Easy Apple Butter Food

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

APPLE BUTTER THE EASY WAY

Steps:

• In a microwave safe bowl, combine apples, maple syrup and cinnamon. Microwave on high for 15 minutes. Transfer mixture to a blender and process until smooth. Return mixture to bowl and microwave 5 minutes more. Cool and transfer to a jar. Store in refrigerator.

APPLE BUTTER (SUPER EASY)

Steps:

• Core and chop apples into medium size pieces. No need to chop into little pieces. Make sure to leave the peels on!
• Heat the apples and apple cider in a large pot over medium/high heat to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. The mixture will get really mushy.
• Puree apple mixture right in pot with electric soup mixer. Or remove mixture from pot and blend or run through a mill. You want the mixture to be completely soft and smooth - no lumps. Return apple mixture to pot.
• In separate bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and pectin and stir together.
• Add sugar/spice/pectin mixture into apple mixture with lemon juice and stir.
• Cook for another 30 minutes.
• Remove from heat and fill jars to 1/4" of top. Recipe makes approximately 11 half-pint 8 oz. jars.
• Wipe rims clean and screw on 2-piece lids.
• Submerge sealed jars into hot water at 200 degrees (or boiling) for 10 minutes. You will hear a "pop" sound once jars are removed from water - that is when the lids are sealed. Let cool on your kitchen counter.

EASY CROCK POT APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Add applesauce, sugars, and cider together in crock pot.
• Cover and cook on low for 3 hours.
• Add spices and cook on low, covered, for 3 more hours.
• Uncover and continue cooking on low for 1-4 hours or until sufficiently thickened. May take longer, depends on how thick you like it and your crock pot.
• Ladle hot apple butter into 1/2 pint or pint size canning jars and process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
• Makes about 6 pints.
• If you're not into canning, this would probably freeze very well.

APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Mix all ingredients in 5- to 6-quart slow cooker.
• Cover and cook on low heat setting 8 to 10 hours or until apples are very tender.
• Mash apples with potato masher or large fork.
• Cook uncovered on low heat setting 1 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until mixture is very thick. Cool about 2 hours.
• Spoon apple butter into container. Cover and store in refrigerator up to 3 weeks.