Homemade Apple Butter
Rich and creamy with just the right combination of sweet and tangy. Spread it on bread or toast, or use it as an ingredient in baked goods.
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Servings: 2 cups
Ingredients
- 4-5 large apples
- juice from 1/2 lemon
- 1/2 cup apple cider or apple juice substitution: water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Peel and dice the apples into small pieces.
- Add the lemon juice, apple cider, and sugar to a stove-top pot.
- Heat on medium-high, stirring occasionally for about 3 minutes until the sugar dissolves.
- Add apples and mix.
- Add vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and stir.
- Bring the apple mixture to a boil.
- Reduce it to a simmer, and cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.
- Remove it from the heat.
- Using an immersion blender, blend the mixture until it is completely smooth.
- Return it to the heat and cook on low for 20 minutes.
- It will continue to thicken and get darker in color.
- Allow the apple butter to cool completely.
- Store the apple butter in airtight jars in the refrigerator.
Notes
Krazy Kitchen Mom Tips
- A "pinch of salt" = 1/4 teaspoon.
- When using an immersion blender, keep the head of the immersion blender fully submerged in whatever you are blending. When making a small batch of something, transfer it to a taller container. To blend, move the blender keeping the blade submerged to avoid splatters.
- To double or triple this recipe, click 2x or x3 in the recipe card.
- Add it to a pancake mix or as a pancake topping with or without syrup.
- Spoon it on ice cream or yogurt.
- Apple butter makes a great sandwich spread, especially on ham sandwiches.
- Use it as an ingredient in cookies and cakes.
- It makes a wonderful BBQ sauce for turkey or chicken...think Thanksgiving!
- Mix it with some granola and spoon it on top of oatmeal.
- Just eat it with a spoon right out of the jar!