Homemade Apple Butter
Serves 12
I love to make this homemade apple butter in the fall! It has a delicious concentrated apple flavor with warm depth from spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Slather it onto toast, biscuits, scones, and more, or top it onto oatmeal or pancakes. The recipe yields about 1¾ cups. Store it in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or freeze it for up to 3 months.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds apples, peeled, cored, and chopped into small pieces (about 5 medium)
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup cane sugar or brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- Pinch ground cloves
- Pinch sea salt
Instructions
- Combine the apples and water in a medium saucepan. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes, or until the apples are soft.
- Allow to cool slightly, then blend with an immersion blender or transfer to an upright blender and blend until smooth.
- In the saucepan, combine the apple puree, sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Place over medium heat and stir until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low and cook uncovered, stirring often to prevent sputtering, for 40 minutes to 1 hour, or until the apple butter has a thick, spreadable texture and rich brown color.
- Remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Transfer to an airtight container or jar and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months.