Slow Cooker Apple Butter
Fall mornings just got better! This slow cooker apple butter is smooth, warmly spiced, and perfect for spreading on anything and everything.
Servings: 6 cups (about)
Ingredients
- 16 cups sliced apples (such as Macintosh and Golden Delicious)
- 2 ¾ cups light brown sugar
- 2 ¾ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 star anise pod (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Mix the ingredients: Wash and core the apples, then cut them into quarters or thick slices. There is no need to peel them. Measure 16 cups of apples and add them to the slow cooker. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, star anise pod (if using), salt, and lemon juice. Toss everything together until evenly combined.16 cups sliced apples (such as Macintosh and Golden Delicious), 2 ¾ cups light brown sugar, 2 ¾ teaspoons ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves, 1 star anise pod (optional), ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Cook the apples: Cover and cook on high for 8 hours. If using the star anise, remove it after the first hour. Stir the apples once or twice during cooking, if possible. The apples will soften considerably and release a significant amount of liquid.
- Reduce the mixture: After 8 hours, remove the lid and continue cooking on high for about 4 hours, stirring occasionally. The excess liquid will evaporate as the mixture darkens and thickens. Continue cooking until the apples are extremely soft and the mixture has reached the desired consistency.
- Blend: Remove the star anise pod if it has not already been removed. Blend the apple mixture until completely smooth using an immersion blender, food processor, or countertop blender. If using a countertop blender, work in batches and allow steam to escape safely.
- Store: Let the apple butter cool completely before transferring it to freezer-safe containers and freezing.
I usually do this in the evening so it can sit overnight.
Video
Notes
Remember, apples contain a lot 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
Serving: 1tablespoon | Calories: 32kcal