Smooth Slow Cooker Apple Butter

Here is my go-to slow cooker apple butter recipe, made with fresh fall apples, warm spices, and a touch of vanilla – all simmered together until it becomes perfectly smooth and spreadable.

This apple butter has become a fall tradition in our house, and I always make a big batch to give as gifts during the holidays. There’s something so cozy about walking into the kitchen and smelling the sweet aroma of apples and cinnamon slowly cooking away, don’t you think?

What Kind of Apples Should I Use?

For apple butter, you’ll want to use a mix of sweet and tart apples to create the perfect balance of flavors. Fuji, Honeycrisp, and Gala apples bring natural sweetness, while Granny Smith or Braeburn add a nice tartness that keeps your apple butter from being too sweet. The best part is that you don’t need perfect-looking apples – even slightly bruised ones will cook down beautifully in your slow cooker. Just make sure to pick apples that feel firm when squeezed and don’t have any soft spots or signs of mold. If you’re getting them from the grocery store, give them a quick sniff – they should smell fresh and apple-y.

Options for Substitutions

Making apple butter is pretty straightforward, but here are some helpful substitutions if you need them:

• Apples: You can use any cooking apples you have on hand. Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, or Granny Smith all work well. Mix and match different varieties for more complex flavor. Just avoid Red Delicious as they tend to become mushy.
• Sugars: Feel free to adjust the sugar amounts based on your taste and the sweetness of your apples. You can use all white sugar or all brown sugar instead of mixing them. For a natural option, try maple syrup or honey (use about 3/4 the amount called for).
• Fresh nutmeg: Ground nutmeg works just fine if you don’t have fresh – use the same amount. You can even skip it if you’re not a fan.
• Vanilla essence: Vanilla extract, vanilla bean paste, or even the seeds from one vanilla pod will work great here. If you’re out of vanilla completely, you can leave it out – the apple butter will still taste good!
• Spices: Don’t have all the individual spices? You can use 1.5 tablespoons of apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice instead of the cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest mistake when making apple butter is choosing the wrong type of apples – soft varieties like McIntosh or Red Delicious will turn to mush, so stick with firmer apples like Granny Smith, Fuji, or Honeycrisp that can withstand long cooking times. A common error is lifting the slow cooker lid too frequently, which releases essential heat and moisture, adding unnecessary cooking time – try to resist checking more than once every 2-3 hours. For the smoothest texture, don’t skip pureeing the mixture with an immersion blender once the apples are very soft, and remember to continue cooking uncovered for the last hour to help thicken your apple butter to the right consistency. To test if it’s ready, place a small amount on a cold plate – it should hold its shape without liquid separating around the edges.

What to Serve With Apple Butter?

Apple butter is one of those spreads that makes breakfast and snack time so much better! It’s perfect spread on warm buttermilk biscuits, English muffins, or your morning toast. For a quick and easy breakfast, try it swirled into plain yogurt or oatmeal with some chopped nuts on top. When I’m feeling fancy, I like to use it as a topping for pancakes or waffles instead of regular maple syrup, or spread it between layers of a simple pound cake. You can even pair it with cheese and crackers for an afternoon snack – it’s especially good with sharp cheddar or brie.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: Your homemade apple butter will stay good in the fridge for up to 3 weeks when stored in airtight jars or containers. Make sure to always use clean utensils when scooping it out to prevent any contamination. The flavors actually get even better after a day or two!

Can: For long-term storage, you can process your apple butter in a water bath canner. Pour the hot apple butter into sterilized jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace, and process for 10 minutes. Properly canned apple butter will keep for up to 1 year in a cool, dark place.

Freeze: If canning isn’t your thing, freezing works great too! Pour cooled apple butter into freezer-safe containers, leaving about 1/2 inch of space at the top for expansion. It’ll keep well in the freezer for up to 6 months. Just thaw overnight in the fridge when you’re ready to use it.

Preparation Time	15-20 minutes
Cooking Time	720-780 minutes
Total Time	735-800 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Medium

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 2900-3200
• Protein: 10-15 g
• Fat: 10-15 g
• Carbohydrates: 720-780 g

Ingredients

• 6 1/2 pounds apples (peeled, cored, and cut)
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon powder
• 1/2 teaspoon grated fresh nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon vanilla essence

Step 1: Prepare Apples and Spices

Begin by placing your prepared apples in the slow cooker.

In a medium bowl, mix together the sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.

Pour this sugar and spice mixture over the apples in the slow cooker.

Be sure to mix everything well so that the apples are evenly coated with the flavors.

Step 2: Cook the Apples

Set your slow cooker to low and let the apple mixture cook for about 10 hours.

Stir occasionally throughout the cooking process to ensure even cooking and to help break down the apples.

The mixture should become thickened and a dark brown color as it cooks.

Step 3: Add Vanilla and Continue Cooking

After the initial 10 hours, uncover the slow cooker and stir in the vanilla extract to enhance the flavor.

Continue cooking the mixture uncovered on low for about 2 more hours, allowing it to reduce further and thicken.

Step 4: Puree the Apple Butter

Once the cooking is completed and the apple mixture is rich and dark, use an immersion blender to puree the apple butter until it reaches a smooth consistency.

This step ensures that the apple butter will have a velvety texture.

Step 5: Store and Preserve

Spoon the apple butter into sterile containers.

Cover them tightly and refrigerate for up to two weeks.

Alternatively, you can freeze the apple butter for longer storage.

Ensure the containers are properly labeled with dates for easy tracking.

Step 6: Enjoy

The apple butter is now ready to be enjoyed.

Serve it on breads, muffins, or pork chops, or simply savor it by the spoonful as a delightful treat.