Crockpot Apple Butter (No Sugar Added)
A simple, slow-cooker recipe for apple butter that yields a thick, dark, rich spread without any added sugar. Try it on toast, pancakes, or swirled into yogurt or oatmeal!
Ingredients
- 18 small-medium apples
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1 Tablespoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- a pinch of salt
Instructions
- 1. Cut each apple into 4-6 large slices, removing the cores (don't peel the apples). Place apple chunks, cider, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vinegar into the bowl of your slow-cooker.
- 2. Cook on HIGH for 9-11 hours. Remove the lid, and stir the apples. At this point, it should look like dark, chunky applesauce. Let the slow-cooker continue cooking on low for another hour with the lid cracked. This will let steam escape and help reduce some of the liquid.
- 3. Turn off the slow-cooker. When the mixture is cool enough to handle, transfer it to the bowl of a food processor or blender, add vanilla and salt, and blend until smooth.
- 4. Store apple butter in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month, or freeze/can extras for long-term storage.
Notes
*I used mostly Galas, and a few Macoun apples. 18 happened to be the number that fit in my crockpot, but you should use a few more/less, to fill your slow-cooker to the top.