We had apple butter a number of times growing up, and I've finally come across a recipe that works really well! I love it! Ingredients: 10-15 apples (about 5 ½ lbs.) 2 cups sugar 2 tsp. ground cinnamon ¼ tsp. ground cloves ¼ tsp. salt To do: Peel, core, and finely chop the apples and place in the slow cooker*. Mix sugar, cinnamon, cloves and salt in a bowl and poor over the apples. Mix well. Cook on high for 1 hour (w/ top on) Reduce heat to low and cook for an additional 9-11 hours, stirring occasionally. Mixture will become thick and brown. Remove top and cook for 1 hour. Spoon into jars or containers and refrigerate or freeze. * I've never tried this on the stove or anything other than a slow cooker, so for those of you without, I apologize. Notes: -amount of sugar can be adjusted to personal preference and apple type. The original recipe called for 4 cups of sugar, but I've found that when using red delicious apples, that's just too sweet. -this process can be stopped at any time. I made this the other day and only let it cook for about 6 hours. When it finished it was between a pie filling and apple sauce. And rather than using it as a spread, we've been eating it on its own. (photo isn't mine didn't think to get photos of mine. found this one on the net)
It sounds good and I bet it would be good on my squash bread. It could even be adapted for diabetics as I do with applesauce and apple pie. Thanks. dooley
Mmmm, I love applebutter!!!! I burned a batch once, with that long simmering time, and have wondered ever since if cooking it in a crock pot wouldn't work. Haven't tried it yet, though. So good on a fresh, homebaked loaf. Grandma always canned hers with a small piece of cinnamon bark in the jar.
I've made applebutter just like that redrose, an it works everytime. I use a little more spice than you do an add also 1/2 t of cardamon. I like the idea of adding cinnamon bark to the jars when sealing,, I say the more cinnamon the better,, Now I think dooley should slice us all a piece of that great looking squash bread an redrose can pass the applebutter,,,,,,just an idea tho
As long as we are passing things around, how about a chocolate chip cookie? I made those yesterday, too. I am just about to have a mug of tea and some cookies. It must be snack time. I have all the dishes done. Time to start dirtying a few of them. dooley
I like warm tea now and then but a warm cup of hot chocolate with that chocolate chip cookie and a piece of squash bread with apple butter does sound enticing. mmmm.....
I'll eat and drink just about anything at the moment, I'm starving! Just pass whatever you're having.
I adore apple butter, though it does take nigh on forever to cook it down. I always add extra spices and less sweetener in mine, Rome apples are my fave to use... it ends up dark as chocolate. And squash bread! Yummers.
Grandmas apple butter was strictly whatever was on the trees- gravensteins, Dutchess, banana apples, lots of varieties that aren't even produced anymore. But home-grown, unsprayed, scabby (ya peel them anyway) gravensteins still make the best. Poo, now I wish I hadn't munched my way through the apple harvest, lol!
Oh Redrose! I am so happy you posted this! I made some homemade applebutter in the crockpot about two years ago, and misplaced my recipe. I tried another one, and it just did not work or taste as good. I have got some little pretty pint canning jars waiting to fill. What wonderful Christmas present to tuck in the Chistmas baskets that I am making for my brothers and their wives. Thank you again, Redrose . . . you are such an inspiration!
