How to Make Apple Butter From Scratch

Apple season has arrived, which means it’s officially time for apple picking at a local orchard, fall baking and enjoying plenty of delicious, apple-packed treats. Looking for a new way to cook with the sweet seasonal fruit (and make your whole kitchen smell like fall)? Go beyond classic apple pies and tarts and learn how to make apple butter for spreading on biscuits, scones and toast, topping ice cream, or baking into desserts for a little extra autumn flavor.

See more: 17 Irresistible Apple Recipes for Fall

What Is Apple Butter?

Contrary to its name, apple butter doesn’t actually contain any butter at all. Instead, it’s a highly concentrated form of applesauce that can be used like butter as a spread for bread and other baked goods. Slow cooking apples with sugar, cinnamon and other spices for a long period of time yields a perfectly smooth, thick apple butter that’s full of warm fall flavor.

See more: 6 Apple Orchards to Visit This Fall

What You’ll Need to Make Apple Butter

After stocking up on apples at a local orchard, farmers market or grocery store, you’ll only need a few more basic ingredients and supplies to whip up your own homemade apple butter. Here’s a list of everything you’ll need:

• Fresh apples (Any kind of apples will work, but softer varieties like Fuji, Golden Delicious or McIntosh will cook down faster.)
• Granulated sugar
• Brown sugar
• Cinnamon and other favorite fall spices, if desired, such as nutmeg or cloves
• Vanilla extract
• Salt
• Slow Cooker
• Blender

How to Make Apple Butter

1. Prepare your apples: Peel, core and chop your apples.
2. Measure out your ingredients: For every 6 pounds of apples (which will yield about 4 pints of apple butter), measure 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon cinnamon, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
3. Add more of your favorite spices: You can use cinnamon alone or add more of your favorite fall spices, such as nutmeg and cloves. Measure about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of each if following the measurements in step 2 for a 4-pint yield.
4. Cook the apples: In a slow cooker, combine the apples with all the other ingredients except the vanilla extract. Cover and cook on low for about 10 hours, stirring every once in a while. Uncover, add the vanilla extract, and continue cooking on low for about 2 to 3 more hours.
5. Blend: Transfer apple mixture to a blender or use an immersion blender to blend the apples until completely smooth. Enjoy immediately or transfer to glass jars for storage. Store leftover apple butter in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer.

See more: How to Make Your Own Pumpkin Spice

How to Use Apple Butter

Now that you’ve whipped up a big batch of apple butter, how do you use it? Here are a few ideas:

• Spread it on toast, biscuits or English muffins to add a little fall flavor to your everyday breakfast.
• Add a dollop to a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert.
• Bake it into fall desserts like Apple Butter Cake, Apple Blondies with Cinnamon Maple Glaze or Apple Butter Bars.