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If you’ve ever gone apple picking, you know how quickly a basket of apples can turn into way too many. That’s when I make this easy homemade apple butter recipe! A simple, healthy spread that comes together with just a few ingredients and a pot on the stove.
Table of Contents
Whenever we go apple picking, I always set out with an adventurous spirit thinking I’m going to get home and crank out batches of classic apple pies, apple pie turnovers, apple almond cakes, etc… and then I get home. I’m so exhausted from a long day that I just want to rest on the couch. Still, what to do with all those apples? Apple Butter!
Why I Love This Recipe
- Easy & Healthy: Just a handful of wholesome ingredients, no refined sugar needed. Just like my Baked Apples recipe!
- Naturally Sweet: Apples cook down with cinnamon and a splash of apple cider until they’re rich and flavorful. If you prefer pears, try my Pear Apple Butter!
- Versatile: Spread it on Quick Oatmeal Pancakes, swirl into Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal, or use as a dip for cooked meats like pork or turkey!
The Ingredients
- Apples: I like to do a mix of sweet and tart apples (think Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, or Granny Smith), but any apples you have on hand work great!
- Cinnamon: Adds that warmth and depth to the apple butter.
- Apple juice, apple cider, or water: Keeps the apples moist as they cook down.
- Optional Sweetener: If your apples aren’t very sweet, add a touch of honey or maple syrup.
How to Make Easy Homemade Apple Butter
Step 1 – Prep the Apples: Peel, core, and chop your apples.
Step 2 – Cook: Place apples, cinnamon, and juice in a saucepan over low heat. Cover and cook for about 20 minutes, or until fork-tender.
Step 3 – Mash: Smash with a potato masher or the back of a spoon. Leave it slightly chunky or puree if you prefer a smoother texture.
Step 4 – Cool & Serve: Let cool, then store in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Tips and Tricks
- Choose the Right Apples: Combining sweet and tart varieties gives the best apple butter flavor in my opinion, but test different varieties to see what you prefer!
- Smooth or Chunky: We like some chunks in our apple butter, but if you want it super silky smooth, blend in a food processor or with an immersion blender.
- Storage: Keep homemade apple butter in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months.
FAQs
Apple butter is cooked longer than applesauce, making it thicker, creamier, and more intensely flavored.
Not necessarily! If you use naturally sweet apples, this recipe becomes a healthy apple butter recipe without added sugar. You can always add honey or maple syrup if you like it sweeter.
Sure! Leaving the peels on adds fiber and nutrients. Blend well at the end for a smoother finish.
You can keep homemade apple butter in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
More Easy Apple Recipes
If you’ve got extra apples this fall, skip the pie and make this simple, healthy apple butter recipe instead. It’s cozy, kid-friendly, and comes together with just a few ingredients. Try it once, and I promise you’ll always want a jar in the fridge! If you love it, leave a comment and rating below to let me know!
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Apple Butter
Ingredients
- 2 apples, peeled, cored and chopped (I like to use Gala, Pink Lady, or Fuji)
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon apple juice, apple cider or water
- optional: maple syrup or honey, to taste if needed
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in a sauce pan over low heat.
- Cover and cook for 20 minutes, or until apples are fork tender.
- Smash apples with a potato masher or back of a spoon. We like some chunks, but if you prefer a smoother texture, puree in a food processor or with an immersion blender.
- Cool and serve.
Notes
- Storage: Keep homemade apple in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months.
Love making homemade apple sauce and apple butter (though usually big batches in the kettle or crockpot!). I like this recipe for a small-batch serving. For either apple sauce or butter, the key to the best flavor is definitely to use several varieties of apples together.
I’ve made this recipe several times with green & red apples, today did it today with peeled (not-sour) green apples and pears (2 pears, 4 apples)… so good, the best yet I think even though I burned it 🙂
So happy you love this one!
Hi . if we add a bit of sugar and few lemon drops apple butter could serve as apple jam .
Great idea!
Do you peel the apples?
I do, but you don’t have to! You can puree with the peels after cooking to make the apple butter more smooth.