How to Make Apple Butter (Easy Recipe with Canning Tips)

Apple butter is one of those magical foods that transforms simple apples into a rich, velvety spread bursting with warm spices and deep caramelized flavor. Unlike its name suggests, it contains no dairy—just slow-cooked apples that become so thick and smooth they spread like butter.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through every possible way to make apple butter, from old-fashioned methods to modern shortcuts. You’ll also learn storage tricks, creative uses, and answers to all the most-searched questions about apple butter.

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What Exactly Is Apple Butter?

Let’s clear up the confusion first. Apple butter isn’t butter at all—it’s essentially concentrated applesauce that’s been cooked down for hours until the natural sugars caramelize and the mixture turns a deep brown color. The slow cooking gives it that signature rich, almost smoky sweetness that makes it so addictive.

Why You’ll Love Homemade Apple Butter

• Better flavor than store-bought versions (no artificial ingredients!)
• Customizable sweetness and spice levels (make it exactly how you like)
• Great way to preserve apples when you have a big harvest
• Versatile in recipes (way more uses than just toast!)
• Naturally vegan and gluten-free

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Choosing the Best Apples for Apple Butter

Not all apples work equally well. The best apple butter comes from using a mix of sweet and tart varieties:

Top Apple Choices:

• Sweet apples (for natural sweetness): Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp
• Tart apples (for depth of flavor): Granny Smith, Braeburn, Jonathan
• Soft apples (break down easily): McIntosh, Cortland

Pro Tip: Using 2-3 different types gives the most complex flavor. Avoid very watery apples like Red Delicious—they make runny butter.

Do you want to know How to Make Buttermilk?

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How to Make Apple Butter from Scratch (Stovetop Method)

This is the classic way—simmering apples low and slow on the stove. It takes time but fills your home with an incredible aroma.

Ingredients:

• 5 lbs mixed apples (peeled, cored, chopped)
• 1 cup apple cider (or water)
• ¾ cup brown sugar (adjust to taste)
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• ¼ tsp cloves
• ¼ tsp allspice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
• Pinch of salt

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Prep the Apples
   • Wash, peel, and core the apples. Chop into 1-inch pieces (smaller pieces cook faster).

1. Cook Until Soft
   • In a large, heavy-bottomed pot (like Dutch oven), combine apples and cider.
   • Simmer over medium heat for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until apples are mushy.

1. Puree the Apples
   • Use an immersion blender right in the pot (or transfer to a food processor) until completely smooth.
2. Add Flavor
   • Stir in sugar, spices, vanilla, and salt.
3. The Long Simmer (This is Key!)
   • Reduce heat to low. Cook uncovered for 1.5-2 hours, stirring every 15 minutes to prevent sticking.
   • How to know it’s done: When a spoonful on a plate doesn’t release liquid around the edges.
4. Adjust & Store
   • Taste and add more sugar or spices if needed.
   • Let cool, then transfer to jars. Keeps 3 weeks refrigerated or 6 months frozen.

Why This Works: The extended cooking evaporates moisture and caramelizes the natural sugars, giving that deep flavor and thick texture.

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How to Make Apple Butter the Old-Fashioned Way

Before slow cookers and Instant Pots, apple butter was made outdoors in large copper kettles over wood fires, stirred for hours with long paddles. Here’s how to capture that traditional flavor at home:

What Makes It “Old-Fashioned”?

• Uses whole apples (peels and cores add natural pectin)
• Sweetened minimally (relies on apple’s natural sugars)
• Cooked very slowly (up to 12 hours!)

Ingredients:

• 8 lbs unpeeled apples (quartered, cores removed)
• 2 cups apple cider
• ½ cup honey or maple syrup (optional)
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tsp whole cloves

Instructions:

1. Cook Apples Down
   • In the largest pot you have, combine apples and cider. Simmer 2 hours until apples collapse.

1. Press Through a Sieve
   • Use a food mill or mesh strainer to remove peels and seeds, leaving smooth pulp.
2. Return to Heat
   • Add cinnamon sticks and cloves tied in cheesecloth (for easy removal).
3. Slow Reduction
   • Cook on lowest heat 6-8 hours, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half and very dark.
4. Sweeten & Finish
   • Remove spices. Stir in honey if using. Cook 1 more hour.

Tip: If you have a wood stove or fireplace, try simmering your pot there for authentic flavor!

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How to Make Apple Butter from Applesauce (Shortcut Method)

Got a jar of unsweetened applesauce? Transform it into apple butter in under an hour!

Ingredients:

• 4 cups unsweetened applesauce
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1½ tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• ¼ tsp allspice

Instructions:

1. Combine Ingredients
   • Mix everything in a saucepan.
2. Simmer
   • Cook over medium-low heat 45-60 minutes, stirring often, until thickened and darker in color.
3. Blend (Optional)
   • For ultra-smooth texture, blend with an immersion blender.

Uses: Great for quick gifts or when apples aren’t in season.

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How to Make Apple Butter in a Crock Pot (Easiest Method)

The slow cooker is perfect for apple butter—just set it and forget it!

Ingredients:

• 6 lbs apples (peeled, cored, sliced)
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• ¼ tsp cloves
• ½ tsp salt

Instructions:

1. Load the Slow Cooker
   • Pile apples in (they’ll shrink dramatically).
2. Cook on High
   • Cover and cook 4 hours until apples are soft.
3. Mash & Season
   • Use a potato masher or immersion blender. Add sugar and spices.
4. Cook Uncovered
   • Prop lid open with a wooden spoon. Cook on low 6-8 hours until thick.

Pro Tip: For deeper flavor, cook overnight on “warm” after the initial thickening.

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How to Make Apple Butter in an Instant Pot (Fastest Method)

From raw apples to finished butter in under 2 hours!

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs apples (peeled, cored, chopped)
• ½ cup apple juice
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg

Instructions:

1. Pressure Cook
   • Add apples and juice to Instant Pot. Cook on high pressure 8 minutes.
2. Quick Release
   • Carefully release steam.
3. Blend
   • Puree with immersion blender.
4. Sauté to Thicken
   • Add sugar and spices. Use sauté function 20-30 minutes, stirring often.

Why It Works: Pressure cooking breaks down apples instantly, then sautéing reduces the liquid.

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Troubleshooting Common Apple Butter Problems

Problem: Too Runny

• Fix: Keep cooking! Spread should hold its shape on a spoon.

Problem: Too Thick

• Fix: Stir in a little apple juice or water to loosen.

Problem: Bland Flavor

• Fix: Add a splash of lemon juice or more spices.

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Creative Ways to Use Apple Butter

Beyond toast, try:

• Swirled into oatmeal or yogurt
• Glaze for roasted meats (pork chops, chicken)
• Filling for pastries (mixed with cream cheese)
• Secret ingredient in BBQ sauce

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FAQs About Making Apple Butter

1. Can I make sugar-free apple butter?

Yes! Omit sugar or use sugar substitutes. The apples’ natural sweetness intensifies as they cook down.

2. How do I know when it’s done?

The “plate test”: Put a spoonful on a cold plate. If no liquid seeps out after 2 minutes, it’s ready.

3. Why did my apple butter turn out bitter?

Overcooked spices can turn bitter. Add them in the last hour of cooking next time.

4. Can I freeze apple butter?

Absolutely! Freeze in airtight containers for up to 6 months. Thaw in the fridge.

5. Is apple butter the same as applesauce?

No! Applesauce is simply cooked, pureed apples. Apple butter is cooked much longer until caramelized and spreadable.

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Final Thoughts

Whether you prefer the slow romance of the old-fashioned method or the speed of an Instant Pot, homemade apple butter is a rewarding project. Experiment with apple varieties and spice blends to make it your own.

Now it’s your turn! Which method will you try first? Share your apple butter adventures in the comments below.