Crock Pot Apple Butter {Just 7 Simple Ingredients}

Learn how to make a small-batch crock pot apple butter. This warmly-spiced apple jam captures all of the flavors of fall; cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. It is great on biscuits and scones, stirred into a bowl of warm oatmeal, served with a cheese board, or packaged as a gift. Despite the name, crock pot apple butter is dairy-free.

While most people are going crazy over pumpkin-spice everything, I’m just not a super fan. Apples are my favorite fall flavor. Apple cider, Apple pie, apple crisp, and a hot toddy to name a few but it’s this small-batch Apple Butter that’s my absolute favorite.

What is Apple butter, anyway?

Despite the name, apple butter is actually dairy-free and contains no butter or dairy whatsoever. Its name is actually derived from its smooth spreadability similar to that of butter. In actuality, apple butter (also known as apple jam)  is just a thicker, more spiced version of apple sauce.  

How to Make Crock Pot Apple Butter

** You can find the full recipe ingredients and instructions on the printable recipe card below.

1. Peel and core apples. Place apples in the slow cooker [paid link].
2. Cook on LOW for 12 hours.
3. Continue to cook on low with the lid removed so that steam can escape and thicken the sauce.
4. Blend to your desired consistency. I prefer old-fashioned smooth.
5. Allow to cool, then spoon into jars and store in the refrigerator.

Ingredients for Crock Pot Apple Butter

** You can find the full recipe ingredients and instructions on the printable recipe card below.

• Apples
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Cloves
• Granulated Sugar
•  Brown Sugar
• Salt

What are the best apples for apple butter?

The best apples for this recipe will always be whichever varieties are your favorite! You can (and should) mix and match apple varieties to make this jam. Since apples cook down at different rates, they will yield different textures when you puree the apples. That being said, softer apples are typically used since they cook down the quickest. However, I prefer, a 50-50 blend of tart granny smith apples with a blend of sweeter apples like honey crisp and fuji apples. Other varieties typically used are Braeburn, McIntosh, and golden delicious.

What are the uses for Apple Butter

The list here is pretty much endless. 

• Toast, biscuits, bagels, or scones
• Stirred into warm oatmeal
• Topped on Pancakes
• Accompanying a cheese & bread board
• Add as a glaze to pork chops
• Made into a BBQ sauce and glazed on chicken and pork
• Make Frozen Apple Pie Ice Cream – YUMM!
• Add to baked goods like Apple Butter Cake Roll or Apple Butter Snickerdoodles
• Packaged as a hostess gift

FAQs

Crock Pot Apple Butter

Ronda Eagle | Kitchen Dreaming

Learn how to make a small batch of homemade apple butter using a crock-pot or slow cooker. This warmly-spiced apple jam captures all of the flavors of fall; cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. It is great on biscuits and scones, stirred into a bowl of warm oatmeal, served with a cheese board, or packaged as a gift. Despite the name, crock pot apple butter is dairy-free.

5 from 2 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 30 mins

Cook Time 12 hrs

Total Time 12 hrs 30 mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 64 (1 Tablespoons) Servings

Calories 191 kcal

Ingredients

  

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• 6 pounds granny smith , or Fuji apples, peeled, cored and sliced
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

 

• Place apples in slow cooker. In a medium bowl, whisk together the sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt. Sprinkle over the apples and stir gently to combine. Cook on LOW for 12 hours.
• Remove cover and blend until smooth.
• If you prefer a thicker apple butter, continue to cook on low with the lid removed so that steam can escape and thicken the sauce.
• Allow to cool, then spoon into jars and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or freeze for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cupCalories: 191kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 78mgPotassium: 203mgFiber: 4gSugar: 44gVitamin A: 93IUVitamin C: 8mgVitamin E: 1mgVitamin K: 4µgCalcium: 27mgFolate: 5µgIron: 1mgZinc: 1mg

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