Slow Cooker Apple Butter (Spiced & Dark)

Slow Cooker Apple butter is the perfect spiced dark spread for just about anything you desire. Toast, muffins, pancakes, waffles, biscuits, etc. You can also use it in baking.

Slow cooker apple butter in mason jars surrounded by apples.

Why You’ll Love This

This apple butter recipe is so easy to make in a slow cooker you will never buy it from the store again. It’s less expensive, and you control the ingredients in homemade apple butter.

This crockpot apple butter is heavenly, spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. Your house will smell amazing while this is cooking.

Kick up that morning toast by slathering this apple butter on a warm piece of sourdough toast or regular white toast.

With the spread, you can also make this moist and delicious apple butter bread.

What You’ll Need

  • Fresh apples – We use a mix of Gala and Granny Smith apples. Varieties of apples such as Honeycrisp, Fuji, Pink Lady, Cortland, and McIntosh all will work. Choose your favorite apples.
  • Granulated sugar and dark brown sugar – You can also use light brown sugar, but I like the added depth of the molasses flavor.
  • Ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, ground allspice, vanilla extract, and salt – These combined seasonings make the apple butter sing with flavor!

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Peeled and slice apples topped with spices in a slow cooker crock.

How to Make Slow Cooker Apple Butter (spiced & dark)

Peel, core, and slice 6 1/2 pounds of apples.  (I used an equal mix of Gala and Granny Smith apples)  

Do yourself a favor and get one of these apple slicers to save a lot of time!

This recipe will make a small batch, about 3 pints.

Place the apples in the slow cooker. In a medium bowl, combine the granulated sugar, dark brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg cloves, and salt.

Or throw it on top of the apples and stir.

Cooked chunky Apple Butter in the crock of a slow cooker.

Cover and cook on low for 10 hours. Use an immersion blender to blend until smooth. You can also use a regular blender or food processor, but I suggest doing it in batches.

Remove the lid and continue to cook for another 2 hours until your desired thickness and color.  

Add the vanilla and stir. Place it into your desired containers.

Apple butter canned in mason jars.

This year I decided to water bath the jars.  I have frozen it in mason jars in previous years, and that works just fine. Either way, it’s your choice.

Apple butter canned in sterile jars will last almost indefinitely.

Mason jar being placed into a pressure cooker.

See simplycanning for canning in a water bath.  This also worked perfectly! I was proud of my first canning project (patting myself on the back).

I have an 8qt pressure cooker that I used for this project.  I didn’t pressure can them I just used the pot for the large capacity.  You don’t want your jars to touch during the process.

Slow Cooker Apple Butter in mason jars on a red and white striped towel.

Share this homemade apple butter with friends and family!

Tips

  • You can water bath can or freeze the apple butter for longer storage.
  • When using the immersion blender, you get to control how smooth or chunky you want it to be. You don’t have to make it completely smooth; that’s just how we like our apple butter.
  • Don’t have an immersion blender? Use a blender and do it in batches.

Variations

Instead of our spice mix, try using apple pie spice or even pumpkin pie spice.

FAQ

What is the difference between applesauce and apple butter?

Apple butter is concentrated apple sauce. It is just cooked longer and pureed.

What kind of apples make good apple butter?

You can use any type of apple. Choose your favorite crisp, sweet apples. Mix and match using Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, McIntosh, Jonagold, etc. Add in a few Granny Smith apples.

How to thicken apple butter

Remove the lid and continue to cook for another 2 hours until your desired thickness and color.  This allows the excess moisture to cook off and evaporate.

Can you overcook Slow Cooker Apple Butter?

No, you cannot overcook apple butter in the slow cooker. This is why I love this method.
I actually cooked it overnight in the crock pot, and the following day I removed the lid for 2 hours. The flavors only intensify, and the color becomes much darker.

Can you freeze apple butter?

As I said, freezing also works.  Just leave some room at the top of the jar for expansion and allow it to cool completely before freezing. The apple butter will last six months to possibly one year in the freezer.
Apple butter stored in the refrigerator will last about one month.

More Delicious Apple Recipes

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Slow cooker apple butter in mason jars surrounded by apples.

Slow Cooker Apple Butter Recipe (spiced & dark)

A perfect spread for just about anything! But on a biscuit is a must.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Jam, Sauce, Spread
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 17 hours
Total Time: 17 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 96
Calories: 33kcal
Author: Leigh Harris

Ingredients
 

  • 6 1/2 pounds apples – peeled, cored, and sliced
  • 1 cup granulated sugar (I used 3/4 cup)
  • 1 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed (I used 3/4 cup)
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Place the apples in a slow cooker.
    6 1/2 pounds apples – peeled, cored, and sliced
  • In a medium bowl, combine sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg cloves, and salt.
    1 cup granulated sugar, 1 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves, 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice, 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Pour the mixture over the apples and mix well.
  • Cook in slow cooker on low for about 10 hours, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is dark brown and starting to thicken.
  • Use an immersion blender to puree the apple butter until smooth. Continue to cook uncovered on low for about 2 hours, to remove most of the moisture. (you want a dark brown, thick mixture)
  • Stir in vanilla.
    1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • Spoon the mixture into sterile containers, cover and refrigerate for up to two weeks or freeze.
  • Serve on slices of bread, muffins, pork chops or just eat it with a spoon.

Notes

The amount of sugar will depend on the sweetness of your apples. I only used 3/4 cup white sugar and 3/4 cup brown sugar.
This makes 3 pints. The serving size was calculated as 1 tablespoon.
You can use any type of apple. Choose your favorite crisp, sweet apples. Mix and match using Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, McIntosh, Jonagold, etc. Add in a few Granny Smith apples.
Storing – Apple butter stored in a lidded jar in the refrigerator will last about 1 month.
Freezing – Leave some room at the top of the jar for expansion and allow it to cool completely before freezing. In the freezer, the apple butter will last 6 months to possibly 1 year.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 33kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 36mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 17IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg

Adapted from mybakingaddiction

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10 Comments

  1. Thanks for sharing this on Paula’s No rules Weekend Blog. I love apple butter. I will have to try this recipe. Sounds really simple.

  2. I love how yummy and easy this sounds! Thanks for sharing at the Monday Funday Part. Emily from thebensonstreet.com

  3. I have always wanted to make Apple Butter, but have never tried it. I love that this is done in the slow cooker. I have pinned and printed this to make soon. I’m thinking Christmas gifts for neighbors. Thanks for linking it to the Weekend Potluck!

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