Sweet Spiced Apple Butter Food

SPICED APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Stir together all ingredients and 1 ½ cups water in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Bring to a simmer over medium-high, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until apples break down and become very soft, 1 hour, 45 minutes to 2 hours. Remove from heat; cool 10 minutes.
• Transfer mixture to a blender. Secure lid on blender, and remove center piece to allow steam to escape. Place a clean towel over opening. Process until smooth, 1 minute. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator up to 1 month.

SWEET SPICED APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Wash and quarter the apples.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, mix the orange juice, cloves, allspice, and cinnamon stick.
• Add the apples, and bring to a boil. Turn heat to medium-low, cover, and allow to simmer for 30-45 minutes, until apples are softened all the way through.
• Remove mixture from heat, and let it cool for a bit so you don't burn yourself when processing. Process the mixture through your food mill, or push it through the sieve, which will leave the leftover peels, seeds, and spices behind.
• Pour the apple mixture into your Crock Pot. Prop the lid so that the steam can escape - this is important, because the apple butter needs to cook down. You can use knives, chopsticks, what have you to prop the lid.
• [url href="http://www.kitchentreaty.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/prop-open-the-lid-apple-butter.jpg"][img src="http://www.kitchentreaty.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/prop-open-the-lid-apple-butter.jpg" alt="Sweet Spiced Crock Pot Apple Butter | Kitchen Treaty" width="630" height="420" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9044"][/url]
• Heat on high for an hour, then reduce the heat to low, and cook on low for 8-10 hours, stirring occasionally (but it shouldn't be the end of the world if you don't, unless your Crock Pot runs really hot - you just don't want it to burn on the bottom).
• The Apple Butter will cook down to a nice, smooth consistency and take on a delicious brown color.
• [url href="http://www.kitchentreaty.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/crock-pot-apple-butter-2.jpg"][img src="http://www.kitchentreaty.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/crock-pot-apple-butter-2.jpg" alt="Sweet Spiced Crock Pot Apple Butter | Kitchen Treaty" width="630" height="420" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-9043"][/url]
• Stir in sugar, and cook on low for another 1/2 hour or so. You may need a little more or a little less depending on how sweet your apples are.
• Pour it into jars and enjoy! If you're canning, leave 1/4 inch head space and process jars in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes (depending on altitude) (here are [url href="http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/348/348-594/348-594.html" target="_blank"]thorough canning instructions here[/url] from the Virginia Cooperative Extension).

SPICED APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Prep apples as directed, combine in slow cooker with apple juice (or cider), brown sugar and spices, cook overnight and into the next day if you can, stirring occasionally - 18 hours or so is optimal. You want the mixture to reduce down significantly. Once the apples are to more or less applesauce consistency, apply an immersion blender to puree the mixture to a velvety texture or put it through a food mill. Once the liquid no longer separates quickly after it's stirred, it's ready to jar up and process. Pour into sterilized jars, process in hot water bath for 10-15 minutes.

SWEET AND CHUNKY APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• 1. Cut McIntosh apples into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces. Cut Granny Smith apples into smaller dice.
• 2. Combine apples and cider in a very large stainless steel or enamel saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and boil gently for 20 minutes or until mixture is reduced by half.
• 3. Stir in sugar and lemon juice. Return to a boil, reduce heat, and boil gently for about 25 minutes or until mixture is very thick. There should still be some tender apple chunks remaining. Remove from heat.
• 4. Ladle into sterilized jars and process as directed for Shorter Time Processing Procedure .
• Variation: Spiced Apple Butter
• Add 2 tsp (10 mL) ground cinnamon and 1/2 tsp (2 mL) each ground cloves and allspice with the sugar.

SPICED APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, combine the apples, apple cider, brown sugar, molasses, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 1-3/4 to 2 hours or until mixture reaches a thick, spreadable consistency, stirring often., Remove from the heat. Stir in raisins and lemon zest. Cool to room temperature. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

REDUCED SUGAR SPICED APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Stir chopped apples, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, cinnamon, cloves, and salt together in a slow cooker.
• Cook on Low until the apples are soft enough to mash easily with a fork, 8 to 10 hours.
• Puree apple mixture with an immersion blender until smooth.
• Cook uncovered until some of the liquid reduces and the color is dark brown, about 1 hour.

CHUNKY SWEET SPICED APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Combine apples, sugar, vinegar, 2 tablespoons of butter, cinnamon, salt, and cloves in the slow cooker.
• Cover and cook LOW 8 hours.
• Stir in remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and the vanilla.
• Cool completely.
• Serve with roasted meats or on toast.
• ENJOY!