Homemade Apple Butter
Homemade apple butter is just about the best thing you’ll ever make. This rich, spiced apple spread makes the perfect addition to breakfast, brunch, or even dinner. Enjoy its sweet, spiced apple cinnamon flavor with just about anything!
Is there anything better than apple butter? If you’ve ever had it, your answer is probably a resounding no. I absolutely adore this stuff. I grew up on it, and I’ve been making it for more years than I’ll admit here or anywhere else!
Homemade Apple Butter
Apple butter is usually considered a breakfast item; you use it in much the same way you would any other kind of jam. However, I love using it in savory dishes, as well to add sweet flavor to meats. It’s so versatile you can use it with just about anything, which is why I love making it so much.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It only uses a few simple kitchen staples.
- It’s an easy recipe that’s ready in just about 40 minutes.
- It’s a great spread for breakfast or brunch, and it makes a great addition to savory dishes.
- The apples and spices create a classic fall flavor everyone loves.
Ingredients
The ingredients for this apple butter are exceedingly simple. You almost certainly have everything you need to make it in your kitchen right now. In fact, the only thing you might have to shop for is the apples.
- 4 fresh apples, rinsed, peeled, cored, and chopped
- 1/4 cup light or dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cold water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon allspice
- 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
How to Make This Homemade Apple Butter Recipe
Making this recipe is as easy as it gets. Just combine the ingredients, cook, and blend to get the right texture. That’s it!
- Bring the apples, water, lemon juice, sugars, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, and allspice to a simmer.
- Cover the pot and simmer for 35 minutes on low heat, stirring frequently.
- When the apples are tender, remove them from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Let the mixture cool a bit.
- Place the apples in a blender or food processor and whirl on low to medium speed until they reach your desired texture.
- Pour back into the saucepan and continue cooking until the mixture turns a darker shade and it’s thickened to your liking.
Substitutions and Variations
- Use your favorite apples for this recipe. Fuji, Braeburn, Macintosh, Yellow Delicious, and Red Delicious all work well.
- You can add a little maple extract for a slightly different flavor to the apple butter.
- Use other fruits like peaches to create different fruit butter spreads.
Equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Medium to large saucepan
- Blender
Storage
Store this homemade apple butter in the refrigerator for up to a week in an air-tight container. For longer storage, freeze it for up to a month in an air-tight, freezer-safe container.
What to Serve with This Easy Apple Butter
Serve this apple butter at breakfast or brunch with toast or biscuits and your favorite savory options. You can also spread it over meats for a sweet, spiced flavor that works perfectly with the savory meat flavor.
Tips
- Stir frequently when making the apple butter to prevent sticking or scorching.
- Adjust your cooking time depending on the apple used. Softer apples will cook down more quickly than firmer apples.
- It’s better to pulse the apples in the blender rather than blending for a long time. It makes it easier to achieve your desired consistency.
More Apple Recipes
FAQ
Apple butter is a spread made with apples, sugar, and spices and cooked over a long period of time until it’s thick, rich, and spreadable.
Yes and no. While apple butter and apple sauce are made in a similar way, apple butter is cooked longer, giving it a darker color, thicker texture, and more concentrated sweetness.
Apple butter is a huge deal in the South, but surprisingly, it doesn’t come from the South. Its roots are actually in medieval Germany and Belgium.
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Homemade Apple Butter
Homemade apple butter is just about the best thing you'll ever make. This rich, spiced apple spread makes the perfect addition to breakfast, brunch, or even dinner. Enjoy its sweet, spiced apple cinnamon flavor with just about anything!
Ingredients
- 4 fresh apples, rinsed, peeled, cored, and chopped, I like to use, Fuji, Braeburn, Macintosh, yellow delicious or red delicious (These apples are softer so they cook faster)
- 1/4 cup light or dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp cold water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp salt, I used sea salt
- 1/ 8 tsp nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp all spice
- 1 to 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
Instructions
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1. In a medium to large saucepan, place apples, water, lemon juice, sugars, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, and allspice. Cover the pot and let simmer for about 35 minutes on low heat. Check often to stir. If the apples are tender, take off heat and add in the vanilla extract. Stir again and let cool down just a bit.
2. Place mixture in a food process or blender. Whirl on low to medium until desired texture and and smoothness. Pour back into saucepan and cook over low heat (uncovered) until the apple mixture starts to turn a darker shade and is thick to your liking.
3. Let cool down in the pot and taste test for sweetness or if needing a bit more lemon juice. When cooled down, pour into a glass jar with a lid and let cool completely in the fridge.
** Can be stored in the fridge for about 1 week for best taste. To freeze, store in a freezer safe container up to 1 month.
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