This easy Slow Cooker Apple Butter is made with just 4 ingredients: apples, honey, cinnamon, and apple cider. No refined sugar, just cozy fall flavor!
You know I love using my crockpot whenever I can, and making a batch of homemade apple butter is literally my idea of a good time. Plus, the house smells AMAZING (just like my homemade pear butter!).
I have nothing against store-bought apple butter, but it’s so inexpensive to make your own at home. My version is naturally sweetened with honey and apple cider, so it’s not overly sweet but still has plenty of cozy fall flavor and lots of cinnamon.
I love spreading it over toast, stirring it into overnight oats (tastes like apple pie!), and even using it as a marinade for oven roasted chicken thighs or pork. It’s one of those fall staples I love having a jar of in the fridge!
ingredients to make slow cooker apple butter
You only need four simple ingredients to make homemade apple butter in the crockpot! This version is naturally sweetened with honey and apple cider, with plenty of cinnamon for that cozy fall flavor.
Sometimes I peel the apples, and sometimes I don’t. I personally don’t taste a noticeable difference one way or the other and I’ve been making this recipe for years. So this part is up to you.
- Apples: I use red apples for this recipe and prefer Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, or Cosmic Crisp for their natural sweetness.
- Apple cider: Adds natural sweetness and helps the apples soften as they cook. Use fresh apple cider, not apple cider vinegar.
- Honey: Just ¼ cup adds sweetness without refined sugar. You can adjust to taste depending on how sweet your apples are.
- Cinnamon: A full tablespoon gives this apple butter its warm, cozy flavor. I also like tossing in a cinnamon stick or two while it cooks for extra flavor, but that’s totally optional! Just remove before blending.
What are the best apples for homemade apple butter?
I prefer sweet red apples like Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, or Cosmic Crisp for this recipe. They’re naturally sweet, so you don’t need to add a ton of honey to get that rich apple butter flavor. You can use one variety or a mix of whatever you have on hand.
how to make slow cooker apple butter
Making homemade apple butter in the crockpot is mostly hands-off! Everything goes straight into the slow cooker for about 4 hours, then gets blended until smooth. I like to let it cook uncovered for one more hour so the excess liquid can evaporate and the apple butter thickens into that rich, spreadable consistency. That’s it!
How to Store Homemade Apple Butter
A batch of homemade apple butter will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks (or you can easily freeze it!). This recipe makes about 2 cups, and sometimes I make a batch just to gift in little Weck jars to friends and family during fall, along with a loaf of sourdough from the farmers market. Such a simple, cozy little gift!
- Refrigerator: Let the apple butter cool completely before transferring to an airtight container or glass jar. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- Freezer: Apple butter freezes beautifully! Transfer to a freezer-safe container or jar, leaving a little room for expansion. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Thawing: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and give it a good stir before serving.
homemade apple butter made in the slow cooker
Ingredients
- 5 red apples, cored and diced - optional to peel
- ⅔ cup apple cider
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tablespoons cinnamon
- 1-2 cinnamon sticks - optional
Instructions
- To your slow-cooker, add chopped apples, apple cider, honey, cinnamon and cinnamon sticks (if using). Cover, and cook on HIGH 4 hours or LOW for 10 hours, stirring halfway through cook time.
- Uncover. Remove cinnamon sticks and puree with an immersion blender, or food processor*
- Cook on LOW uncovered 30 minutes to 1- hour, stirring occasionally, until thick. Will make about 2 cups (30ish tbsp).
Notes
Nutrition
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Looks Amazing. A must try!
So easy, and delish!
I almost bought some from the store but it’s good to know that I could totally make it!
Hope you’re having fun in the Bahamas and happy birthday to your mom!