Eat In Recipe: Easy Apple Butter

Last month I hosted our neighborhood book club meeting at my house.  As a tie-in to an incident involving apples in The Book Thief, I made apple butter.  I found the recipe as well as some fun ideas and inspiration on a segment of Studio 5 that was done by the author of the blog Book Matters. 

The recipe was delicious…it’s basically Fall in a jar!  The scents of apples, cinnamon, and other spices wafting through my home was delightful.  It was also really easy…just prepare the ingredients and let it cook in the crockpot all day.  I was amazed that the apples cook down and fall apart so well.  It’s a little bit brighter and fresher than most apple butters.  I imagine if you want it less so, you could just keep cooking it in the crockpot even longer.

If you’re someone who likes the simplicity of freezer jam, this is another preserve recipe to add to your list.  The apple butter is flavorful and tastes delightful on biscuits and bread.  My book club guests even liked it on the homemade pretzel rolls I made. 

The apple butter will keep in the fridge for about three weeks or in the freezer for up to a year.  I put mine in little Gladware containers to serve individually; then guests could take theirs home with them.

Easy Apple Butter from Book Matters on KSL
4 lbs. cooking apples, peeled, cored and sliced (about 12 cups)
2 c. sugar
1/3 c. water
2 T. cider vinegar
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground allspice
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg

1. Place apple slices in a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker. Stir in sugar, water, vinegar, cinnamon, cloves, allspice and nutmeg.
2. Cover; cook on high-heat setting for 5 to 6 hours. Stir. Cool mixture at least 1 hour or cover and chill overnight.
3. Ladle apple butter into half-pint storage or freezer containers, leaving a 1/2-inch head space. Seal and label.  Store 3 weeks in refrigerator or for 1 year in freezer.

Makes 4 half-pints.

Notes:  I used an apple corer/peeler/slicer, which made quick work of all the apple prep.  Granny Smith apples were great in this recipe.

Average Fork Rating:  3.5
Mrs. Diner:  4
Amazing Diner:  3   
Sweet Diner: 4
Little Diner:  3