This crock pot apple butter is an easy and healthier recipe for fall! It's great for canning, gifts and just enjoying on some toast. This is the best recipe for apple butter in the slow cooker and it's made with no sugar!
When the small of cooking apples and cinnamon starts wafting through your house, it no doubt means it's time for fall! I have to be honest, this recipe for crock pot apple butter was a little bit of a fluke. I left some homemade crockpot applesauce in the crock pot too long and wha-la, a glorious apple butter mix-up!
What's the difference between apple butter and applesauce?
Apple butter is a highly concentrated form of applesauce. Apple butter is cooked low and slow in the crock pot so the sugars in the apples caramelize and turn the sauce a rich, dark brown and becomes a thick spread.
What are the best apples for apple butter?
Choose a softer, sweeter apple for this recipe. Feel free to mix several of these apples together:
- Braeburn
- Golden delicious
- Fuji
- Gala
- Honeycrisp
What do you eat apple butter with?
Apple butter is a staple condiment for the fall. It's great on toast, muffins, bagels and biscuits and it makes a great marinade for beef or chicken and is also a great dip, especially to go with a cheese board.
How do you make homemade apple butter?
This recipe is super simple to make! Add all of the ingredients to the slow cooker and cook it on low for 6-8 hours. It's safe to leave your house while the crock pot is on, so when you come home your house will smell amazing.
How do you thicken apple butter in a crock pot?
My recipe for apple butter calls for a bit of tapioca starch to help thicken it. Tapioca starch (or flour) is a grain free and paleo approved thickener similar to cornstarch. If you don't mind, feel free to use cornstarch instead.
A few crock pot apple butter storage tips:
Does apple butter need to be refrigerated? It will last for some time outside the fridge, but once it's opened it's best to keep in the fridge.
How long will homemade apple butter last in the fridge? Apple butter is best used within a month or two after opened.
How to can apple butter: fill your cans all the way full in a hot jar, leaving about ¼ inch at the top then wipe the lid clean, remove any air bubbles on the top of the apple butter and secure the lid. Follow this water canning tutorial for full instructions.
If you love this recipe as much as I do, don't forget to follow me on Instagram and tag me with @what_mollymade so I can see it and feature you.
Crock pot apple butter [refined sugar free]
Ingredients
- 2 ½ pounds 6-7 large apples, peeled and sliced
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 tablespoon cornstarch or tapioca starch for paleo version
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Add the apples, maple syrup, cornstarch, cinnamon, and nutmeg to the slow cooker and gently toss with a spatula until the apples are evenly coated with the other ingredients. Cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 6-8 hours, or until the apples are cooked down and turn a dark amber brown color.
- Blend together with an immersion blender, food processor or traditional blender. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
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