Apple Butter Recipe – Easy Directions for Crockpot or Stovetop!

Make this easy apple butter recipe in a crockpot or on the stovetop! With simple instructions that include how to can apple butter to preserve it, this delicious fall recipe is perfect for using extra apples every year.

I have a single apple tree in my backyard. Every other year I have an abundance of apples when they come in season in the autumn.

I use a lot of them to make homemade apple pie filling and this amazing homemade apple sauce recipe!

In those off years when my tree doesn’t produce, I can’t walk by the produce department at the grocery store and breathe in that amazing smell without taking a few pounds home with me.

I bought apple butter in jars at the store for a long time until one day I thought, “Why not try making some myself? It can’t be that hard.” And I was right!

Making homemade apple butter is so easy I couldn’t believe I hadn’t tried it before. 

Basically, this apple butter recipe is just like making apple sauce but it cooks for much longer. It also doesn’t require you to peel your apples!

You end up with a gorgeous, rich color and an awesomely thick texture that can be spread on toast or used in cakes for flavor, sweetness, and tenderness. 

This apple butter recipe is adapted from a few different sources and has been perfected over time.

You’ll make the perfect batch on your first try just by following these simple instructions. 

Apple Butter Recipe Ingredients

Here’s a list of ingredients you’ll need to make this apple butter. I’ve also included descriptions to explain why you need them.

Apples: Any mixture of red, yellow and pink apples will work perfectly for this apple butter recipe. They break down easily and provide the perfect sweetness.

Apple juice/cider: This provides extra liquid that infuses a bit more flavor and keeps the mixture moist through the entire cooking process

Sugar: A mixture of brown and white sugar is used in this recipe for sweetness, richness and color.

Spices: A combination of warm autumn spices including cinnamon, cloves, and allspice.

Lemon juice: Add lemon juice after removing the apple butter from the heat to help balance out the flavors.

Vanilla extract: Add the vanilla extract at the end as well. This adds to the scent and rounds off the flavor profile. (Here’s a great tutorial for how to make homemade vanilla)

Directions

How to make this apple butter recipe in a Crockpot

We’ll start with how to make apple butter in a crockpot: 

1. Slice the apples and remove the seeds. There’s no need to remove the peels for this recipe which saves a lot of time! 
2. Add the sugars, spices, and juice and stir it all together. 
3. Put on the lid and set it to low for 10 hours, stirring occasionally. 
4. Remove the lid, use a hand blender or stand-up blender to blend it to a smooth consistency. You may have to do it in batches if you’re using a regular blender. 
5. Keeping the lid off, set the heat back to low (which may say 10 hours), set a timer, and cook for another 2 hours. Stirring occasionally. 
6. Turn off the heat and add the lemon juice and vanilla extract. 

And that’s it! 

Pro Tip: Make sure you plan this out in advance! I may or may not have spent time getting up at 2 a.m. to turn off the heat and add the lemon juice and vanilla, then getting up at 3 a.m. to put it in the fridge…

How to make apple butter on the stove

Next, let’s talk about how to make apple butter on the stovetop: 

1. Slice the apples and remove the seeds. No need to peel them. 
2. Add the apples, juice or cider, sugars, and spices to a large stockpot and stir it all together. 
3. Set the heat to low and let it gently simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. 
4. Use a hand blender or stand-up blender and puree the mixture until it’s smooth. You may have to do this in batches. 
5. Cook, uncovered, on low for another hour or until it’s thick and has a deep rich brown color stirring occasionally. 
6. Remove from the heat and add the vanilla and lemon juice. 

Apple butter storage

You can store apple butter in glass jars or plastic containers in the fridge for up to a month.

Store them in the freezer for up to 12 months. This is my favorite way to store all my homemade spreads. I can make big batch and keep them in rotation for months. (We never make it a whole year) 

If you decide to can your apple butter using the instructions below, the small jars are great for giving away!

Wrap your cute little jars with a bit of twine and a pretty label and you’ll have a lovely holiday gift.

I love giving homemade food as gifts, and my friends and family are always super excited to get them each year.

How to Can Apple Butter in Jars

You can also can apple butter by boiling jars and their lids and removing them with tongs.

Fill the jars with the sauces, making sure not to touch the rim of the jar. I leave about an inch of room at the top.

Screw the lids on and then submerge in boiling water for 10 minutes. As they cool, you’ll hear a “pop” as the lids seal completely shut. 

If you preserve them this way, you can store them in your pantry at room temperature for 12 months.