Homemade Apple Butter

• servings: 4 servings
• active time: 15 minutes
• total time: 3 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

4 lbs (10-12) sweet apples, diced into 1-inch pieces (we use a mixture of fuji, gala, honeycrisp, and/or golden delicious)

2 lbs (~5) tart apples, diced into 1-inch pieces (we use granny smith or cortland)

2/3 cup 100% apple cider or juice

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon allspice

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions

Add the diced apples to a large, heavy bottomed pot (we used a 7 qt. dutch oven). Add in the apple cider, maple syrup, brown sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice and salt. Stir well until the apples are evenly coated.

Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cover and cook over medium-low for 75 minutes, stirring every 15-20 minutes, until the apples are very soft.

Remove from heat and use an immersion blender to puree until completely smooth (be careful of hot splashes!). If you don't have an immersion blender, you can use a regular heat safe blender, but you'll have to do it in two batches.

Once the apples are blended, return to low heat and cover half of the pot with a lid (you'll need to let steam out, but this prevents it from splattering all over your stove). Continue to cook, stirring every 15 minutes or so to prevent burning on the bottom, for 2-3 more hours. The larger the diameter of your pot, the faster it will cook. When the apple butter is done, it should be a deep brown color and should have a thick, spreadable, jammy consistency.

Let it cool completely before transferring to jars or an airtight container. It will keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks, or the freezer for 6 months.

Notes

@crowded_kitchen

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
• Calories: 67
• Total Fat: 0.2 g
• Saturated Fat: 0 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg
• Sodium: 12 mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 17.5 g
• Dietary Fiber: 2.2 g
• Total Sugars: 14 g
• Protein: 0.2 g