This Crockpot apple butter canning recipe is so easy to make. With just 5 minutes of prep and about 6 hours of cooking time, you'll get delicious Crockpot apple butter. This apple butter with applesauce is easy to make, and it makes a delicious spread for toast or biscuits.
Apple butter is an Amish country staple. It's served on the dinner table for bread or biscuits almost every night for dinner.
I love this apple butter with applesauce because it's so easy to make. Just dump the ingredients into a slow cooker and let the Crockpot do its magic.
This Crockpot apple butter makes a lot of apple butter, so you'll want to plan on freezing or canning the leftovers.
How to Make Crock Pot Apple Butter
I used to make my apple butter with fresh apples by cooking them for hours and then blending. However, now I make apple butter with applesauce.
In the fall, I make an applesauce canning recipe with my Victorio food strainer. The Victorio isn't available anymore, but I recommend this food strainer instead.
You can also make Instant Pot applesauce with honey and use that in this Crockpot apple butter canning recipe. I also make homemade apple fruit leather with my applesauce. I used applesauce in this easy apple pie bread recipe.
For more preserve recipes, check out these posts:
- Low Sugar Apple Jelly Recipe
- How Pepper Jelly Recipe
- Blueberry Jam Recipe
- Chia Seed Jam Recipe (With Any Fruit)
- Dandelion Jelly Recipe
- Instant Pot Orange Pomegranate Jelly
- Instant Pot Strawberry Jam
- Homemade Strawberry Applesauce Recipe
- Apple Pie Jam Recipe
- Pumpkin Butter Recipe From Scratch
Why is it Called Apple Butter?
There isn't any butter in this Crock Pot apple butter recipe. It's called apple butter because it's smooth and buttery.
Is Apple Butter the Same as Applesauce?
No, although this is apple butter with applesauce, and they are similar. Applesauce is cooked apples that were pureed. Sometimes people add sugar or cinnamon.
Apple butter, however, is made by cooking apples for a few hours. This makes the sugars caramelize, which gives this Crockpot apple butter canning recipe its rich flavor and dark color.
What Should Apple Butter Taste Like?
When it's done cooking, this apple butter with applesauce should taste like apples. It will have a more intense flavor because the water gets cooked off.
It will also taste like the spices that you use. It's not like a jelly in consistency, but it's often used like a jelly.
Which Apples are Best for Apple Butter?
If you make this apple butter with applesauce with store bought applesauce, you won't get to choose which apples were used. Just make sure that you get an unsweetened applesauce.
Good apples to use are Golden Delicious, Jonagold, McIntosh, or Fuji. Crisp apples will work, but you might need to cook your Crock Pot apple butter recipe longer.
Does Apple Butter Have a Lot of Sugar In It?
When you learn how to make Crock Pot apple butter, you might want to make it low sugar. This recipe uses both white sugar and brown sugar.
I don't add any additional sugar to my applesauce when I can it, so it's sugar free. You can use less sugar in this Crockpot apple butter canning recipe and add more sugar as needed.
You can also replace the sugar with a sugar substitute. You can use liquid stevia, monk fruit, or Splenda. This Crockpot apple butter canning recipe will still be safe with sugar substitutes.
How Do You Know When Apple Butter is Thick Enough?
To test this apple butter with applesauce to see if it's done, get a spoon full and hold it away from the steam for 2 minutes. If the apple butter holds it shape and remains rounded on the spoon, it is done. If it falls flat, cook it longer.
How Do You Thicken Apple Butter in a Crock Pot?
Cook your Crockpot apple butter for freezing in a slow cooker with the lid off. Be patient because it can take a while. If it gets too thick, simply add applesauce a little at a time and stir well.
Can You Add Pectin to Thicken Apple Butter?
You probably could use pectin to thicken your Crockpot apple butter canning recipe. However, I don't recommend it.
The longer your apple butter with applesauce cooks, the more the sugars in the apples carnalize. This is what gives apple butter its rich flavor.
How Do You Fix Burnt Apple Butter?
Your apple butter with applesauce shouldn't burn in a slow cooker, however sometimes the edges can get dark.
Make sure you stir your apple butter every hour. I have one slow cooker that boils things on high, so I would use medium or low to make my Crockpot apple butter for freezing.
If you do burn your apple butter, you might be able to save it. Try one of these methods:
- Do not stir the apple butter. Use a ladle to remove the apple butter that did not burn. Throw away the burnt apple butter and wash the crock. Then try again.
- Add more sugar or spices to disguise the burnt flavor.
- If there are specks of black in your apple butter, pour it through a fine mesh sieve to remove the burnt bits.
If that doesn't fix it, you can mix the burnt apple butter with BBQ sauce. Use on ribs or pork for a unique sauce recipe.
How Long Will Homemade Apple Butter Last?
You can store this Crock Pot apple butter recipe in the fridge for up to three months. You can also freeze it for up to a year.
How Long Does Apple Butter Last Canned?
Canned apple butter will last about two years if stored properly.
How to Eat Apple Butter
Apple butter is a staple in my area, but if you aren't sure how to use it, try it one of these ways:
- Spread on toast or biscuits.
- Stir a spoonful into oatmeal.
- Spread on pancakes or waffles.
- Use in place of applesauce in recipes.
- Brush on chicken or pork during the last few minutes of cooking.
Crock Pot Apple Butter Tips
Here are some tips for your slow cooker apple butter:
- You can use light brown sugar or dark brown sugar for this recipe.
- You can replace the sugars with monk fruit, raw honey, liquid stevia, or your preferred sugar substitute.
- You can use a stick blender to puree for a smoother apple butter.
- Replace the spices with 2.5 tablespoons apple pie spice.
Crock Pot Apple Butter Recipe Ingredients
You will need the following to make apple butter in a slow cooker:
- Unsweetened applesauce
- White sugar
- Brown sugar
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground allspice
- Ground nutmeg
- Ground cloves
How to Make Crock Pot Apple Butter
Step #1
Pour the applesauce, brown sugar, white sugar, and spices into a Crock Pot slow cooker. Stir well to combine.
Step #2
Cook uncovered on high for at least 6 hours. Stir it every hour or so. If it gets too hot around the edges, turn it to low or medium.
Step #3
When it's done cooking, let it cool completely and store in the fridge or use freezer containers to put it in the freezer.
If you are canning this apple butter, ladle hot apple butter into a hot jar. Leave a 1/4 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and wipe the rim of the jar. Add a lid and ring fingertip tight. Process in a water bath for 15 minutes or adjust for your altitude. Turn off the heat, remove the canner lid, and let sit for 5 minutes. Then remove jars and let cool for a day. Check the seal. Refrigerate any jars that did not seal.
Now you know how to make Crock Pot apple butter for canning or for freezing. Enjoy!
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Crockpot Apple Butter From Applesauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 cups unsweetened applesauce
- 2 cups white sugar
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tsp ground allspice
- 2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp ground cloves
Instructions
- Pour the applesauce, brown sugar, white sugar, and spices into a Crock Pot slow cooker. Stir well to combine.
- Cook uncovered on high for at least 6 hours. Stir it every hour or so. If it gets too hot around the edges, turn it to low or medium.
- When it's done cooking, let it cool completely and store in the fridge or use freezer containers to put it in the freezer.
- If you are canning this apple butter, ladle hot apple butter into a hot jar. Leave a 1/4 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and wipe the rim of the jar. Add a lid and ring fingertip tight. Process in a water bath for 15 minutes or adjust for your altitude. Turn off the heat, remove the canner lid, and let sit for 5 minutes. Then remove jars and let cool for a day. Check the seal. Refrigerate any jars that did not seal.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
53.05Fat (grams)
0.06Sat. Fat (grams)
0.02Carbs (grams)
13.79Fiber (grams)
0.41Net carbs
13.38Sugar (grams)
13.01Protein (grams)
0.07Sodium (milligrams)
2.16Cholesterol (grams)
0.00This is for 10nservings per loaf.
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