In the realm of culinary delights, apple butter stands out as a classic American comfort food, capturing the essence of autumn's bounty. With its rich amber hue, smooth texture, and tantalizing blend of sweet and tart flavors, apple butter has earned a cherished place in kitchens across the nation. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a novice venturing into the world of homemade preserves, the quest for the perfect apple butter recipe can be an exciting and rewarding journey. Let's delve into the art of crafting this delectable treat, exploring various techniques, ingredient choices, and tips to achieve the ultimate apple butter perfection.
Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!
APPLE BUTTER
I grew up in the Mohawk Valley of Upstate New York, where apples abounded. In the autumn, we'd go to one of the local orchards to pick our own. The one surefire way to conjure up the flavor of the apples of my youth is by cooking them down into a rich, smooth apple butter. Slathered on an English muffin or swirled into a warming bowl of morning oatmeal, it transports me back in a single bite. Best of all, apple butter is possibly the easiest preserves to make. You don't even have to peel or core the apples, and you can do the entire thing in your slow cooker. Sealed up in half-pint jars, I can always have some on hand when I want to relive those chilly mornings among the apple orchards.
Provided by Sean Timberlake
Categories condiment
Time 4h35m
Yield 6 cups
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Thoroughly wash apples. If they seem waxy, scrub with a produce brush. Organic apples are recommended since you will be cooking them with the skins on. Quarter the apples and add them to your slow cooker. Add apple cider vinegar and cider or juice. Cook, covered, until the apples are soft.
- Mash the apples with a potato masher until thoroughly pulped. Run the pulp through a food mill to catch the skins and seeds, passing a puree. If you do not have a food mill, press the pulp through a sieve.
- Add dark brown sugar, maple syrup, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching, until the apple butter darkens and it mounds on a spoon. Adjust sweetness and seasonings to taste. Store in the refrigerator for a month or water bath can for 15 minutes and store in a cool, dark place for up to a year.
OUR APPLE BUTTER
My 9-year-old son said 'Mom, you have to share this with America!' It's a huge hit at our house and easy to make.
Provided by Shellie
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Canning and Preserving Recipes Fruit Butter Recipes
Time 9h15m
Yield 44
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Blend apples in batches in a blender until no large chunks remain.
- Combine blended apples, white sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger in a slow cooker.
- Cook uncovered on High for 1 hour. Place cover on slow cooker and continue cooking, stirring about twice per hour, until smooth, 6 to 8 hours. Remove the cover and continue cooking and stirring until thick and spreadable, 2 to 4 hours.
- Spoon into jars leaving about an inch of space at the top; seal and freeze.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 58.5 calories, Carbohydrate 15.1 g, Fat 0.1 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 0.2 g, Sodium 1.7 mg, Sugar 13 g
CHEF JOHN'S APPLE BUTTER
Move over, apple sauce. Apple butter is basically a spreadable apple pie filling, only better. Though cooking time is long, it's super easy and pretty hands-free. Pair it with some sharp Cheddar on a cheese plate, or slather it onto cheesy biscuits (see footnote). Other approved uses include spreading between the layers of a spice cake, filling seasonably appropriate thumbprint cookies, or even as a condiment for pork chops.
Provided by Chef John
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Canning and Preserving Recipes Fruit Butter Recipes
Time 10h15m
Yield 32
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Place apple pieces into a large slow cooker. Add white sugar, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and vinegar. Add a splash of water and mix well.
- Cover and cook on High until apples are starting to soften and release liquid, 1 to 2 hours. Reduce heat to Low and cook, uncovered, until all the apple flesh is dissolved, 5 to 6 hours. Stir occasionally.
- Puree using an immersion blender until smooth. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until darkened and thick, about 4 hours more. Pass apple butter through a strainer if desired. Seal in a glass container and refrigerate until cool.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 81.8 calories, Carbohydrate 21.8 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 0.2 g, Sodium 74.5 mg, Sugar 20 g
SUPREME APPLE BUTTER
This is the ultimate apple butter recipe given to me by a former English teacher who loves to cook. It reminds me of fall and tastes heavenly. It's sweet, but not too sweet. It is just perfect. It tastes great on muffins, pancakes and vanilla ice cream.
Provided by A. Parker
Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes Canning and Preserving Recipes Fruit Butter Recipes
Time 4h25m
Yield 48
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In a large saucepan, bring apple juice concentrate, apple cider, and Macintosh apples to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Stirring occasionally, simmer uncovered about 1 hour, until apples are easily mashed.
- Mix dark brown sugar, apple brandy, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves into the apple mixture. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer uncovered 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Transfer to sealed sterile containers, and cool at least 1 hour before serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 60 calories, Carbohydrate 13.9 g, Fat 0.1 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 0.2 g, Sodium 3.9 mg, Sugar 12.3 g
APPLE BUTTER BISCUIT BREAKFAST BAKE
My grandmother created this recipe to use up the leftovers from Christmas Eve dinner. By combining leftover ham and biscuits with milk, eggs and her homemade apple butter, she served us all a warm, delicious breakfast and still was able to spend with her grandchildren. -Marty Leverette, Columbia, South Carolina
Provided by Taste of Home
Time 1h20m
Yield 12 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Cut biscuits crosswise in half. Spread apple butter over cut sides of biscuits. Replace tops. Cut each biscuit into quarters; arrange in a single layer in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Top with cheese, ham and parsley., In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, salt, pepper and mustard. Pour over biscuits. Cover and refrigerate overnight., Preheat oven to 325°. Remove strata from refrigerator while oven heats. Bake, uncovered, until puffed and edges are golden brown, 50-60 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 331 calories, Fat 15g fat (7g saturated fat), Cholesterol 126mg cholesterol, Sodium 976mg sodium, Carbohydrate 31g carbohydrate (12g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 16g protein.
TIMELESS APPLE BUTTER
This apple butter is good.
Provided by gracygirl
Categories Fruit Butters
Time 11h20m
Yield 128
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Stir apples, sugar, apple cider, cinnamon, allspice, salt, and cloves together in a slow cooker.n
- Cook on High for 1 hour. Reduce heat to Low and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is thickened and dark brown, 9 to 11 hours. Remove cover and continue cooking on Low, whisking occasionally, until desired smoothness is achieved, about 1 hour.n
- Sterilize the jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Pack the apple butter into the hot, sterilized jars, filling the jars to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids, and screw on rings.n
- Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower jars into the boiling water using a holder. Leave a 2-inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary to bring the water level to at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a rolling boil, cover the pot, and process for 10 minutes.n
- Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). Store in a cool, dark area.n
Nutrition Facts : Calories 27.9 calories, Carbohydrate 7.3 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Sodium 4.9 mg, Sugar 6.6 g
APPLE BUTTER
Provided by Muriel Jacobs
Categories dips and spreads, side dish
Time 25m
Yield Three pints
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Boil the cider until it is reduced to two quarts. Add peeled, quartered apples and cook until very tender. Put the mixture through a colander and add sugar and spices as desired. Cook until thick, stirring to prevent burning. Pour into clean, sterilized jars and seal.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 405, UnsaturatedFat 0 grams, Carbohydrate 101 grams, Fat 1 gram, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 1 gram, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 18 milligrams, Sugar 89 grams
BILL'S APPLE BUTTER
Since retiring, I have more time to tend to our 75 apple trees and to experiment in the kitchen. I came up with this old-fashioned apple butter after some trial and error. The red-hot candies make it unique.-Bill Elliott, Urbana, Missouri
Provided by Taste of Home
Time 3h35m
Yield 8 pints.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a stockpot, combine apples and vinegar; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 30-40 minutes or until tender. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Process in batches in a food processor until blended. Return all to pan., Add brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon, salt, extract, cloves and allspice. Dissolve red-hots in boiling water; stir into apple mixture., Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 2 hours or until mixture reaches a thick, spreadable consistency. , Remove from heat. Carefully ladle hot mixture into eight hot sterilized 1-pint jars, leaving 1/4-in. headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if necessary, by adding hot mixture. Wipe rims. Center lids on jars; screw on bands until fingertip tight. , Place jars into canner with simmering water, ensuring that they are completely covered with water. Bring to a boil; process for 5 minutes. Remove jars and cool.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 92 calories, Fat 0 fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 22mg sodium, Carbohydrate 24g carbohydrate (22g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 0 protein.
Tips:
- Choose the Right Apples: Use a combination of sweet and tart apples for a balanced flavor. Granny Smith, Braeburn, and Honeycrisp are popular choices.
- Simmer, Don't Boil: Maintain a gentle simmer throughout the cooking process to prevent scorching and maintain the apple butter's smooth texture.
- Use a Slow Cooker: For a hands-off approach, cook the apple butter in a slow cooker on low for 8-10 hours or overnight.
- Add Spices and Aromatics: Enhance the flavor of the apple butter by adding spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. Vanilla extract, lemon zest, or orange peel can also add depth of flavor.
- Monitor the Consistency: The cooking time will vary depending on the desired consistency. For a thick, spreadable apple butter, cook until it reaches a jam-like consistency. For a thinner, pourable apple butter, cook for a shorter period.
- Sterilize Jars and Lids: To ensure proper preservation, sterilize jars and lids by boiling them in hot water for 10 minutes before filling them with apple butter.
- Proper Storage: Once the apple butter is processed, store it in a cool, dark place for up to a year. After opening, refrigerate and consume within a month.
Conclusion:
Apple butter is a versatile condiment that can be enjoyed in various ways. Whether you spread it on toast, use it as a glaze for meats, or incorporate it into baked goods, the possibilities are endless. With careful attention to the tips mentioned above, you can create delicious, homemade apple butter that will impress your family and friends. So gather your ingredients, choose your favorite apple varieties, and embark on a culinary adventure that will leave you satisfied and craving more.
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