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Sharing my favorite homemade slow cooker maple apple butter recipe today, since you guys have been asking for it all month long.
As a lot of you have noticed, I’ve been using a ton of apple butter this September, see this honey, apple, cheddar, and bacon panini, this brussels sprout mushroom pizza, this honeycrisp apple old fashioned, and this pastry wrapped baked brie with maple roasted apples. To my surprise, many of you are actually unfamiliar with apple butter. If that happens to be you, apple butter is basically just apple sauce, but thicker and spiced with warm autumn spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. It’s sweet, smooth, and possibly one of the most delicious spreads to keep in the pantry and put on toast throughout the fall season.
I’ll usually buy apple butter from the store, but on my fall bucket list this year I had written down “make homemade apple butter”. I was so excited that I actually checked the item off my list within the second week of September! I mean, this is amazing because my fall bucket list is huge, and I’ll often make a bucket list and never check anything off!
Anyway, I guess my point is that I was very excited to finally make some homemade apple butter. I’m also extremely excited, not only in how delicious it turned out, but how easy was to make!
If you have been following along on the blog for a year or more, than you know, come fall, I love to break out my slow cooker. Something about slow cooking a recipe all day long, just screams out to me during the fall months.
This apple butter is the perfect recipe to make on a crisp Sunday morning. Then maybe go out for a mid-day hike or bike ride and when you come back in the house will smell all cozy and delicious. then just spend an hour or two curled up on the couch and taking in the smell of apples cooking with cider, maple syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg…nothing short of amazing. Honestly, I would make this apple butter recipe simply for the smell it gives off. It’s like your favorite fall candles, but so much better.
Of course, unlike a candle, you get to eat this at the end of cooking, which is obviously much more ideal than just blowing something out, you know?
OKAY, so here’s how this recipe works. Chop up your apples (I love using Honeycrisp) and add them to your slow cooker along with, apple cider, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Cover and cook on low and slow all day long (or at least that’s how I prefer to do it). Then remove the sauce, puree in a blender and place back in the slow cooker for another hour or so. This will help thicken the sauce into more of a “butter”.
There’s almost zero work involved in the recipe and the end result is just so delicious. So far, I’ve used this apple butter in four recipes and it has taken them from good to incredible. AND I love that the only added sugar I used in the recipe is maple syrup, no brown sugar or coarse sugar needed. Meaning, this totally is totally acceptable to call healthy. Cool. Cool.
I have truly been using this apple butter almost daily. It is delicious in so many recipes (try it with pork chops!) or just spread it over a piece of toasted bread.
Plus, it’s the perfect way to use up all the fall apples you went and picked over the weekend…or that I hope you picked!
And you guys! Speaking of the weekend! I have so many fun details to share about the Half Baked Harvest Cookbook retreat. Would you like a full post on the retreat? I don’t have too many photos, but I have so much to say! Maybe I will share the details in my favorite’s post this Sunday!
Just to quickly recap though, the retreat went so amazingly well and was so much fun! Fortunately, the dinner on Saturday night went great. I worked with Crate and Barrel on the tables, and Kroger on the dinner. The tables turned out so cute that I might just need to recreate them and snap some better photos. I always LOVE the tablescapes I’m able to create with Crate and Barrel product. The actual meal thankfully turned out great. Thank you to Kroger for all my delicious produce…oh, and the ice cream social we did together was so delish.
Sunday morning was brunch with my friends at Land O’Lakes. It could not have been more delicious. All of their special butters take recipes to another level…their pumpkin spice butter is just too good.
I will go into more detail on Sunday, so stay tuned for that!
In the meantime, how about we all make some apple butter and then this apple cheddar Panini and this cocktail?!
Homemade Slow Cooker Maple Apple Butter
Servings: 6 cups
Calories Per Serving: 232 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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
Slow Cooker
- 1. In the bowl of your slow cooker, combine the apples, apple cider, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5 hours, stirring halfway through cooking.2. Remove the cinnamon stick and then transfer the apples to a blender and puree until smooth. Return to the crockpot and cook, uncovered on high for 1-2 hours or until slightly thickened. Taste and adjust sweetness level to your liking by adding more maple. Cool and store in glass jars in the fridge for up to 1 month.
Instant Pot
- 1. In the bowl of your instant pot, combine the apples, apple cider, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Cover and cook on high pressure for 20 minutes. Release the steam.2. Remove the cinnamon stick and then transfer the apples to a blender and puree until smooth. Return to the instant pot and cook, uncovered on sauté for 15-20 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Taste and adjust sweetness level to your liking by adding more maple. Cool and store in glass jars in the fridge for up to 1 month.
Stove-Top
- 1. Combine the apples, apple cider, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, salt and 1 cup water in a large, heavy bottomed pot over high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are completely softened and the liquid has reduced by half, 30 to 40 minutes, adding water if needed to keep the apples in liquid. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.2. Remove the cinnamon stick and then transfer the apples to a blender and puree until smooth. Return to the pot and cook, uncovered over medium heat for 15-20 minutes, or until slightly thickened. Taste and adjust sweetness level to your liking by adding more maple. Cool and store in glass jars in the fridge for up to 1 month.
Notes
Nutritional values are based on one cup
Yes, lets! No boring Tuesdays around here!
Lastly, if you make this Homemade Slow Cooker Maple Apple Butter, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
This post was originally published on September 26, 2017
Do you peel the apples?
Hi Terry, I do not peel my apples. I love to leave the skins on. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
I like this
Thank you!
delicious and made my house smell amazing! can’t wait to use this in a bunch of your recipes!
I am so glad this turned out so amazing for you! Thank you Laura!
I just tried this, it was aaaaamazing! My whole house smells so good. I just made this, to make the brie and apple dessert.. But this is a can definitely stand alone and it’s so easy! Talking about easy, I’ve been married 14 years and I’m a 35 year old women. Who’s cooked the same 10+ dishes for a decade and a half. Which only half of those are from scratch. My neighbor was obsessed with your recipes. But I figured it’s because she’s a good cook. So it’s easy for her to make anything good. I first tried your beef tenderloin and mushroom dish. It the was fun to make , easy to follow and absolutely delicious. My husband loved it. I was shocked. He’s a very harsh critic. Then everyday other day since, I’ve tried a different recipe. Not to get emotional, but you’ve turned me from a person who was scared to cook. To a person who can’t wait to make a meal. Thank for teaching this grown women how’s to finally cook.
Hi Aliya! I am so glad you loved this apple butter recipe! Also, I am so glad you love cooking now.. Thats amazing!! Thank you so much!
Perfect
Thank you!
My apple butter is still pretty runny after letting it cool over night. Is it ok to put it back in the slow cooker to reduce more after it has already been cooled down? Thanks!!
Hey Ariel! Yes, you can certainly put the apple butter back in the slow cooker to thicken it. You can also thicken it up on the stove-top as well. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much and happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
Hi there, this was delicious but like some other comments above, mine never set. I allowed to cool for a few hours and then refridgerated overnight and still quite soupy. Any tips to help thicken it to a more buttery consistency? Can still use for a syrup like topping if not as the taste is delicious!
Hey Melissa! I recommend placing the butter back in the slow cooker and cooking, with the lid off for an addition hour. That should thicken the butter up! Please let me know if you have any other questions. So glad you love this recipe. Thanks so much! xTieghan
How long will this Apple butter keep? Can you freeze it!!!
The apple butter will keep about 2 weeks in the fridge. Yes, you can freeze the apple butter. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much! xTieghan
Thanks for this recipe
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Thank you!
Love this apple butter so much!! I made this in my mini instapot, half recipe, blended in my Vitamix and finished on the stove top, which may have been unnecessary…although turned out great and perfect for the Amazing Apple Butter Bars (big hit for my dinner party last night)!! Now, I’m making a second batch for a friend:). So delish even on its own…a spoonful of Fall! Thank you! Love ALL that you create & share!!!
Thank you so much Janey! I am so glad you are loving this recipe!
Thanks for making this easy! Made it without clove bc I didn’t have it handy and I’m not a huge fan. I was happily surprised with how much the recipe made. Slathering it on my pancakes and toast!
Got a huge stash of apples from harvesting at a friends so I need more easy ideas! Unfortunately I cannot live on apple butter and apple crisp. ?♀️
I am so happy to hear that! Thank you Danielle!
Wow! Thanks for sharing! I can’t wait to make this! Maple and apples, never tried it before but it sounds delish!
Thank you so much June!
Very nice, i like it
Thanks!
Very good taste. I made it in the instant pot and it came out great.
Thank you Zsofia!
Hi Tieghan! Love all your photos and your recipes are great!! I was looking forward to make this apple butter but unfortunately, I was unable to locate the non-alcoholic Apple cider. Can I replace with Concentrated & Unsweetened Apple Juice? Or does it have to be sweetened? Thanks in advance!!
Hey Brenda! I would use unsweetened apple juice in place of the cider. I am sure that will be great. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much! xTieghan