🍯 Slow Cooker Apple Butter
Rich, Spiced, and Perfect for Canning!
📌 In This Guide
🍯 The Ultimate Apple Butter
This slow cooker apple butter is rich, spiced, and incredibly easy! Just toss everything in the slow cooker and let it work its magic. The result is a thick, caramelized apple butter that's perfect for toast, gifts, and filling your pantry.
🍎 Honeycrisp bonus: "The amount of juice they release is astounding... for every steamer load I got approx half a quart more than I do with Macs." – Use that extra juice for apple butter!
📦 Ingredients
For Slow Cooker Apple Butter (6-8 Pints)
- 🍎 8 cups applesauce – Homemade or store-bought
- 🍬 4 cups sugar – Adjust to taste
- 🌿 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 🌿 ½ tsp ground cloves
- 🌿 ½ tsp ground allspice
- 🌿 ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- 🍋 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 🧂 Pinch of salt
📝 Step-by-Step Instructions
Combine
Add all ingredients to a large slow cooker. Stir well to combine.
Cook
Cover and cook on LOW for 8-12 hours, stirring occasionally.
Vent
Remove the lid for the last 2-3 hours to let moisture evaporate and thicken.
Test Consistency
It's ready when a spoonful mounds on a chilled plate and doesn't run.
Blend (Optional)
For ultra-smooth apple butter, blend with an immersion blender.
Can or Store
Ladle into sterilized jars and water bath process, or refrigerate for immediate use.
🥫 Canning Instructions
Water Bath Canning
- Prepare jars – Sterilize pint jars and keep them warm.
- Fill jars – Ladle hot apple butter into jars, leaving ¼ inch headspace.
- Remove air bubbles – Run a clean knife around the inside of each jar.
- Wipe rims – Clean the jar rims with a damp cloth.
- Apply lids – Place lids and bands on jars. Tighten fingertip-tight.
- Process – Water bath process for 10 minutes (adjust for altitude).
- Cool – Remove jars and cool for 12-24 hours. Check seals.
💚 Yield: 6-8 pints per batch. Multiply for large harvests!
📄 Slow Cooker Apple Butter – Full Recipe
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║ SLOW COOKER APPLE BUTTER ║
║ Rich, Spiced, and Perfect for Canning! ║
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INGREDIENTS (6-8 Pints):
- 8 cups applesauce
- 4 cups sugar
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp cloves
- ½ tsp allspice
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- Pinch of salt
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker
2. Cook on LOW 8-12 hours
3. Remove lid last 2-3 hours to thicken
4. Test consistency on cold plate
5. Blend for smooth texture (optional)
6. Fill jars (¼" headspace)
7. Water bath process 10 minutes
8. Cool and check seals
"48 pints of apple butter" 🍎🍯
🍽️ How to Use Apple Butter
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Can I use fresh apples instead of applesauce?
Yes! Cook peeled, cored, chopped apples until soft, then mash or blend. Proceed with the recipe.
❓ How do I know when it's thick enough?
Place a spoonful on a chilled plate. If it mounds and doesn't run, it's ready.
❓ Can I reduce the sugar?
Yes, but it affects the set and shelf life. Use at least half the sugar for safe canning.
❓ Why remove the lid at the end?
It lets moisture escape, thickening the apple butter to the perfect consistency.
❓ How long does apple butter last?
12-18 months canned, 3 weeks refrigerated after opening.
❓ Can I make this in the oven?
Yes! Cook at 250°F for 6-12 hours, stirring occasionally.
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