Description
Homemade apple butter is a heartwarming spread that brings the essence of fall to your kitchen all year round. This easy recipe transforms fresh apples into a velvety, spiced delight that’s perfect for slathering on toast, drizzling over pancakes, or pairing with cheese for a sophisticated appetizer. With its rich caramelized flavor and fragrant spices like cinnamon and cloves, this homemade version outshines store-bought varieties. Best of all, it can be made from scratch on your stovetop in just a few hours, making it a fulfilling project that results in jars of deliciousness to share or gift.
Ingredients
- 4 lbs apples (about 10 small-medium apples)
- ½ cup apple juice (or cider)
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Core and chop the apples into chunks and place them in a large stock pot.
- Add apple juice, lemon juice, brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and salt to the pot and stir well.
- Cover and simmer over medium-low heat for 1-2 hours until the apples are very soft.
- Puree the mixture with an immersion blender until smooth.
- Return to heat and cook for an additional 30-60 minutes until thickened.
- Jar the hot apple butter in clean containers and seal tightly.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 90 minutes
- Category: Condiment
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
- Calories: 28
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 2mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 7g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: For an extra depth of flavor, mix sweet apples (like Fuji) with tart varieties (like Granny Smith). Adjust sugar levels based on your taste preferences or the sweetness of your apples. Use an immersion blender directly in the pot for ease and less cleanup.