This slow cooker apple butter is my answer to overly sweet, overly spiced apple butter. It is lightly sweetened with a touch of maple and lightly scented with vanilla bean (my favorite) and a few cinnamon sticks. A secret ingredient balances all the flavors and makes this the BEST apple butter, in my opinion. Go grab a big bushel of apples from your favorite orchard and make this slow cooker apple butter recipe asap! It will make your house smell better than any fall candle ever could.
What makes apple butter different from apple sauce?
Apple butter is very similar to apple sauce but it is spiced and sweetened more heavily and also cooked down longer to concentrate the flavors. It is often used as a spread rather than just eaten straight up like apple sauce. It can also be used in baked goods and other recipes like my Apple Butter Muffins, Apple Butter Caramel Swirl No Churn Ice Cream, and Apple Butter Puff Pastry Braid.
What are the best apples for apple butter?
I know I'm in the minority here, but I really don't think it matters too much! I do tend to prefer a more tart apple such as granny smith, pink lady, or honey crisp but for this recipe a sweeter, softer apple such as golden delicious, macintosh, fuji, or gala is nice. Just choose your favorites and feel free to do a combo!
My biggest problem with most apple butter recipes is that they are LOADED with sugar. If you use the right kind of apple, you really don't need any sugar at all. I went with some local empire apples that have just the right balance of sweet and tart. I used maple syrup to add just a bit of sweetness, and still just a fraction of the amounts most recipes call for. If you prefer it sweeter feel free to add in more maple syrup or sweetener of your choice.
What makes apple butter thick?
Apple butter is cooked down for several hours. During this long cooking time the moisture evaporates and the flavors concentrate, resulting in a thick, delicious apple butter.
This Slow Cooker Apple Butter recipe is SO easy
One reason it is so easy is that I do not peel my apples for apple butter recipe. The apples cook for so long and you will be blending them up with an immersion blender, food processor, or blender and I promise you will not even know the apple peels are in there.
To enhance the apple flavor I use some maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla, and my little twist is to add some acidity. Balanced flavors are so important to me and to my style of cooking. So in an effort to create a more balanced apple butter and to put my little twist on it, I add a splash of apple cider vinegar. It's a subtle difference, but so worth it.
Make this on a lazy weekend day, and enjoy the slow process and the wonderful aroma that will fill your house as it cooks. And while you're at it, make some homemade bread so you have something to slather this apple butter on when it's done! Might I suggest my homemade Honey White Sandwich Bread? That is the loaf pictured here and it is truly the best!
I like to lightly toast a nice thick slice, spread on some good, salted butter, and then add the apple butter on top. It is so, so good!
Looking for recipes that use this apple butter?
- Apple Butter Muffins
- Apple Butter Caramel Swirl No Churn Ice Cream
- Apple Butter Puff Pastry Braid
- Apple Cider Donuts - Buttermilk by Sam
I really hope you'll give this one a try. Let me know if you do! xo - Anita
More of my cozy fall dishes:
- Shepherd's Pie
- Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili Verde
- Slow Cooker White Bean and Sausage Stew
- Cream of Mushroom Soup
Slow Cooker Apple Butter
slow cooker apple butter flavored with real maple syrup and vanilla bean. The perfect way to use up the season's bounty!
- Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 cups
Ingredients
- 4 lbs apples, cored and chopped (choose a sweeter variety such as empire, fuji, or gala)
- ¼ cup real maple syrup
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 split vanilla bean
- ¼ teaspoon kosher or sea salt
- 1 cup apple juice or cider
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- place all ingredients in slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours until apples are very soft and falling apart.
- Remove cinnamon sticks and vanilla bean BEFORE blending.
- Transfer apples and juices to high powered blender or food processor, make sure to work in batches and do not overfill or you will risk burning yourself once you start blending. You can also use an immersion blender to blend them up right in the slow cooker.
- Blend until you have a nice, smooth consistency. I really let it go because I prefer a very smooth apple butter.
- Once it is all blended, return to slow cooker and continue to cook another 2-4 hours uncovered, stirring occasionally until you have a thick, jam like texture. It will firm up more after chilling as well.
- Transfer apple butter to jars or containers of your choice. I chose 6 8-ounce jars.
- I have successfully canned this, but please do your own research on safe canning methods. This also freezes very well.
Notes
no need to peel the apples! The skin adds a nice color to the apple butter and once they cook for so long and are blended, you will not notice any texture.
Add a splash of vanilla at the end of cooking if you don't have a vanilla bean.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: condiment
- Method: slow cooker
- Cuisine: american
Miranda says
This is sooo good!!! Never buying store bought again! How long is this good for in the fridge? If I freeze it do I just put in glass jars and straight to freezer? When I make jam I leave it out for 24hrs before freezing.
anita | wild thistle kitchen says
Hi there! I am so happy you love this apple butter recipe! It should keep for about a month in the refrigerator. I let it cool to room temperature before freezing or take it from the fridge to the freezer just because I'm afraid of jars cracking. If you are experienced with freezing jam I'm sure your method will work great! Thank you for this kind feedback!
Flora says
How long does this keep for/how do I store it please?
Carolyn says
I’m so excited to try this! Do you maybe have any guidance on if I could pressure cook instead of slow cook?
anita | wild thistle kitchen says
Hi! Yes I think you could pressure cook the mixture for 10 minutes or so to get everything softened, but then you'd still need to allow it time uncovered to reduce and thicken being sure to stir often to prevent sticking and burning. Let me know how it goes!
Cristina says
This came out absolutely delicious! I always bought apple butter, but this recipe was easy to make! Using my immersion blender made everything that much easier and made for a quick clean-up.
You'll never buy apple butter again after making this recipe!
anita | wild thistle kitchen says
This makes me so happy! Yes I agree an immersion blender makes the easiest, smoothest apple butter! And hooray for not having to peel all of those apples! Thank you my friend!