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jars of apple butter and fresh apples on wooden surface

Slow Cooker Apple Butter

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5 from 3 reviews

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)
  • 1/4 cup real maple syrup
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 split vanilla bean
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
  • 1 cup apple juice or cider
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Instructions

  1. place all ingredients in slow cooker and cook on high for 4 hours until apples are very soft and falling apart.
  2. Remove cinnamon sticks and vanilla bean BEFORE blending.
  3. 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.
  4. Blend until you have a nice, smooth consistency. I really let it go because I prefer a very smooth apple butter.
  5. 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.
  6. Transfer apple butter to jars or containers of your choice. I chose 6 8-ounce jars.
  7. 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.