Crockpot Apple Butter
This easy, homemade Slow Cooker Apple Butter is sweet, warmly spiced and completely hands-off cooked in the crockpot. It's the perfect cozy fall spread for breakfast, on a snack board or as holiday host gift.
Servings 6 cups
Ingredients
- 6½ pounds apples peeled, cored, and sliced
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar lightly packed
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place the peeled, cored, and sliced apples into a 6- to 7-quart slow cooker.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and salt.
- Sprinkle the sugar mixture over the apples and toss until evenly coated.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 10–12 hours (or HIGH for 5–6 hours), stirring once or twice if possible, until the apples are very soft and caramelized.
- Stir in the fresh lemon juice and vanilla extract.
- Use an immersion blender to blend the mixture until completely smooth. (Alternatively, carefully transfer it to a blender in batches.)
- If you'd like a thicker apple butter, leave the slow cooker lid slightly ajar and cook on HIGH for an additional 30–60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Let cool before transferring to airtight jars or containers.
Notes
Storage:
- Store the apple butter in an airtight jar in the refrigerator up to 3 weeks.
- You can freeze the butter in freezer-safe containers for up to 6 months, leaving room at the top for expansion.
- For shelf-stable storage, process the butter in a water bath canner according to safe canning guidelines.