Homemade Apple Butter Recipe
This Homemade Apple Butter recipe transforms sweet apples and warm spices into a rich, thick spread perfect for toast, baking, or adding a cozy flavor to your favorite dishes. Slow-cooked to perfection in a heavy pot and blended until smooth, this apple butter offers a natural sweetness balanced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves for a comforting fall treat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: About 3 cups 1x
- Category: Condiment/Spread
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit
- 3 pounds sweet apples (Fuji, Braeburn, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, etc.)
Sweeteners
- ⅔ cup light brown sugar (packed)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
Spices & Flavorings
- 2 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- ¾ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Liquids
- ¾ cup apple juice (or apple cider, not cider vinegar)
Instructions
- Prepare the Apples: Peel, core, and chop the apples into small pieces to ensure even cooking and smooth pureeing later.
- Combine Ingredients: Place the chopped apples into a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot and add the light brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, lemon juice, and apple juice. Stir everything well to combine the flavors.
- Cook the Apples: Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the apples become soft and start breaking down, about 20 minutes.
- Puree the Mixture: Use an immersion blender directly in the pot to puree the softened apples into a smooth consistency. Alternatively, carefully transfer the mixture to a regular blender, blend until smooth, and return it to the pot.
- Simmer to Thicken: Reduce the heat to low and cook the apple puree, stirring occasionally to prevent splattering, for about 45 minutes or until the apple butter thickens to your desired consistency.
- Cool and Store: Allow the apple butter to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator where it will keep for several weeks or freeze for longer storage.
Notes
- Use a mix of sweet apples like Fuji and Braeburn for a balanced, naturally sweet flavor.
- Stir occasionally while simmering to prevent the apple butter from sticking to the pot and burning.
- If you prefer chunkier apple butter, puree only part of the mixture.
- Store apple butter in sterilized jars for longer shelf life if planning to keep it unrefrigerated.
- This recipe can be doubled or halved easily depending on quantity needed.
Keywords: apple butter, homemade apple spread, cinnamon apple butter, fall recipes, apple preserves
Find it online: https://kitchenbyclara.com/homemade-apple-butter-recipe/
