This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Please read our disclosure policy.
Apple butter used to seem like a delicacy, reserved for special festivals and events. I grew up thinking apple butter must be extremely time-consuming to make or involve too much work since we never made it. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen it made (and let me know down below in the comments section if you have!), but at fall festivals they usually show a large cast-iron pot being stirred for hours as apples, sugar, and spices are cooked until they reach the perfect consistency. Honestly, this is how I thought you had to make this apple spread – I guess I was a little naive.
As I started researching how to make apple butter, the recipes that kept catching my eye all used slow cookers to steadily cook the butter for hours. This opened up a whole new world for me! Making a simple and quick apple butter with hardly any work that I can walk away from as it cooks – uhhh… what more could I ask for?!
This almost sounds too good to be true, but it really does come together to create the perfect recipe for slow cooker apple butter. As the apples simmer for hours, your house will be filled with the aroma of cinnamon and sugar. And when it’s all done cooking, you’re left with a thick and delicious apple butter.
For the perfect bread to complement this apple butter (shown in the above pictures), make sure to try my bread recipe!
Ideas for how to use this apple butter recipe:
This year, I froze all of the spread I made and am super excited to use it with:
- Pork chops
- Homemade breads – yeah, the combo of homemade butter and homemade bread will make you a self-sufficient guru!
- As a mix-in for a fall-themed latte
Watch how to make this apple butter recipe
Have I Convinced You to Make This Recipe?
I hope you make this recipe and put some food on your table. Leave a comment and share a star rating so you can let others know how much you love this recipe. This helps show others that this is a recipe they, too, can make, enjoy, and love!
Slow Cooker Apple Butter
Ingredients
- 16 cups sliced apples
- 2 ¾ cups light brown sugar
- 2 ¾ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- 1 star anise pod (optional)
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- Wash, peel, and take out the seeds from the apples. Slice thinly. Measure out 16 cups of apples. Pour all apples into the slow cooker.16 cups sliced apples
- Add brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, anise pod, salt, and lemon juice. Stir to incorporate everything.2 ¾ cups light brown sugar, 2 ¾ tsp ground cinnamon, ¼ tsp ground cloves, 1 star anise pod (optional), ¼ tsp kosher salt, 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- Turn slow cooker on high for 4-5 hours. After the first hour, remove the star anise pod, if added. Every hour, stir the apples.
- Once the mixture is bubbling and cooking well (after approximately 4-5 hours), turn the slow cooker to low and leave for 10-12 hours. I usually do this in the evening so it can sit on the low setting overnight.
- After ten hours, start checking the slow cooker. Stir mixture using a strong wire whisk or hand potato masher to break up the apples.
- Once the butter is the consistency desired, use a blender, food processor, or immersion blender to break down the rest of the apples to achieve an even consistency.
- Let cool. Freeze or can the mixture.
Video
Notes
- Remember that apples contain a large amount of water and will cook down considerably. They also vary a lot in how they cook. My apples had a lot of liquid in them so I needed to give them 2 extra hours on high (with the lid off) to make sure my apple butter turned out as thick as I wanted.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment below!
Makes the house smell wonderful! Uses up old apples. Taste perfect!
Yummy!
I ended up using almost 8 quarts of apples, but kept everything else the same. I did use apple cider vinegar instead of lemon juice. And replaced half the brown sugar with brown sugar alternative (have to watch my sugar). I can tell you it taste just as good as when I first made this recipe, but I can enjoy it without causing myself problems! This recipe truly is the best. Well….second to my Grandmothers, of course!
Am having a real problem with the recipe…..the apples baking in the crockpot are just so delicious that I don’t know if there will be any left to make apple butter! They are really good! Thanks for the recipe. It is a winner! I will definitely use it again.
I have used this recipe for the last couple of years and I’m here again doing it tonight! My family and friends love it! Thank you so much for so many delicious and easy ways to use up the tons of apples on our trees
I grew up having apple butter, we ate it on bread. I made this today from apples in my orchard, absolutely delicious!! I made an apple cake and served it with warm apple butter instead of frosting.😊
Love all you do ! 1 ?: when canning your apple butter : how long in rolling boil water bath ? And when done , do you let jars sit in water bath 5 mins after heat turned off, then remove jars to counter onto towel .
I love applebutter!!! I grew up eating it. My Dad was from Pennsylvania and he had it all the time.
Thank you for sharing this recipe. I’m going to try it.
This turned out very good. I was pleased. I wish more authors would consider measuring ingredients by weight instead of cups. Measuring by weight helps ensure a consistently repeatable end product.