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Apple Butter

The Best Apple Butter Recipe

This apple butter is rich, smooth, and perfectly spiced, making it the ultimate spread for toast, biscuits, or even as a topping for desserts.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 3 Cups

Ingredients
  

  • 3 pounds sweet apples like Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala, peeled, cored, and quartered
  • 1 pound tart apples Granny Smith or Pink Lady, peeled, cored, and quartered
  • 1 cup apple cider
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

Instructions
 

Step 1: Prepare the apples

  • Start by peeling, coring, and quartering your apples. If you have an apple corer, it’ll make this step even faster. You can cut the quarters into smaller chunks if you’d like, but I find it’s not necessary since they’ll soften as they cook.

Step 2: Cook the apples

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F. Place your apple chunks, apple cider, and spices into a heavy-bottom, oven-safe pot. Cover and simmer over medium heat for about 30 minutes, stirring halfway through to ensure the apples don’t stick or scorch. By the end of this step, your apples should be soft and fragrant.

Step 3: Blend the apples

  • Remove the pot from the heat and let the apples cool slightly—about 10 minutes. Then, use an immersion blender to puree the mixture until it’s completely smooth. If you’re using a standard blender, work in batches, being cautious with the hot mixture.

Step 4: Bake the apple butter

  • Transfer the pot to the oven and bake uncovered for 30 minutes. After the first 30 minutes, stir the mixture thoroughly, scraping down the edges to incorporate any darker spots back into the apple butter. Bake for an additional hour, stirring every 30 minutes. If you prefer a thicker consistency, you can bake it for another 30 minutes. Just remember, the apple butter will thicken further as it cools.

Notes

How to Serve Your Apple Butter

Once your apple butter has cooled, it’s ready to enjoy! Spread it on toast, muffins, or biscuits for a comforting breakfast.
It’s also a delicious topping for yogurt or ice cream, and you can even use it as a filling for apple butter bars or pastries.
For a savory twist, pair it with roasted pork or chicken, it’s an unexpected but delightful combination.

Storing and Enjoying Leftovers

Apple butter stores beautifully, making it perfect for meal prep or gifting. Here’s how to keep it fresh:
  • Refrigerate: Store your apple butter in an airtight jar or container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
  • Freeze: For longer storage, freeze it in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before using.
  • Reheat: If your apple butter thickens too much in the fridge, warm it gently in the microwave or on the stovetop, stirring occasionally.

Top Tips for Customizing Your Apple Butter

Use a Crockpot: If you prefer a hands-off method, try making this apple butter in a crockpot. Combine all the ingredients, cook on low for 8–10 hours, then blend to your desired consistency.
Adjust the sweetness: If your apples aren’t as sweet as you’d like, you can add a tablespoon or two of brown sugar or honey during the blending step.
Spice it up: For extra warmth, add a pinch of nutmeg or a splash of vanilla extract. You can also experiment with pumpkin pie spice for a different flavor profile.
Make it chunky: If you like a little texture in your apple butter, blend it less for a chunky, rustic spread.