This crockpot apple butter is a simple apple recipe that allows all of your senses to celebrate the glory of autumn.
Apple butter is traditionally made over many hours on the stove top or even in the oven, and today we are showing you a simpler way.
Growing up in the foothills of New York State’s Adirondack mountains, when fall arrived we were surrounded by apples galore.
My dear cousin recanted a favorite apple story of mine.
One of our aunts asked her sister if she had the apple pie recipe of one of their other sisters.
Our aunt Esther summarily and succinctly responded, “I think she uses macs.”
That’s how folks rolled back then in those parts and apple season was a highly anticipated time.
Make your own crockpot apple butter recipe at home!
What is it?
Apple butter is essentially cooked-down applesauce.
It can be used as a savory spread (like jam) or any number of apple recipes.
The Best Apples for this Apple Butter Recipe
If you’re wondering what are the best apples to use for making apple butter, I would say whatever apples you have on hand!
Although some sources will tell you that the soft varieties are the best apples for this recipe because they cook down faster, this factor is less critical when you are making slow cooker apple recipe.
How to make it
- Core about 3 pounds of apples, leave the skins on, and put them in your slow cooker.
- Add cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves.
- Let the slow cooker work its magic!
We use Honey Crisp apples from our backyard for this easy fall recipe.
Even though we had plenty of fresh apples of all varieties and even our own local apple cider mill, we still did not have access to one apple delicacy in particular: Apple Butter.
Or so I thought.
To get this coveted apple recipe, our family had to drive 60 miles or so to the Ontario border, at the very top of New York state.
Or, was this just part of an elaborate scheme for my folks to take a few days off from farming and pay their kin a visit to the Motherland?
My mom and dad were smart people.
This crockpot apple recipe will fill your whole neighborhood with the delicious scents of fall.
Top cooking tips
- Leave the apple skins on.
- Let the mixture cook slowly, for hours and hours.
- Use an immersion blender to smooth everything out at the end.
- Reduce any excess liquid at the end by slow cooking with the cover off.
While I was putting this together, which could hardly be less complicated, I could not help but wonder if my folks were aware how easy this is to make.
Granted, crock pots weren’t marketed until around 1971 and took a while to come into vogue.
Still, this apple recipe and countless others serve as stark reminders of the usefulness of our slow cookers. Today, it’s hard to imagine any kitchen without one.
As I mentioned, we did consider this food a delicacy – to the point that I grew up thinking that it was made exclusively in Canada.
Thus, the 2 hours or so journey to the birthplace of my great-grandfather, the namesake for our oldest son, was made once or twice each year.
These visits usually occurred in the fall and lasted a week or so while my parents made their rounds, visiting and staying with one cousin of theirs or another.
Every time we crossed the border on the trip back from Ontario to New York, we always brought with us the memories of a lifetime.
And apple butter. Happy fall to you.
Try this sweet and savory apple recipe this fall!
Recipes that Use Apple Butter
Besides using it as a spread, this easy apple recipe can be used as an ingredient in many different other recipes.
Here are some of our favorites recipes that use apple butter:
- Oatmeal and Apple Butter Bars
- Apple Butter Dredged Pork Cutlets
- Apple Butter Meatloaf
- Rasin Apple Butter Bread
- Scottish Tea Cookes with Apple Butter
- Herb Pork Pinwheels with Apple Butter and Chevre
- Apple Butter Muffins
- Sage and Apple Butter Gnocchi
More Apple Recipes for Yoo Try
- Open-Face Apple Pie
- Cinnamon Sugar Apple Cake Recipe
- Apple Crisp
- Simple Apple Bars
- Best Apple Recipes from Southern Living
If you’ve tried this Crockpot Apple Butter Recipe or any other recipe on Platter Talk, please let us know your thoughts in the comments below, we love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW US on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious food and what we have cooking.
📖 Recipe
Apple Butter
Ingredients
- Approximately 3 lb. apples
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. nutmeg
- ½ tsp. allspice
- ½ tsp. cloves
- Dash of salt
- ¾ cup water or fresh apple cider
Instructions
- Fill Crock-pot ¾ full with cored and sliced apples.
- Add the remaining ingredients and stir until evenly mixed.
- Cover and cook on low setting overnight or until the butter is of a thick, spreadable consistency.
- Use immersion blender to purée and incorporate skins into the apple butter.
- If apple butter has too much liquid, remove lid and cook on high until thickened. Stir often as butter thickens to prevent scorching.
Michael says
This is one of the easiest recipes that produces an awesome tasting apple butter. I have reduced the sugar to even less than the suggested substitute of 1 C honey . I used about 2/3 cup honey. It has less calories and the taste was great. I’ve been making it for the past couple of weeks, since I’ve been sending it to friends and family (after they heard I made it) and kept running out.
Thanks for this Winner!!
Dan from Platter Talk says
Michael! Thanks for the terrific feedback on this easy apple butter recipe; I love your use of honey and I’ll be trying that modification myself!
Sheila Barnes says
Just wondering if you can hot bath this recipe?
Dan from Platter Talk says
Hi Shelia; we have not made anything in a hot bath but if you decide to try it, please let us know your results.
Jane Walkinshaw says
I can’t wait to make this Apple butter, I live in NZ and its spring here not fall, or Autumm as we call it. However I’m going to buy some apples just to try this Apple Butter. I have 2 grandsons staying with me as its school hols so they can help make it and then be my testers. I’ll report back how we get on, I can’t wait to make it and try it, never having heard of apple butter before.
Dan from Platter Talk says
We are so excited to see your comments. Try the butter and be sure and use it in some of the many recipes that we feature this sweet and savory condiment!
Nancy OHare says
Our family loves apple butter. The best and it is so expensive in the market. I will try this tonight in crockpot. Just leave it on all night. It’s says to leave skins on. Don’t know about that but it will mske prep easier. If this turns out my family eill be thrilled. On Thomas English muffins for breakfast or on top of post meal on cold morning .
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
This is a must-make this fall!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
This looks absolutely delicious! Yummy!
Megan Ancheta says
A huge slather of apple butter on toast – I can’t resist it! This looks delicious!
Anna says
I bet this apple butter tastes and smells amazing!
Melanie Bauer says
I love easy recipes like this! Our kids will definitely enjoy it, so tasty and flavorful!
Dorothy at Shockinglydelish says
I love how easy it is to get that much flavor!! I am a happy girl when I have a jar full of this goodness in the fridge!
Allison says
I can think of so many ways to use this apple butter! I’m looking forward to trying it soon.
Kimberly says
I love apple butter – homemade is the best!
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine says
This is such an essential recipe this time of year! So much flavor. Love it.
Dan from Platter Talk says
Thanks, Michelle! We love making this apple butter and I think you will love it!
Renee says
For me, fall is apples and apple butter in the slow cooker is my absolute favorite way to make it! Thanks for sharing.
Dan from Platter Talk says
Thanks, Renee, we love this any time of year!
Kim @ Three Olives Branch says
I am always a fan of slow cooker recipes! This looks wonderful! There are so many things I can think of using this apple butter on. Yum!
Dan from Platter Talk says
Thanks Kim, we love this!
Lisa | Garlic + Zest says
I haven’t had apple butter in forever — and {embarrassed} have never made one. This sounds delicious — thank you for sharing the recipe!
Dan from Platter Talk says
Hi Lisa, I hope you give this one a try soon!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan says
I so so love me a good apple butter – and make it quite often – but never in a crockpot! I cannot wait to try this – thanks Dan!
Lisa | Garlic + Zest says
I’m digging all the spices used in this apple butter – definitely a taste of fall!
Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours says
I love my slow cooker apple butter, always delicious and so good on toast or stirred into oatmeal.
Do try and experiment with different types of apples – it makes a massive difference to the final dish.
Igor @ Cooking The Globe says
That’s exactly what I needed. This year in our country is the best in a decade talking about apple production, so I don’t know what to do with all of them! Now I know where I am using at least part of those apples, thanks!
Ludmilla says
You guys always with the best and easy recipes!!!
Mama Harris says
I’d love to have some of this spread onto these pumpkin bagels I picked up the other day, Sounds like an amazing Fall breakfast. This apple butter looks amazing!
Dan from Platter Talk says
Mama, I love where you’re going with this, don’t stop!!! Thanks so much for stopping by Patter Talk.
Jovita @ Yummy Addiction says
You are my savior! My mum gave me like 40 pounds of apples and I didn’t know what to do with them. Apple juice gives me acid reflux, so I’ll go with apple butter. Thanks for the idea!
Dan from Platter Talk says
Jovita, I’m happy and envious, from your wonderful comments! Our apple production this year is not going to be up to par so we will need to rely on produce stands and folks like your mum who have an abundance of apples this fall. We hope you will put them to good use this way, I know you will love the results! Thanks so much for stopping by Platter Talk.
Willow | Will Cook For Friends says
I love apple butter, but have never tried making it from scratch! Such a great idea, and even just by the photos I can tell how flavorful this one is. Thanks for the inspiration!
Dan from Platter Talk says
Willow, thanks so much for stopping by Platter Talk and taking the time to comment on this wonderful fall spread. We hope you try it this season!
Sara says
This would be so good for my morning toast!
Dan from Platter Talk says
Absolutely, Sara!
swathi says
Delicious, I made apple butter regular stove not tried with slow cooker, need to try it.
Dan from Platter Talk says
Swathi, give this a try. You won’t believe how simple and tasty it is to enjoy!
Lori says
I love this stuff. I make it a lot. Here is my guilty pleasure. A little bowl- about a 1/2 cup of apple butter with a tablespoon of sour cream stirred in. Dah-licious! I put about half the amount of sugar though. (this is how I tell myself it is okay to eat a 1/2 cup of apple butter with sour cream).
Lou Lou Girls says
Oh my! Yummy. Pinned and tweeted. Lou Lou Girls
Joanne T Ferguson says
G’day Looks great Dan! All blog comments appreciated and sharing is caring today!
Cheers! Joanne @ What’s On The List #SayGdayParty pinned
Katherine says
Slow cookers are so versatile! I cannot wait to try this and stock up for the winter!
-Katherine
kingsbakery.blogspot.com/
Dan from Platter Talk says
Thanks for your comments, Katherine; this one’s a keeper!
Amanda says
Wow, I love apple butter… I’ll definitely have to try this! Doing it in the slow cooker is just great 🙂
Dan from Platter Talk says
Thanks, Amanda. You’ll enjoy the finished product, I’m sure!
Cathy says
I love the idea of using the slow cooker to make apple butter- one of our favorite fall dishes. Thank you so much for sharing at Share It One More Time.
Carol at Wild Goose Tea says
I have just recently become a fan of apple butter. That’s because I finally ate some homemade apple butter. What a difference. It’s like the difference of store bought applesauce and homemade. So I know I will love this slow cooked version.
John@Kitchen Riffs says
Apple butter in the slow cooker? Brilliant idea! Love the idea of this — thanks.
Linda (Meal Planning Maven) says
So much deliciousness…and naturally I loved reading your wonderful post!
Patty Haxton Anderson says
I just loved this post. So well written and your captured those apple memories in such a way my heart was touched. By the way, the apple butter recipe is wonderful.
Susie Gall says
Your apple butter looks so great and I love the idea of using an immersion blender. Thanks for sharing your recipe!