This sweet and spiced Slow Cooker Apple Butter is prepared using fresh apples, apple juice, ground cinnamon, allspice, and cloves. This creamy and fragrant apple butter recipe is a perfect fall-inspired dessert spread that takes about 8 hours to prepare and yields 80 servings.

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Recipe Ingredients

• 12 Jonathan or Winesap apples
• 2 cups (475 ml) of apple juice
• 5 cups (1 kg) of sugar
• 2 tablespoons (14 g) of ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon (6 g) of ground allspice
• 1 tablespoon (6.6 g) of ground cloves

How To Make Slow Cooker Apple Butter

1. Prepare the Apples: Start by washing, coring, and quartering all 12 apples, making sure to leave the peels on, as they will be removed later. Lightly coat the inside of your slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
2. Cook the Apples: Place the quartered apples into the slow cooker, then pour in 2 cups (475 ml) of apple juice. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 2 to 4 hours until the apples become extremely tender and can be easily mashed with a fork.
3. Mill the Apples: Once the apples are soft, use a slotted spoon to carefully remove them from the slow cooker and place them into a food mill. Process the apples through the food mill to separate the peels and create a smooth apple puree.
4. Sweeten and Season the Puree: Measure the apple puree from the food mill, and return it to the slow cooker. For each pint of apple puree, add 1 cup (200 g) of sugar, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of ground allspice, and 1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves. Stir thoroughly to ensure the sugar and spices are evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
5. Finish the Apple Butter: Cover the slow cooker again and set it to high for 6 to 8 more hours, making sure to stir the mixture every 2 hours to prevent burning. After 3 hours of cooking, remove the cover to allow the mixture to thicken and the liquid to evaporate. Continue cooking until the apple butter becomes thick, dark, and spreadable, reaching the consistency you prefer.

Recipe Tips

• Adjust the Sweetness to Your Taste: If you prefer a less sweet apple butter, you can reduce the sugar by up to one cup without affecting the consistency. Opt for tart apples to naturally lower the sweetness.
• Choose the Right Apple Varieties: Using Jonathan, Winesap, or even Granny Smith apples results in a rich flavor. For a sweeter taste, try a mix of Fuji or Gala apples along with the traditional varieties.
• Add a Twist with Spices: You can introduce a subtle warmth by adding a pinch of nutmeg or cardamom to the apple butter during the seasoning step. This adds a unique layer to the flavor profile.
• Freeze for Later Use: If you plan to freeze the apple butter, store it in airtight freezer-safe jars. It will keep for up to six months without losing its taste or texture, making it a great make-ahead recipe.

Recipe FAQs and Variations

Check out More Recipes:

• Slow Cooker Pineapple Jam
• Apple Jam in Slow Cooker
• Slow Cooker Blackberry and Apple Jam