Slow Cooker Apple Butter

Tuesday, September 3, 2024
If you’re a big apple lover and craving some warm flavors of fall, this homemade apple butter in a slow cooker is the ultimate apple spread you'll find.

Made with easy-to-find, simple pantry ingredients, assorted fresh apples, this slow-cooked spread transforms into a rich, velvety butter bursting with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.

The best part? Your crockpot does all the work, filling your home with an irresistible aroma while you go about your day.

Unlike store-bought versions, this apple butter is naturally sweet, easily customizable, and free from preservatives.

Whether you’re spreading it on toast, swirling it into oatmeal, or topping it on a slice of pound cake, this apple butter is perfect.

Plus, apple butter is makes it hard to buy folks the best gift during the holidays, this recipe is a must-have for anyone who loves easy, homemade comfort food.

a mason jar full of apple butter, apples, serving utensils, crackers and cinnamon stick





a little red crock of apple butter


Why You Will Love This Recipe

  • Hands-off cooking: Let the slow cooker do the magic
  • Deep, caramelized flavor: Long cooking creates a rich taste
  • Budget-friendly: Perfect for using up extra apples
  • Freezer & gift-friendly: Great for make-ahead and holidays
peeled, cored and and sliced apples for making apple butter


Easy Alternatives and Variations!

  • No sugar version: Skip added sugar for a naturally sweet spread
  • Spice variations: Add allspice, cardamom, or pumpkin spice
  • Maple apple butter: Replace sugar with maple syrup
  • Chunky style: Skip blending for a rustic texture
  • Instant Pot option: Use sauté plus the slow cook function to speed things up

New York State Mcintosh bag of apples


Apple Butter Serving Suggestions

  1. a topping for pork chops
  2. use apple butter as a dipping sauce for sliced apples
  3. top yogurt and add granola on top
  4. add to cereal 
  5. toasted bread, toasted baguette bread, bagels, English muffins
  6. serve on warm muffins 
  7. serve as a topping on chicken cutlets
  8. Slow-cook a pork roast with apple butter on top
  9. use as a spread on crackers
  10. fill baked cakes
  11. use this as a filling for cookies or trifle desserts
  12. if a recipe calls for applesauce, substitute this apple butter
  13. add on top of a scoop of homemade ricotta cheese over toasted bread or a bagel
  14. serve these as a side dish with any meat or seafood topping
  15. serve these as an appetizer board as a dip
  16. serve with sausage as a breakfast side dish
  17. serve on French toast, raisin bread
  18. serve as a topping for pancakes or waffles


slow cooker for apple butter recipe


Tips for Making the Best Apple Butter

  1. Use a mix of apples: Combine sweet (Fuji, Gala) and tart (Granny Smith) for depth
  2. Don’t rush the cook time: Low and slow creates that deep brown color and flavor
  3. Leave the lid slightly ajar (at the end): Helps thicken the butter faster
  4. Blend for smoothness: Use an immersion blender for that silky texture
  5. Adjust sweetness last: Taste after cooking, apples vary naturally

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Here are some Gifting Ideas

  • Gift Ideas:  Add apple butter to mini mason jars with ribbon + tag
  • Make a gift basket (apple butter + bread + apples)
  • Breakfast box ( add some pancake mix, syrup, coffee)
  • Charcuterie bundle (cheese, crackers, nuts),  Sampler trio (different flavored apple butters)
  • Packaging Ideas:  Fabric jar toppers,  Twine + kraft tags,  Add cinnamon stick or rosemary 
  • Custom labels or stickers Tie with a tea towel
  • Creative Uses: Baby showers, Wedding showers, or party favors (small jars)
  • Holiday treat boxes,  Hostess gift with bread + knife.  Pair with homemade baked goods
  • Tips:  Use small jars (more giftable),  Label with date + storage info,  Include serving ideas or recipe card.


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apple recipes, apple butter recipes
American
Yield: 60
Author: Claudia Lamascolo
Slow Cooker Apple Butter

Slow Cooker Apple Butter

Slow-cooker Apple Butter is delicious, and we have several serving suggestions. Just slice then add the ingredients, set it, and forget it!

Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 12 HourTotal time: 12 H & 15 M

Ingredients

  • 6 1/2 pounds of apples, cored, peeled, and thinly sliced
  • Note: ( I use McIntosh, Granny Smith, Fuji, and Honey Crisp, which also works great)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup light brown sugar, leveled and loosely packed
  • Optional for Fall Flavors (or Leave Apple Butter Plain): 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon,1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg,1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves, or use just 1 tablespoon of pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Oil the liner of a 5 to 7-quart slow cooker.
  2. Place the apples in a slow cooker.
  3. Add the sugars, any spices if using, and salt in a plastic bag or bowl and mix them, blending evenly.
  4. Note: Vanilla is added after the mixture has cooked for 8 hours. See the rest of this recipe below.
  5. Sprinkle the sugar mixture over the apples and toss together.
  6. Place the cooker on low for 10 hours.
  7. Stir every half hour if possible, and slow cook until this mixture turns brown.
  8. Take the cover off, stir in vanilla, and continue cooking uncovered on low for about 2 hours.
  9. Cool the apple butter until it is warm to the touch.
  10. Puree the apples in a food processor until smooth.
  11. Once cooled, this can be stored in little or large glass mason jars for the refrigerator, plastic ziplock bags, or plastic containers for freezing (for up to 5 months).
  12. Refrigerate for up to two weeks or freeze in plastic bags or containers.
  13. Serve on yogurt, spread on cinnamon raisin bread, toast, or bagels, as a topping for cereal, muffins, dessert filling for cakes, in trifles, and pork chops, or other savory style meats that it will complement.

Notes

Apple Butter Serving Suggestions

  1. a topping for pork chops
  2. use apple butter as a dipping sauce for sliced apples
  3. top yogurt and add granola on top
  4. add to cereal 
  5. toasted bread, toasted baguette bread, bagels, English muffins
  6. serve on warm muffins 
  7. serve as a topping on chicken cutlets
  8. Slow-cook a pork roast with apple butter on top
  9. use as a spread on crackers
  10. fill baked cakes
  11. use this as a filling for cookies or trifle desserts
  12. if a recipe calls for applesauce, substitute this apple butter
  13. add on top of a scoop of homemade ricotta cheese over toasted bread or a bagel
  14. serve these as a side dish with any meat or seafood topping
  15. serve these as an appetizer board as a dip
  16. serve with sausage as a breakfast side dish
  17. serve on French toast, raisin bread
  18. serve as a topping for pancakes or waffles



Here are some Gifting Ideas

  • Gift Ideas: Add apple butter to mini mason jars with ribbon + tag
  • Make a gift basket (apple butter + bread + apples)
  • Breakfast box ( add some pancake mix, syrup, coffee)
  • Charcuterie bundle (cheese, crackers, nuts), Sampler trio (different flavored apple butters)
  • Packaging Ideas: Fabric jar toppers, Twine + kraft tags, Add cinnamon stick or rosemary 
  • Custom labels or stickers Tie with a tea towel
  • Creative Uses: Baby showers, Wedding showers or party favors (small jars)
  • Holiday treat boxes, Hostess gift with bread + knife. Pair with homemade baked goods
  • Tips: Use small jars (more giftable), Label with date + storage info, Include serving ideas or recipe card.


Tips for Making the Best Apple Butter

  1. Use a mix of apples: Combine sweet (Fuji, Gala) and tart (Granny Smith) for depth
  2. Don’t rush the cook time: Low and slow creates that deep brown color and flavor
  3. Leave the lid slightly ajar (at the end): Helps thicken the butter faster
  4. Blend for smoothness: Use an immersion blender for that silky texture
  5. Adjust sweetness last: Taste after cooking, apples vary naturally


Easy Alternatives and Variations!

  • No sugar version: Skip added sugar for a naturally sweet spread
  • Spice variations: Add allspice, cardamom, or pumpkin spice
  • Maple apple butter: Replace sugar with maple syrup
  • Chunky style: Skip blending for a rustic texture
  • Instant Pot option: Use sauté plus the slow cook function to speed things up


Nutrition Facts

Calories

53

Fat (grams)

0 g

Sat. Fat (grams)

0 g

Carbs (grams)

14 g

Fiber (grams)

1 g

Net carbs

13 g

Sugar (grams)

12 g

Protein (grams)

0 g

Sodium (milligrams)

11 mg

Cholesterol (grams)

0 mg

The default measuring system for this website is US Customary. Unit conversions are provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. While we strive to provide accurate unit conversions, please be aware that there may be some discrepancies.

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Pin for later apple butter made in a slow cooker then added to mason jars


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