It’s that time of year again. Leaves are falling, the air is crisp and there’s still a little time left before winter. Fall is upon us, and what better way to embrace the season than by making some sumptuous, sweet apple butter.
The best thing about this recipe is that it’s a total breeze—aside from some basic prep work, the slow cooker does basically all the work for you. While the finished apple butter is delicious on biscuits, toast or even by itself, it can also stand in for some sweeteners in other recipes. Think apple-infused muffins or pancakes… the possibilities are endless, just don’t expect to keep something so delicious it in your house for very long. Here’s what you need:
INGREDIENTS:
- 5 1/2 pounds of green apples
- 4 cups of white sugar
- 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
INSTRUCTIONS:
First, make sure to peel, core and chop all 5 1/2 lbs of your apples. A nifty apple peeler like the one below will make your life a little easier here, though a manual peeler will work just as well.
Make sure your apple chunks are all cut into roughly one-inch cubes. Then, dump them all in the slow cooker.
In a bowl, combine the 4 cups sugar, 2 tsp of cinnamon, 1/4 tsp of ground gloves and 1/4 tsp of salt. Next, pour that dry mixture over the apples and mix it again to make sure all the pieces get covered. After that, cover the slow cooker and set it on high for an hour.
After that first hour, turn the heat down to low and cook it for nine to 11 hours with the cover still on. You’ll also want to check on it periodically during that time, stirring occasionally and making sure everything is turning thick, gloopy and delicious.
Once it’s thickened and dark brown, take the cover off the slow cooker and keep cooking it on low for an hour. Stir it with a whisk during this time, if you want, to make sure the apple butter’s texture is silky smooth.
Lastly, pour your caramelized apple butter into a container and let it cool off in the fridge. Once you’re ready, spread this deliciousness on whatever baked goods your little heart desires. Enjoy!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
