Easy CrockPot Apple Butter Recipe

🧂 Ingredients

• 4 pounds apples
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1/2 cup pure cane sugar*
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

• 1 Before starting anything, it's important to wash your apples. I usually like to
  soak mine in a vinegar/water bath for at least 10 minutes, then rinse.
• 2 It's also important to prep and sterilize your jars [https://amzn.to/2Y6IFKQ]
  for canning or freezing.
• 3 Core, peel, and slice the apples; an apple slicer, corer, parer for apple butter
  [https://amzn.to/3h4GUVR] makes this step so easy. Cut out any bad spots, as
  well. Note: While I do leave the peeling on when making applesauce, and you can
  do that for apple butter too, I chose not to for this recipe.
• 4 Put the sliced apples in the slow cooker [https://amzn.to/2DTV2D8].
• 5 Add molasses, sugar, brown sugar, spices, lemon juice, and vanilla extract to
  the apples.
• 6 Stir everything together well.
• 7 Place the lid on the slow cooker, and cook on low for about 6 to 8 hours, or
  'til the apples are tender.
• 8 Once your apples are tender and it's fully cooked, uncover your slow cooker, and
  use an immersion blender [https://amzn.to/3avhiz3] to purée the apple butter
  'til it's smooth. At this point, if you feel it needs to thicken, you can cook
  it on high with the lid off for an additional hour.
• 9 Using a jar funnel [https://amzn.to/3iPDHKo], pour the apple butter into each
  prepared jar… You can use a ladle, but I like to use my funnel pitcher
  [https://amzn.to/2Y6jhob] or cupcake batter scoop [https://amzn.to/347LYoQ] to
  dip and pour. It makes the process so easy and less messy.
• 10 Wipe the top rim of each jar with a wet towel or rag, place the lid on, and
  tighten the band.
• 11 You can freeze apple butter, but be sure to leave about a 1/2-inch gap at the
  top of each jar to allow for expansion in the freezer. Also, allow the jars to
  completely cool before placing in the freezer.
• 12 We prefer to use a hot water bath canning method to can the apple butter,
  immersing the closed jars in boiling water for at least 15 minutes. If you
  choose to can it, Ball has wonderful Canning Guides
  [https://www.freshpreserving.com/canning-guides] to guide you through the
  process. You can also consult the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving
  [https://amzn.to/2wFCWO8].
• 13 Before you put your apple butter in the freezer or the pantry, be sure to write
  what it is and the year on the lid, so you know when you made it.

Nutrition Info