Slow Cooker Apple Butter Recipe (2024)

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posted by divas can cook on Oct 23, 2011 (updated Sep 20, 2021) 14 comments »

I grew up in an “apple butter loving” home, but can you believe that I’m just now tasting apple butter this year?! Crazy right! Man was I missing out!

My grandmother makes her apple butter on the stove but after making my favorite apple butter recipe in the slow cooker for the first time I will NEVER go back to the stove-top or oven method. EVER.

I’m totally converted!! Slow cooker apple butter rules on so many levels.No babysitting the pot, no constant stirring and no having to keep the stove on all day. I just throw the ingredients into the crock pot and go on about my day.

I don’t know what took me so long to give slow cooker apple butter a try. I mean, I’ve heard about it plenty of times. I guess I didn’t want to risk trying something new since apple butter makes such a big batch.

I got a crap load of apples from the farm so I thought ah well, if it taste awful then it’s no big deal. After making it, it tasted just like my stove-top version only EASIER to make!

Now listen, I’ve had my share of bad apple butters so I’m kinda picky. When it comes to making perfect apple butter you need to get two things correct: Flavor and Texture

Ok first let’st talk flavor: Apple butter should be sweet but not so sweet that it tastes flat like a jelly. It’s a comfort food spread so now it not the time to skim on sugar (unless you just really hate sweet spreads). I use two sugars to help give a lil balance. Using a variety of sweet apples and tart apples is a must in my book. Last, it needs to have the right balance of spices. Depending on the apples you use, all of the other ingredients will need and should be adjusted. The rule to making a good tasting apple butter is to taste, taste, taste!!! Trust your taste buds. TASTE and adjust.

Ok now about the consistancy: Now I know a few people will argue with me here (depending on where you’re from) but apple butter should be thick and spreadable. If it’s like applesauce then it’s just that, overly-sweetened, runny applesauce! It should spread on like smooth butter. Hence the name.

Here is the recipe that I like to use. Of course adjust the measurements to fit your taste buds if needed. I think it has just the right amount of spices without being overkill. It is pretty sweet though. Yum!

Here is my FAVORITE way to eat to apple butter

• 1 bakery-style bagel
• butter
• 2-4 Tablespoons plain cream cheese
• 2-3 tablespoons of homemade apple butter

Spread butter on bagel halves and toast until lightly browned. Spread on cream cheese and top with apple butter. Toast until cream cheese has melted a little. Enjoy!!

YUMMMYYYY!!!!

Watch me make this slow-cooker apple butter recipe from start to finish!!

You can certainly speed up the cooking time by cooking on high or cooking with the lid off longer to thicken it up. This recipe is pretty much error proof when it comes to cooking it in your slow cooker. Your goal is to get it thicker however long that takes.

Apple Butter came out too thick? Just add a lil apple cider. Too thin? Just let it cook with the lid off longer.

originally published on Oct 23, 2011 (last updated Sep 20, 2021)

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