🍎 Homemade Apple Butter
40 Pounds of Apples Transformed!
📌 In This Article
🍎 The Apple Butter Story
"Wife and I made 40 pound of apples into apple butter."
There's something deeply satisfying about turning a massive pile of apples into jars of rich, spiced apple butter. It's a labor of love — peeling, coring, cooking, and stirring — but the end result is worth every minute.
My wife and I made 40 pounds of apples into apple butter. The whole house smelled like cinnamon and cloves. It was a long day, but now we have shelves full of jars ready for the year ahead.
💬 The verdict: "Wife and I made 40 pound of apples into apple butter." — Teamwork makes the dream work!
💪 Why Make Apple Butter?
Pure Comfort in a Jar!
🍞"Smooth, spiced, and incredibly rich."
Deep Apple Flavor
Slow-cooked perfection
Warm Spices
Cinnamon and cloves
Shelf Stable
Up to 1 year
The ultimate fall spread — and it makes the house smell amazing!
Apple butter is thicker and smoother than applesauce, with a deeply caramelized flavor from slow cooking. It's perfect on toast, biscuits, pancakes, and pork chops. And because it's water-bath canned, it's shelf-stable for a year.
📦 Ingredients
🍎 For the Apple Butter
- 🍎 40 lbs apples – peeled, cored, and chopped
- 🍚 4 cups granulated sugar – adjust to taste
- 🍚 2 cups brown sugar – packed
- 🍋 1 cup apple cider vinegar – or lemon juice
- 🍂 4 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 🌰 1 tbsp ground cloves
- 🌰 1 tbsp ground allspice
- 🌿 2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 🧂 1 tbsp salt
- 🍦 2 tbsp vanilla extract
🫙 For the Jars
- 🫙 12-14 pint jars
- 🧴 New lids and rings
💡 Pro tip: "Use a mix of sweet and tart apples (like Gala and Granny Smith) for the best flavor."
📊 The Perfect Ratio
This recipe is flexible. Adjust the sugar and spices to your taste.
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Apples | 40 lbs (peeled, cored, chopped) |
| Granulated sugar | 4 cups |
| Brown sugar | 2 cups |
| Apple cider vinegar | 1 cup |
| Cinnamon | 4 tbsp |
| Yield | 12-14 pints |
💡 Pro tip: "The vinegar helps balance the sweetness and adds acidity for safe water bath canning."
📝 Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1 – Prepare the Apples
- Wash, peel, and core the apples.
- Chop them into chunks.
- Place them in a large slow cooker (or multiple slow cookers, if needed).
💡 Pro tip: "40 pounds of apples won't fit in one slow cooker. I used two large slow cookers and a large stockpot on the stove."
Step 2 – Add the Spices and Sugar
- Add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, and salt.
- Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 10-12 hours, stirring occasionally.
⚠️ Important: "Stir occasionally to prevent sticking, especially as the apple butter thickens."
Step 3 – Blend Until Smooth
- Once the apples are very soft and dark, remove from heat.
- Use an immersion blender to puree the mixture until smooth.
- Stir in the vanilla extract.
💡 Pro tip: "For a super smooth apple butter, pass it through a food mill or fine-mesh sieve after blending."
Step 4 – Cook Down (If Needed)
- If the apple butter is too thin, return it to the slow cooker (uncovered) and cook on low until it reaches the desired thickness.
- It's ready when a spoonful mounds up on a chilled plate and doesn't run.
Step 5 – Fill the Jars
- Ladle the hot apple butter into hot pint jars.
- Leave ¼ inch headspace.
- Remove air bubbles with a bubble remover.
- Wipe rims clean with a damp cloth.
- Add lids and rings — finger-tight.
⚠️ Important: "Leave ¼ inch headspace — it's essential for proper sealing."
Step 6 – Water Bath Can
- Place jars in a water bath canner, ensuring water covers jars by 1-2 inches.
- Bring to a full rolling boil.
- Process pints for 15 minutes (adjust for altitude — see below).
- Turn off heat, remove lid, and let jars sit in the water 5 minutes.
- Remove jars and cool on a towel for 12-24 hours.
- Check seals — the lid should be concave and not flex.
- Store in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year.
⚠️ Important Safety Warning
Always use tested recipes and proper canning procedures. Apple butter is safe for water bath canning due to its high acidity. Follow USDA or local extension service guidelines.
⏱️ Altitude Adjustment
| Altitude | Processing Time (Pints) |
|---|---|
| 0 - 1,000 ft | 15 minutes |
| 1,001 - 3,000 ft | 20 minutes |
| 3,001 - 6,000 ft | 25 minutes |
| Above 6,000 ft | 30 minutes |
🍽️ How to Use Your Apple Butter
🍎 Quick Ideas
- 🍞 Toast: Spread on buttered toast or biscuits
- 🥞 Pancakes: Top pancakes or waffles
- 🥓 Pork: Glaze pork chops or pork loin
- 🧀 Cheese Board: Pair with sharp cheddar or brie
- 🥣 Oatmeal: Stir into warm oatmeal
- 🥪 Sandwiches: Spread on a turkey or ham sandwich
- 🍦 Ice Cream: Swirl into vanilla ice cream
- 🎁 Gift: Tie a ribbon around the jar and give as a gift
💡 Pro tip: "Apple butter makes a beautiful and delicious gift, especially during the holidays."
🥫 How to Store
- 🏠 Pantry: Up to 1 year in a cool, dark place
- 🧊 Refrigerator after opening: Use within 1 month
- 🍎 Best served: At room temperature
💡 Pro tip: "Label your jars with the date so you know when they were canned."
💡 Pro Tips
- 🍎 Use a mix of apples: Sweet and tart varieties give the best flavor.
- 🍋 Don't skip the vinegar: It balances the sweetness and ensures safe acidity.
- 🕒 Slow cook is best: The low and slow method caramelizes the sugars beautifully.
- 🌀 Blend it smooth: An immersion blender makes quick work of it.
- 📏 Leave headspace: ¼ inch is essential for safety.
- 🫙 Use new lids: Old lids may not seal properly.
- 👨👩👧 Make it together: It's a lot of work, but doing it with someone you love makes it fun.
💡 Pro tip: "Wife and I made 40 pound of apples into apple butter."
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Can I water bath can apple butter?
Yes! Apple butter is high in acid and sugar, making it safe for water bath canning.
❓ How long does homemade apple butter last?
Up to 1 year in a cool, dark place when properly water bath canned.
❓ Can I make this in a slow cooker?
Yes! This recipe is designed for a slow cooker. Just combine everything and cook on low for 10-12 hours.
❓ Can I reduce the sugar?
You can reduce it slightly, but sugar helps with preservation and caramelization. Don't reduce it by more than 25%.
❓ Why did my apple butter turn out thin?
You may not have cooked it down long enough. Continue cooking uncovered until it reaches the desired thickness.
❓ What kind of apples work best?
Use a mix of sweet and tart apples. Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala, and Honeycrisp are all great choices.
❓ Do I have to peel the apples?
Yes, peeling is recommended for a smooth texture. The peels can make the apple butter grainy.
❓ How many jars does 40 lbs of apples make?
About 12-14 pints, depending on how much you cook it down.
❓ Why did my jar not seal?
Check the rim for residue, use fresh lids, and ensure proper headspace.
❓ Is making 40 lbs of apple butter worth it?
Absolutely. It's a labor of love, but you'll have delicious apple butter all year long.
📄 Printable Recipe Card
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║ HOMEMADE APPLE BUTTER ║
║ 40 Pounds of Apples Transformed! ║
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YIELD: 12-14 pints | TIME: 10-12 hours | PROCESS: 15 min
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INGREDIENTS
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- 40 lbs apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
- 4 cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 4 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp ground cloves
- 1 tbsp ground allspice
- 2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tbsp salt
- 2 tbsp vanilla extract
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INSTRUCTIONS
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1. Prepare apples. Place in slow cooker.
2. Add sugars, vinegar, cinnamon, cloves, allspice,
nutmeg, and salt. Stir to combine.
3. Cover and cook on low for 10-12 hours, stirring
occasionally.
4. Remove from heat. Use an immersion blender to
puree until smooth. Stir in vanilla.
5. If too thin, cook uncovered until desired thickness.
6. Ladle into hot pint jars, leaving ¼ inch headspace.
Remove air bubbles. Wipe rims.
Add lids and rings finger-tight.
7. WATER BATH PROCESS:
- 0-1,000 ft: 15 minutes
- 1,001-3,000 ft: 20 minutes
- 3,001-6,000 ft: 25 minutes
- Above 6,000 ft: 30 minutes
8. Cool, check seals, and store.
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HOW TO SERVE
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✓ Toast and biscuits
✓ Pancakes and waffles
✓ Glaze for pork chops
✓ Cheese board
✓ Stirred into oatmeal
✓ Sandwich spread
✓ Swirled into ice cream
✓ Beautiful gift
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"Wife and I made 40 pound of apples into apple butter." 🍎🍞
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© CanningRebels — Homemade Apple Butter
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