My super easy Apple Butter recipe is perfectly spiced with rich fall flavors. It takes just 10 minutes to prep with NO peeling required! Recipe includes a how-to video.
All the Best Flavors of Fall in a Jar
Apple butter is the richer, prettier, and perhaps more sophisticated sister to plain-Jane applesauce. It’s truly the embodiment of fall, with colorful crisp apples cooked down and caramelized in spices, brown sugar and vanilla. It tastes great on just about anything, but we love it spread over an English muffin or warm scone (heavenly!).
My favorite thing about this apple butter recipe is that there is NO peeling required! I’ve tested this recipe with peeled and unpeeled apples, and I didn’t notice a difference between the two. When cooked for as long as my recipe calls for, the peels break down completely and are not perceptible in the finished product. Save yourself the time and skip the peeling!
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- Easy: only 10 minutes of prep before the slow cooker takes over.
- Perfectly flavored: the apples are the true star, with just enough sugar and spices added to accent them and make a warm, cozy fall flavor.
- Plentiful: this recipe makes a lot (3 pints!), so you’ll have some to share or gift (if you’re the generous type).
- No peeling: saves you SO much time and effort.
What You Need
To achieve a silky smooth and flavorful spread, you’ll need to slow cook just a few simple ingredients:
- Apples. What I love about my apple butter recipe is that there is no peeling needed! Just core and dice your apples into small, even pieces. Do not use a firm, tart apple like Granny Smith; stick with softer, sweeter apples like Golden Delicious (my favorite all-around apple for most recipes, like my apple turnovers!), Fuji, Gala, or McIntosh. A combination of apples works too!
- Sugar. A combination of brown and white sugar provides depth of flavor and helps the apples to break down and caramelize, giving the final product a fantastically rich fall flavor. Don’t forget, if you don’t have any on hand just follow my tutorial on how to make brown sugar!
- Spices. Lots of ground cinnamon and a pinch of cloves elevate the flavor of the apples by providing warmth and richness.
- Vanilla. A subtle hint of vanilla rounds out all of warm flavors. I recommend using a vanilla bean if you have one, but otherwise regular vanilla extract will work.
SAM’S TIP: The hardest thing about this recipe is waiting for it to be done. To mitigate this, I often like to prep everything before going to bed and let it cook while I sleep, but please always check your own slow cooker’s safety guide before leaving it unattended.
Remember, this is just an overview of the ingredients I used and why. For the full recipe please scroll down to the bottom of the post!
How to Make Apple Butter
- Core and chop (don’t peel!) your apples and place them in the basin of a slow cooker.
- Mix together spices and sugars. Sprinkle these over the apples and toss to combine.
- Cook apple mixture on low heat for 10 hours.
- Puree apples. I like to use an immersion blender (I linked to the one I use, affiliate), but you can use a regular one instead.
- Remove the lid and cook for another 2 hours or until the consistency has thickened to your liking.
SAM’S TIP: The additional two hours of cooking might seem like a pain, but it’s important and worth it to get the proper consistency. If you want an even thicker butter, you can continue to cook yours even longer; but I’ve found the two hours to be plenty (and keep in mind it will continue to thicken as it cools!).
Frequently Asked Questions
Typically it is used as a topping for biscuits or bread, but it’s also delicious on oatmeal, pancakes, my favorite waffle recipe, crepes, etc. Some people even serve it with scrapple, or you can take my dad’s approach and enjoy it by the spoonful!
Apple butter is typically sweeter, richer, and thicker (more of a buttery/spreadable consistency). It’s often much darker in color than applesauce, largely because of the added ingredients (in this instance, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, etc) and the caramelization that occurs from the longer cook time.
Yes it does. If you’d like to try canning yours, that’s a great option for extending its shelf life outside of the fridge (I don’t have experience canning, so I can’t offer any advice there, but here is a guide on canning I found that should be helpful.).
Apple butter gets its name from its butter-like consistency, there’s no actual butter in it. If you’re looking for a flavored butter, try my honey butter instead
Looking for more? Here are some of my favorite fall recipes.
Enjoy!
Let’s bake together! I’ll be walking you through all the steps in my written recipe and video below! If you try this recipe, be sure to tag me on Instagram, and you can also find me on YouTube and Facebook
The Best Apple Butter Recipe (No Peeling!)
Ingredients
- 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) soft, sweet apples (see note 1) Cored and chopped into small pieces, about ¼"
- 1 cup (200 g) brown sugar firmly packed
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 vanilla bean (may substitute 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract)
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Slice apples into small pieces (about ¼") and dispose of cores (you do not need to peel the apples).5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) soft, sweet apples (see note 1)
- Place apples in the basin of large slow cooker
- In a medium-sized bowl stir together sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and cloves until well-combined.1 cup (200 g) brown sugar, ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar, 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon salt, ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- Pour sugar mixture over apple pieces and stir until well combined.
- Place lid on crockpot and cook on low heat for 10 hours.
- Once 10 hours has elapsed, use an immersion blender to puree apples until smooth and no chunks remain (see note 2 if you do not have an immersion blender).
- Scrape the inside of the vanilla bean into your apple puree (or add vanilla extract).1 vanilla bean
- Turn crockpot on to low heat and cook another 2 hours uncovered, stirring occasionally.
- Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container, where it will keep about 2 weeks.
Notes
1. Apples
I recommend using Golden Delicious, McIntosh, Fuji, or Gala. Don’t use Granny Smith; they are too tart and firm for this recipe. Weigh your apples before coring and chopping. Do not peel them! For me this was about 13 apples but this could vary wildly depending on the size of your apples.2. Pureeing
If you do not have an immersion blender, pour the apples into a blender and puree until smooth, then return to crockpot. You may need to work in batches, depending on the size of your blender.Storing
Store apple butter in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several weeks or freeze for up to several months.Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Related Recipes
This recipe was originally published in October of 2017, photos and recipe remain the same but text has been updated to be more helpful and I’ve added a how-to video!
Kenna Ryan
Made this last night with gala apples. Turned out fantastic and everyone gobbled it up out of the crock pot for breakfast this morning.
Sugar Spun Run
Thank you so much for your comment, Kenna! I am so happy that everyone enjoyed the apple butter! 🙂
George Bruce
I followed your recipe with using apples from our tree….not quite sure what type of apples they even are(sort of tart) but the apple butter came out great and have to say really easy to do…
thank you
Sam
I am so glad you enjoyed the apple butter George! I hope my trees will produce some apples next year so I can do the same. 🙂
Befu
I have 5 Granny Smith apples that are just starting to bruise a little and 5 gala apples. Was thinking about using them up in this recipe and lowering the amounts of sugar, but do you think using Granny Smith WITH gala apples will make them fine to use for this recipe? Would love your opinion since I’m not using 100% Granny Smith for this. Thank you!
Sam
I think it would work just fine. You may actually want to bump the sugar up just a little bit because the granny smith apples are very tart. 🙂
Befu
Thank you!
Befu
I have to report back what I did! So I used my 5 Granny Smiths, 5 Gala, and I had 3 pears that we’re going soft so I used those as well. (Pears’ skins were pealed) Otherwise all ingredient amounts and steps were followed the same. Once done, it all fit perfectly in a qt (32oz) Mason jar and maaaaaaan it’s sooooo goooood!!!!! Approaching Godly-level deliciousness. Perfect amount of sweetness and tartness and I’m afraid I won’t stop eating it… it’ll probably all be gone within the week. Thank you!
Sam
Thank you so much for the feedback! I have never added pears to my apple butter before. It sounds delicious. 🙂
Jennifer
Can you use honey crisp apples? And about how many weeks will it last?
Sam
Hi Jennifer! You may want to reduce the sugar a tiny bit since honey crisp are a little sweeter. The apple butter will keep in a jar for about 2 weeks. If you are familiar with canning, you could can it so it will last even longer. 🙂
Tracy
If you add citric acid (lemon or vinegar) will it preserve for a year?
Thanks
Sam
Hi Tracy! Unfortunately I am not familiar enough with preserving apple butter to comment on this. 🙁
Peggy Webster
I made a batch of this Apple Butter (also, used only a sprinkle of cloves). I then canned it in a water bath canner (10 minutes slow rolling boil). It made 9 half pints (jelly jars). It was so good, I made 2 more batches. My husband ate 3 jars in 3 days!
Sugar Spun Run
Peggy, I have never canned this, so thank you for leaving your comment. I have had a lot of questions around this so your insight will be helpful to others. I am so happy that your husband enjoyed the apple butter. Thanks again! 🙂
Kate
I tried this recipe with Galas, and it turned out pretty well. It’s too sweet for my taste, but the rest of the family loves it. I used 15 apples, which filled my large crockpot to the rim, and ended up with about 5 pints of apple butter.
Next time I make it, I’ll cut back on the sugar and maybe add a little bit of vinegar.
Sugar Spun Run
Hello, Kate! I am glad that your family enjoyed the apple butter. You can try a different apple that is more tart in flavor as well. That will help cut down on the sweetness. Thanks for the feedback. 🙂
Kathleen F Kirchmeier
Making this to sell at my next craft fair. Everyone loved it last year.
Sugar Spun Run
I am so happy that everyone enjoyed the Apple Butter, Kathleen. Good Luck at your next craft fair. 🙂
Hannah
Could I use Apple Pie spice in place of the other ones? It has nutmeg, but wouldn’t think that will change the flavor too much.
Sugar Spun Run
Hello, Hannah! I haven’t tried it so I can’t give any insight. If you do, let me know how it works out! 🙂
Paula
Hi, I have frozen apples and have a cup of sugar added before freezing them. Will I need to rinse to remove extra sugar before cooking?
Sam
Hi Paula! You can just cut the sugar in the recipe by 1 cup, so you would only need to add 3/4 cup brown sugar. I hope you love the apple butter!
Mary Ann
Has anyone ever tried making this using sugar substitute? I would like to make this for someone who is diabetic.
I know that high heat can change the chemical makeup of sugar substitute into a similar makeup of regular sugar, but I’ve never used it in a crockpot. TIA
Jennifer
I will often grate the apples by hand or with food processor, just to help the apples break down and usually I don’t need to use the blender either.
Sam
Hi Jennifer! Great tip. I hope you love the apple butter. 🙂
Tasha
If I do t have cloves, can I substitute something else? Also, can I store in Mason jars?
Sugar Spun Run
Hello, Tasha! You can just leave out the cloves all together. You can bump up the other spices, but it is not necessary. I usually store mine in mason jars. If you’re asking about canning it, I have never done it so I can not advise there. I hope you enjoy the apple butter! 🙂
Dave
Hello Tasha yes u r able to can apple butter. Iv done it for years
Michelle
Made it this weekend with 8 gala and 5 fuji apples. It was delicious and got high 5’s all around!
Sugar Spun Run
That is wonderful, Michelle! I am so glad that the apple butter was a hit! Enjoy! 🙂
Carolyn Goodman
Please tell me in cups how many apples since I don’t have a scale and these came fresh off a tree.
Thanks
Sam
Hmm, I don’t believe I’ve ever measured it as cups unfortunately, simply because it’s not the best way to measure. I do know this was about 13 freshly picked apples for me, and approximating would work for this recipe. I hope you love the apple butter, Carolyn!
IRENE Scott
I would like to try this recipe and also to can it when I’m done is this possible and If so what would be your recommendation?
Sugar Spun Run
Hello, Irene! I personally have not canned it, so I can’t give you any recommendations. I know others have, so maybe they can chim in here. I hope that you enjoy it! 🙂