Hot Buttered Apple Food

BUTTERED APPLE CIDER

Steps:

• Mix 1 stick softened butter, 1/4 cup light brown sugar and 1/2 teaspoon each ground nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves until combined. Put the butter on a piece of plastic wrap and roll into a 1-inch-thick log; wrap and chill 1 hour. Pour 3 cups apple cider into a slow cooker; cover and heat on high for 1 hour. Divide 1 cup bourbon among 6 glasses. Top each with hot cider and a slice of the spiced butter.
• If you don't have a slow cooker, keep these drinks warm in a saucepan on the stovetop over low heat.

APPLE BUTTER IN THE OVEN

Steps:

• Combine apples, apple cider, brown sugar, and salt in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add cinnamon, star anise, cloves, and allspice. Bring to a simmer. Cover partially and cook until apples are soft, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C).
• Remove whole spices from the pot with a slotted spoon. Reserve cinnamon and star anise; discard cloves and allspice. Puree apples with an immersion blender until smooth. Stir in lemon juice and return cinnamon and star anise to the pot.
• Bake uncovered in the preheated oven, stirring every 30 minutes, until apple butter thickens and deepens in color, about 3 hours. Let cool completely. Discard cinnamon and star anise before transferring to airtight containers.

HOT BUTTERED APPLES

Steps:

• Core and slice apple.
• Mix apple with honey, butter, and raisins and put into small microwave safe dish.
• Dust heavily with cinnamon.
• Cover dish and microwave on high for 90 seconds or until cooked, but still firm.
• Each apple will serve 2 persons as a side-dish at breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
• Try it over granola or oatmeal for breakfast.

HOT BUTTERED BRANDY CIDER

Steps:

• Combine Calvados, sugar, and butter in large sauce pan over medium heat. Stir until sugar dissolves and butter melts.
• Add cider and lemon juice; bring to low simmer but not a boil.
• Place cinnamon stick in each serving cup. Pour hot cider into cups and grate small amount of fresh nutmeg over each. Serve hot.

HOT BUTTERED APPLE CIDER (CROCK POT)

Steps:

• In slow cooker on low heat, cook apple cider with syrup for 20 minutes or until steaming. In small bowl, combine butter, nutmeg and allspice. Mix well. Pour cider into mugs and top with a teaspoon of the spiced butter. Enjoy!

HOT BUTTERED APPLE DRINK

Steps:

• In a large bowl beat butter, brown sugar, and spices till light and fluffy.
• Cover and store in refrigerator for up to two weeks.
• To serve: spoon one rounded tablespoon of spice butter into a mug and fill with 3/4 cup boiling apple juice; stir to blend.
• Garnish with lemon slice and cinnamon stick if desired.

HOT BUTTERED APPLE CIDER

Steps:

• Rinse and squeeze out a 12-inch square of cheesecloth.
• Wrap the ginger, star anise, cinnamon, cloves, fennel seed, and Sichuan peppercorns in the cheesecloth.
• Using a piece of kitchen twine, tie it into a packet.
• Pour the cider in a large nonreactive saucepan and add the spice bundle.
• Bring to a simmer over med-low heat, stirring occasionally.
• Ladle the cider into warmed mugs.
• Add a dry cinnamon stick to each mug, and spike with Calvados.
• Top each with a pat of butter.
• Serve hot.

EASY HOT BUTTERED APPLE CIDER

Steps:

• Rinse out and squeeze out 12-inch square of cheesecloth. Wrap ginger, star anise, cinnamon, cloves, fennel seed, and Sichuan peppercorns in cheesecloth. Using piece of kitchen twine, tie into packet.
• Pour cider into large nonreactive saucepan and add spice bundle. Bring to simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.
• Ladle cider into warmed mugs. Add dry cinnamon stick to each mug and spike with Calvados or Applejack, if desired. Top each with pat of butter. Serve hot.