Description
This Homemade Slow Cooker Maple Apple Butter is a cozy, spiced spread made from sweet Honeycrisp apples simmered to perfection with real maple syrup and warming spices. Perfect for spreading on toast, dolloping on pancakes, or stirring into yogurt, this apple butter combines the natural sweetness of apples and maple with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and vanilla for a deliciously smooth and flavorful treat. The recipe offers flexible cooking methods including slow cooker, instant pot, or stovetop, allowing you to make it with your preferred equipment.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 4 pounds Honeycrisp apples, cored and diced
- 1 1/4 cups apple cider
- 1/2 cup real maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon or 1–2 cinnamon sticks
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 pinch ground cloves (about 1/4 teaspoon)
- 1 pinch sea salt or kosher salt
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In your chosen cooking vessel—slow cooker, instant pot, or heavy-bottomed pot for stovetop cooking—add the diced apples, apple cider, maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon (either ground or stick), freshly grated nutmeg, ground cloves, and a pinch of salt. Mix them together to ensure even distribution of spices and flavors.
- Cook the Apples: Depending on your equipment, cook the apple mixture as follows: For the slow cooker, cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5 hours, stirring once halfway through. For the instant pot, seal and cook on high pressure for 20 minutes, then release the steam carefully. On the stovetop, bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium-low and simmer for 30 to 40 minutes until apples are very soft and liquid has reduced by half, stirring occasionally and adding water if needed.
- Puree the Mixture: Remove any cinnamon sticks used. Transfer the cooked apples to a blender and puree until smooth, creating a silky apple butter base. Return this puree to your cooking vessel.
- Thicken the Apple Butter: Cook the pureed apples uncovered until the apple butter is slightly thickened. Use high heat for 1-2 hours in the slow cooker, sauté mode for 15-20 minutes in the instant pot, or medium heat for 15-20 minutes on the stovetop. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.
- Adjust and Store: Taste your apple butter and add extra maple syrup if you prefer a sweeter spread. Allow the apple butter to cool, then transfer it into glass jars. Refrigerate and enjoy within one month for the best flavor and freshness.
Notes
- You can choose between ground cinnamon or cinnamon sticks, but be sure to remove the sticks before blending.
- If the mixture becomes too thick during cooking, add a splash of apple cider or water to loosen it.
- Using Honeycrisp apples gives a nice balance of sweetness and tartness but you can substitute with other sweet apples like Fuji or Gala.
- Store apple butter in sterilized glass jars in the refrigerator and use within one month.
- This apple butter can also be frozen for up to 3 months; thaw in the refrigerator before use.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Spread
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: homemade apple butter, slow cooker apple butter, maple apple butter, fall recipes, fruit spreads, autumn preserves
