This Apple Butter Recipe is healthy, delicious, and so easy to make in a slow cooker! Despite its title, there is no butter or any other kind of fat in it; it’s pure apple goodness at its best. Apple Butter is just the thing for spreading on toast, muffins, pancakes, and in lieu of the jelly for PB&J’s. In This Article Why This Recipe Stands OutKey Recipe IngredientsSubstitutions And VariationsStep-By-Step Recipe InstructionsHow To Prep AheadCommonly Asked QuestionsApple Butter Recipe RecipeMore to Cook And Eat View more This post may contain affiliate links, at no additional cost to you. Why This Recipe Stands Out We’re always looking for ways to use up our apple-picking haul, and this apple butter recipe is one of our favorite apple recipes. Here’s why: Perfect Fall Flavors: The combination of fresh apples and fall spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves is a match made in heaven, as in our Upside Down Apple French Toast Bake! No Preservatives: We love making our own spreads and sauces because we know exactly what goes into them. This apple butter is all-natural, like our Homemade Cranberry Sauce. Goes Well with Everything: Spread it on toast, muffins, pancakes, waffles, or use it in place of jelly in a PB&J – the possibilities are endless. Great for Gifting: Need a thoughtful gift for a friend or neighbor? A jar of this apple butter is just the thing, like our Lemon Curd. Make-Ahead: This apple butter will keep in the fridge for several weeks, so you can easily make it in advance. Key Recipe Ingredients Apples – The star of our recipe, apples, are rich in natural pectin, which helps to thicken the apple butter as it cooks. We recommend using a mix of sweet and tart apples for a more complex flavor. Light Brown Sugar – We use light brown sugar to sweeten the apple butter and add a subtle caramel note. Make sure to pack it lightly for the right amount of sweetness. Ground Cinnamon – Cinnamon is a classic spice that pairs beautifully with apples. It adds warmth and depth to the apple butter. Ground Nutmeg and Cloves – These two spices are used in small amounts to add a hint of earthiness and warmth to the apple butter. Be sure to use freshly ground nutmeg for the best flavor. Substitutions And Variations This homemade apple butter recipe is already pretty perfect, but here are a few variations and substitutions to try: Apples: You can use any variety of apples, we love mixing sweet and tart apples for a well-balanced flavor. You can also try this recipe with pears or a combination of apples and pears. Spices: The combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves gives this apple butter its classic flavor, but you can definitely play around with the spices. Try adding a dash of allspice, cardamom, or even a bit of ground ginger. Extract: You can omit the vanilla extract, or substitute it with almond extract for a different flavor profile. Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions Combine sugar and spices in a bowl. Add the spice mixture to the apples in a slow cooker and cook on low for 10 hours. Stir in vanilla and cook for an additional 2 hours. Puree the mixture until smooth and creamy. Store in clean jars and refrigerate. For full list of ingredients and instructions, see recipe card below. How To Prep Ahead Take a look at some of our favorite prep-ahead strategies for this apple butter recipe: Prep Apples Beforehand: You can save time on the day of cooking by prepping the apples ahead of time. Peel, core, and slice the apples, then store them in an airtight container in the fridge until you’re ready to use them. Premix Spices: Sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt can be pre-mixed and stored in an airtight container at room temperature several days in advance. Entirely Make Ahead: Apple butter will keep in the fridge for several weeks in an airtight container, such as a mason jar. So feel free to make it entirely in advance for when the craving strikes! This homemade apple butter is made with fresh apples, fall spices, and brown sugar. No preservatives here! Commonly Asked Questions What types of apples are best for making apple butter? We recommend using a mixture of apples for the best flavor. We love Honeycrisp, Fuji, Golden Delicious, McIntosh, or Braeburn.  Do I need to add liquid to the slow cooker? No, you don’t need to add any liquid to the slow cooker. The apples will release their own juices as they cook, and the slow cooking process will concentrate the flavors. Why do I need to cook the apple butter uncovered for an additional 2 hours? Cooking the apple butter uncovered for an additional 2 hours to allow excess moisture to evaporate and for the apple butter to thicken further. This will give it a more concentrated flavor and a smooth, spreadable texture. How long does homemade apple butter keep? Homemade apple butter can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. It can also be frozen for up to 6 months. Print Apple Butter Recipe This homemade Apple Butter is smooth, creamy, and velvety. Super healthy, delicious, and perfect for spreading on toast, muffins, pancakes, and for PBJ’s. Course SnackCuisine AmericanDiet Gluten Free, Low Lactose, VeganMethod crock pot, Slow Cooker Prep Time 5 minutes minutesCook Time 12 hours hoursTotal Time 12 hours hours 5 minutes minutes Servings 40 Calories 68kcal Author Amy Dong Ingredients6 lbs apples peeled, cored, and sliced1 ½ cup light brown sugar lightly packed1 TB ground cinnamon½ tsp ground nutmeg¼ tsp ground cloves¼ tsp table salt1 TB pure vanilla extract InstructionsIn a bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Whisk to combine. Place apples into slow cooker and toss with spice mixture. Cook on low for 10 hours, stirring occasionally, until mixture is thickened and dark brown.Uncover and stir in vanilla. Continue cooking, uncovered, for 2 more hours on low.Either use an immersion blender or transfer apple butter to a blender. Puree just until smooth and creamy. Transfer to clean jars, cover, and keep chilled for several weeks. Notes Mix and match apple varieties for a more complex and balanced flavor in your apple butter.  We love Honeycrisp, Fuji, Golden Delicious, McIntosh, or Braeburn.  Servings are an estimate; this recipe makes roughly 4-5 cups. The amount of servings vary, depending on how you use it.  Use apple butter on toast, English muffins, pancakes, or stirred into oatmeal.  Apple butter will keep in the fridge for several weeks in an airtight container, such as a mason jar.    If you enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating. We hearing from you!  Join our Free Recipe Club and get our newest, best recipes each week! NutritionCalories: 68kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 18mg | Potassium: 85mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 37IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 0.2mg More to Cook And Eat Best Apple Pie with All Butter Flaky Crust – This is hands-down the Best Apple Pie recipe featuring a filling loaded with just the right amount of apples and sweetness. Apple Cake with Caramel – This caramel apple cake is such a gem. It’s super moist, tender, and brimming with warm spices and plummy apples. Apple Cookies (With Caramel) – Soft and chewy, these apple cookies envelop your tastebuds in warmth and joy. The caramel drizzle on top is just enough flair to make them extra special! Stuffing with Sausage and Apples – If you’re looking for the most mouthwatering homemade stuffing recipe, you’ll be greatly rewarded for making this apple sausage stuffing. 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