are expensive, and for butter you need a lot. 2. I didn’t want to do the work! Peeling and coring and slicing so many apples. URG!!! Well, something worked in his favor because I found Bountiful Baskets which made the price a non issue, and I also got a peeler/corer (which I ended up not even using after the first round of apples). You can keep the peels on or take them off….so why do extra work! So I decided to give Apple Butter a shot and here is the result.
Hope you enjoy!
Notes
I used a variety of different types of apples. I used the kinds I had left from a few baskets, plus an add-on. I made sure to have a few Granny Smith in there. I think that made this recipe!
Ingredients
- 20-40 Apples (I used Fuji, Apple Crisp and Granny Smith) My secret-use a few apple varieties
- 1 - 2 Cups of Sugar
- 3/4 Tsp. Allspice
- 1 1/2 Tsp. Ground Cloves
- 6 Tbsp Cinnamon
- 1 Tsp. Lemon Juice
- 1 Tbsp. Honey
- Jars (I used pint)
You will need a crockpot, apple corer and food processor (or blender). Process this recipe will using the water bathing method.
Instructions
- You will process your apples in batches.
- Core enough apples to fill your crockpot. You don't need to peel them
- Place them in your crockpot and add a mixture of ingredients. Depending on how you want the taste (I wanted a stronger, sweeter taste so my base is 1/3 to 2/3 Cups sugar, 1/4 Tsp. Allspice, 2 Tbsp Cinnamon, and 1/2 Tsp. Cloves). Try something a little less if you don't want sweet and strong.
- Mix the apples up and put your crockpot on LOW for 12 hours.
- You can stir if you happen to walk by in between the 12 hours but its not necessary either.
- Its also ok if you are not standing at your crockpot waiting for the timer, it can be even hours after the timer goes off.
- When the 12 hours is up, repeat the process until your apples are all used.
- At the end of the 36 hours take your apple mixture and put into a food processor or blender until you get a smooth mixture.
- Don't worry if the bottom of the mixture has a few small peels, discard them or keep them in your butter, they are good for you!
- Move mixture to a large bowl.
- Add the lemon juice and honey and stir.
- Can apple butter using the water bath method.
Yes, you can leaveout the cloves and allspice, but I don’t think it will be very good. It will be very bland, but to each his own…
Can I still make this without the all spice and cloves?
Oh, I think I will try the applesauce trick! I love that about Bountiful Baskets….How we can share these things! Thank you 😀
This is exactly what I do, except I haven’t been adding more apples to the batch as it cooks down. I’ll try that!
I use an immersion blender instead of a food processor. It makes cleanup so much easier. Also, if I start in the morning, I use some of it as applesauce at dinner, then let the rest keep cooking into apple butter.
I see here that I am missing a key ingredient! 2 Tsp. Of cinnamon each round, wow. I hope no one has tried it without. Bet it isnt very good. So sorry!!! Holidays had me busy.
Sorry didn’t see your comment sooner. I get 10 pint jars from this.
So how much did this end up making?