Hands-On Cooking Classes & Recipes
A rich, flavorful, and naturally sweet fruit spread, slow-cooked from fresh apples and spices. Perfect on toast, biscuits, or as a dessert topping, offering a taste of comforting autumn flavors.
Ingredients
- 3 pound cooking apples such as Fuji or Gala
- 1 cup apple cider or water
- 0.5 cup granulated sugar or to taste
- 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 0.25 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 0.125 teaspoon ground cloves
Instructions
- Peel, core, and chop apples into roughly 1-inch pieces.
- Combine chopped apples, apple cider, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until apples are very soft.
- Remove from heat and use a potato masher, a fork, or an immersion blender to mash or blend the apples to your desired consistency. For a very smooth butter, transfer to a blender and process until smooth, then return to the pot.
- Return the pot to low heat and simmer uncovered for 1.5 to 2 hours, stirring every 15-20 minutes to prevent scorching. The apple butter will thicken and darken in color.
- Taste and adjust sugar or spices if needed. The apple butter is ready when it holds its shape on a spoon and no liquid separates. Ladle into clean jars and let cool completely before refrigerating.
Notes
For a smoother butter, use an immersion blender directly in the pot. Store apple butter in sterilized jars in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks, or freeze for longer storage. Adjust spices to your liking; a pinch of allspice or cloves can enhance the flavor. This recipe is easily doubled.