Apple Butter I Food

AWARD-WINNING CROCK POT APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Place apples in slow cooker in thirds, layering sugar between each layer.
• Add rest of ingredients on top and pack them down as well as you can.
• Cover and cook on high for 1 hour.
• Reduce heat to low. Open and give it a stir. Keep covered and cook 8 hours or until thick and dark brown, stirring occasionally. (You can do this overnight and can in the morning).
• Uncover and cook for the last hour on low.
• If a smoother apple butter is desired, you may puree in blender or food mill.
• Place in sterile jars with lids and process for 10 minutes in hot water bath or you can freeze.
• Note: For more information on canning, you can go to the "Canning Forum" on recipezaar for instructions or to have questions answered.

APPLE BUTTER RECIPE

Steps:

• Combine Honeycrisp apples, Granny Smith apples, and apple cider in a large stainless steel or enamel-coated saucepan; bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer until mixture reduces by about half, about 20 minutes.
• Stir sugar and lemon juice into the apple mixture; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, and continue cooking at a simmer until the mixture is very thick, about 25 minutes.
• Sterilize the jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Pack apple butter into the hot, sterilized jars, filling the jars to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower jars into the boiling water using a holder. Leave a 2-inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary to bring the water level to at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a rolling boil, cover the pot, and process for 10 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). Store in a cool, dark area.

APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Combine apples, vinegar, allspice berries (if using), cinnamon sticks (if using), ginger (if using), star anise pod (if using) and 4 cups water in a large, heavy bottomed pot over high heat. Bring to a simmer and 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. (Some pieces of apple might float at first; they will sink and become submerged as they soften.) Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
• Leaving behind allspice berries, cinnamon sticks and star anise pod, pass the apples through a food mill. (Alternatively, working in batches, ladle apples into a strainer or colander, and using a ladle, wooden spoon or spatula, press apples to pass pulp through, leaving behind seeds and skin.)
• To finish on the stovetop: Place apple pulp in the same large, heavy-bottomed pot, add granulated sugar and light brown sugar and stir to dissolve. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture is thick, glossy and a deep golden brown (somewhere between honey and molasses), 2 to 2 1/2 hours. (Around the 1 1/2-hour mark, things will start to bubble rather violently. Stirring constantly will help, but expect, and be careful of, a few splatters.) To test the thickness, spoon a bit onto a plate: The mixture should set almost immediately with no spreading or wateriness. If it's not there yet, cook another 8 to 10 minutes and test again. When the desired consistency is reached, season with kosher salt.
• To finish in the oven: Heat oven to 300 degrees. Place apple pulp in a 9-inch by 13-inch (3-quart) baking dish, add granulated sugar and light brown sugar and stir to dissolve. Place in oven and let cook, stirring every 30 minutes or so, until mixture is thick, glossy and a deep, golden brown color (somewhere between honey and molasses), 3 to 3 1/2 hours. To test the thickness, spoon a bit onto a plate: The mixture should set almost immediately with no spreading or wateriness. If it's not there yet, cook another 20 to 30 minutes and test again. When the desired consistency is reached, season with kosher salt.

CHEF JOHN'S APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Place apple pieces into a large slow cooker. Add white sugar, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and vinegar. Add a splash of water and mix well.
• Cover and cook on High until apples are starting to soften and release liquid, 1 to 2 hours. Reduce heat to Low and cook, uncovered, until all the apple flesh is dissolved, 5 to 6 hours. Stir occasionally.
• Puree using an immersion blender until smooth. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until darkened and thick, about 4 hours more. Pass apple butter through a strainer if desired. Seal in a glass container and refrigerate until cool.

APPLE BUTTER I

Steps:

• Fill a slow cooker with diced apples, sugar, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Cover, and cook on high for 1 hour. Reduce heat. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 12 hours, or until thick and dark golden in color.
• Pack into small, freezer-safe containers leaving 3/4 inch space at the top. Store in the freezer.

APPLE BUTTER RECIPE

Steps:

• Once the fruit butter is made, you will need to start by preparing jars and getting water in the canner heating. You want the canner hot, but not boiling, when the jars are ready to be processed. See full water bath canning instructions here.
• Peel, core, and quarter apples. Simmer in 2 cups water until apples are soft.
• Puree and measure out 2 quarts pulp.
• Add sugar to taste. Suggestion is 4 cups sugar to 2 quarts pulp.
• Add spices to taste. A suggestion is 1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. ground cloves, 1/4 tsp. salt.
• Stir well and continue to cook on low, stirring occasionally until sauce is the consistency you like. Butter will round up on spoon. Leave lid off or ajar to allow steam to escape.
• Process in a water bath canner.

APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Mix apple puree, sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, pumpkin pie spice and lemon juice in a large, heavy saucepan. Cook, uncovered, over medium heat and when it begins to boil, turn down heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally.
• Place a couple of small saucers in the refrigerator. As mixture gets thicker, stir more often so it does not scorch. Total cooking time can take 1 to 2 hours.
• Cook until a spoonful dropped onto a cold plate does not weep. Let the mixture sit on plate about 5 minutes to check the consistency.
• Meanwhile, wash 6 half-pint jars. Keep hot until needed. Prepare lids as manufacturer directs.
• Ladle the hot apple butter into 1 hot jar at a time, leaving 1/4 inch head space.
• Wipe jar rim with a clean, damp cloth. Attach lid.
• Fill and close remaining jars.
• Process in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes.
• Note: To make the puree, wash, peel, core and quarter apples. Place in saucepan with just enough water to cover the bottom of the pan. Cover and cook on medium heat until apples are soft. Put cooked apples through a sieve or food mill.

APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Peel, core and slice enough apples to fill a 4-quart slow cooker or crock pot so full that the lid will not go down over it.
• Add vinegar; cook for 18 hours.
• If crock pot is fast cooking, cook on high for 10 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Add white sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and cloves.
• Put into blender to blend it like apple butter. Mix all together and cook 4 more hours.
• Seal in jars.

APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• In an 8- to 10-quart heavy kettle combine apples and cider.
• Bring to boiling and reduce heat.
• Simmer, covered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Press through a food mill or sieve until you have 8 1/2 cups.
• Return pulp to kettle.
• Stir in sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice.
• Bring to boiling and reduce heat.
• Cook, uncovered, over low heat 1 1/2 hours or until thick and mixture mounds on a spoon, stirring often.
• Boiling-Water Canning: Ladle hot apple butter into hot, sterilized half-pint canning jars heaving 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe jam jars and adjust lids. Process in a boiling water canner for 5 minutes (start timing when water returns to boil). Remove jars and cool on rack.
• Freezing: Place the kettle of apple butter in a sink filled with ice water. Stir mixture to cool. Ladle into half-pint wide-top freezer containers, leaving a 1/2 inch headspace. Seal and label and freeze up to 10 months. Apple butter may darken slightly on freezing.

APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Cut apples in quarters (skins, stems and seeds can stay on).
• Place in medium saucepan and add water to cover apples completely.
• Add cloves and apple cider vinegar.
• Bring to boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook apples until soft, 15-20 minutes.
• Drain water from pan. Transfer to a medium strainer or food mill. Push through strainer or mill, back into saucepan. You should have the consistency of applesauce. Discard stems, skins, seeds and cloves.
• Add brown sugar and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally for 2 hours to reduce consistency.
• Add room-temperature butter and stir until butter is melted.
• Pour into separate container and chill before serving.

HOMEMADE APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Combine the apples, apple cider, brown sugar and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large ovenproof pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, partially cover and cook until the apples are soft, about 20 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice, cinnamon, vanilla and cloves. Puree the mixture in a blender in batches until smooth (or use an immersion blender).
• Return the mixture to the pot and bake, uncovered, stirring every 30 minutes, until thickened and deep amber, 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours (the timing will depend on the kind of apples you use). Remove from the oven and let cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate up to 5 days.
• Try it on: Pancakes, waffles, yogurt, oatmeal, grilled cheese, PB&J, biscuits, cornbread or pork chops