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Healthy Crockpot Recipes: Apple Butter

October 25, 2011 by Laura 44 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

Many of you offered suggestions as to how to make Apple Butter – thank you!

My house smelled wonderful for hours, thanks to all of you! I decided to experiment with my friend Leesa’s apple butter method, and found it to be very simple and delicious. I only made a small amount this time, since I was experimenting – so you’ll want to double or triple this recipe if you want a larger amount. When I started with one quart of applesauce, I ended up with two and a half – half pints of apple butter. However, it is very clear to me that writing half – half just looks weird and confusing. It may make more sense for me to say that one quart of applesauce resulted in 2.5 half-pint jars.

Or we could say that I ended up with one full pint plus a half of a half pint of apple butter. This is, of course, the same as two and a half cups of apple butter, which is otherwise known as five half cup portions of apple butter, better known as ten – 1/4 cup portions, which we all know is precisely 20 – half of a half of a half of a half of a half pints of apple butter. Give or take a half of a half of a pint.

I’m done now.

Homemade Apple ButterYum

Healthy Crockpot Recipes: Apple Butter
 
Save Print
Author: Laura
Ingredients
  • 1 quart homemade apple sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons sucanat
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
  1. Stir ingredients into a crock pot.
  2. Cook on low for about six hours on low setting, with LID OFF, stirring occasionally.
  3. Store the apple butter in the refrigerator - or process in a hot water bath for 10 minutes to seal.
  4. If the jars are sealed properly, you can store your apple butter in the pantry until you're ready to serve.
3.4.3177

Find my Homemade Apple Sauce recipe here. Read information on how to process in a hot water bath for 10 minutes to seal your jars here.

apple_butter

Caution:  Contents cooking in crock pot are hot. Refrain from sticking a finger into the crock pot for a lick, even though the delicious smell will create a major temptation. Dipping in with a teaspoon is obviously a much better option. No double dipping allowed. In addition, be aware that partaking in too many licks from the crock pot will result in a smaller amount of finished product, which will mean that all of the math I labored over above, rounding carefully to the nearest half of a half pint, will be null and void.

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Filed Under: Canning and Preserving, Crock Pot Recipes Tagged With: apple butter, healthy, recipe

Comments

  1. Brooke says

    October 25, 2011 at 8:02 pm

    LOL – you crack me up… (and I just wrote “you crap me up” – obviously I need to go to bed.)
    thanks for sharing the recipe!

    Hey, one more suggestion the crockpot meals is homemade mac and cheese in the crockpot. I’ve used a particular recipe to make in the CP but it is not healthy :(

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 25, 2011 at 8:21 pm

      Would you mind sending me the recipe you’ve used for the mac and cheese – maybe I can play with it and adapt it? :)

      Reply
      • Brooke says

        October 25, 2011 at 8:28 pm

        Yeah, I will type it up and email it to you :)

        Reply
        • Laura says

          October 26, 2011 at 1:58 pm

          It’s in the crock pot right this minute! :)

          Reply
        • Laura says

          October 26, 2011 at 6:30 pm

          Well, the result of my experiment was only so-so. It’s not blog worthy. :) I’ll have to keep trying!

          Reply
        • Brooke says

          October 26, 2011 at 7:44 pm

          Well, hey, at least you tried! Can you tell me what you used in place of some of the not-so-healthy ingredients? I’m not much of an experimentor in the kitchen but I may try to tweek it this weekend. We’ll see (need to do some research first!)

          Reply
        • Laura says

          October 26, 2011 at 8:13 pm

          I used cream instead of evap milk and cream cheese instead of cream of cheddar soup. Butter instead of margarine of course! I also added some garlic powder and sea salt for flavor. It was pretty bland and very dry. I THINK if I would have only cooked if for two hours it may have been better. Who knows!

          Reply
        • Deloris says

          September 6, 2013 at 11:15 am

          This is the crockpot mac and cheese one I use and since I’m on Weight Watchers, I can’t have it. LOL

          Crock Pot Macaroni & Cheese

          1 (8oz) pkg. macaroni, cooked and drained
          8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, grated
          4 oz medium cheddar cheese, grated
          4 oz medium cheddar cheese, sliced thin
          1 tall can evaporated milk (12 ounce)
          1 1/2 c. whole milk
          1 tsp. salt
          Pepper to taste
          1/4 c. melted margarine
          2 eggs, slightly beaten
          Mix macaroni and grated cheese together. Add evaporated and whole milk, salt, pepper, margarine and eggs. Pour into lightly greased crock pot. Top with sliced cheese. Cover with lid and cook on low (no peeking) for 3 hours.
          I usually start this at home and finish it at the church. That way it’s hot at mealtime.

          Reply
  2. Jen says

    October 25, 2011 at 8:50 pm

    Great post.. laughed out loud!!

    Reply
  3. Kelly says

    October 25, 2011 at 9:23 pm

    I have just 1 and half (or three halfs?) 20 pound boxees left! and 28 cans of applesauce, and a bag of dehydrated apples (yum!). Thinking maybe I could core my apples, throw them in the crockpot to make the applesauce part, immersion (or processor) blend, then continue cooking in the crockpot to make it to the butter part…? Think that would work just fine?

    I’m glad you found a simpler way to do the applesauce with skins on and the food processor. I’m all for simplicity! I don’t add sugar to my applesauce, but have been wondering if I added honey or something, my applesauce might be Christmas gift worthy with other treats. I don’t know if “normal” people will think my sugar free version is sweet enough the way it is, like I do. Maybe that would make it like super amazing applesauce? I don’t know.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 26, 2011 at 2:15 pm

      If I were giving it to others, I’d probably add a little bit of brown sugar to make it more the way they’re used to.

      Reply
  4. Kelly says

    October 25, 2011 at 9:25 pm

    That’s not right… that should say that I have 38 jars of applesauce. I worked HARD for all 38, don’t want to short myself. :-)

    Reply
  5. Kim @ Eat What You've Got says

    October 26, 2011 at 4:05 am

    That sounds yummy. I just canned some pear sauce that I will have to try this on at some point.

    Reply
  6. Amy T says

    October 26, 2011 at 5:17 am

    I wonder if you could freeze this. I have some freezer jars empty and waiting for something, but I don’t have any canning jars.

    Reply
    • blair says

      October 26, 2011 at 8:50 am

      Yes. I froze mine last year.

      Reply
      • C Dazey says

        October 26, 2011 at 10:44 am

        I have successfully frozen this…it works great!

        Reply
  7. Kara Nutt says

    October 26, 2011 at 5:48 am

    I made apple butter for the first time this year. I peel and core my apples on my handy dandy little gadget then just throw them into the crock pot, I’m not really careful to make sure ALL the peel is off, extra nutrients.

    I don’t add anything for the first few hours, just let them cook down. Once they have turned to mush I add some cinnamon, cinnamon oil, clove(very little), cardamon, and fresh ground nutmeg. I turn it to low and let it cook for a few hours.

    I didn’t add any sweetener to this last batch, the apples seemed sweet enough. I take the lid off the crock pot, turn it back on to high and stir it every 30 minutes until it is the right texture. I have never even used my immersion blender in it. It seems to cook right down and is fine.

    This last batch I took out a pint while it was still apple sauce consistency and my son is eating it up. It’s darker colored and a little chunkier than what I’ve seen, probably because I don’t blend it or do the acid soak…

    I’m headed out to get two more bushes of apples this weekend to make some more. planning on giving out apple butter to all my neighbors this Christmas.

    Reply
  8. Kris Mays says

    October 26, 2011 at 8:22 am

    Laura, where is the like button? You are hilarious!

    Reply
  9. lyss says

    October 26, 2011 at 8:47 am

    Yum! Will it work in a crockpot that is way too big for the amount of applesauce? As in, will the apple butter burn if I only have a small amount in the bottom? My crockpot is 6 qt., but I don’t exactly need that much apple butter! Will using just a quart in that size be okay? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 26, 2011 at 8:55 am

      Yes, I did this in my big crock pot and it did just fine (I have a 5 quart I think).

      Reply
      • Vickie Houser says

        October 25, 2014 at 2:30 pm

        I purchase a tiny slow-cooker for these kinds of projects and love it. It’s great to take in the car too. It cost me about $10 at the grocery store – well worth it.

        Reply
  10. Leesa says

    October 26, 2011 at 9:02 am

    Just a note on the recipe – I never do more than 3 quarts of applesauce at a time because it takes to long to cook down in the crockpot. BTW I started doing this because I burned WAY too many pots of apple butter. I would say that any butter would work this way but you should NEVER can pumpkins in a pureed form so pumpkin butter cannot be canned SAFELY!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 26, 2011 at 2:23 pm

      Thanks – I’ll go edit the post to say something about using no more than 3 quarts. Thanks for this idea, it’s very tasty!

      Reply
    • baking mama says

      October 27, 2011 at 5:26 am

      Pumpkin butter will can safely in a pressure canner.

      Reply
      • Cheryl R says

        October 27, 2011 at 8:58 am

        Actually, it is NOT okay. See this site for info:
        http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/publications/uga/pumpkin_butter.html

        Reply
        • baking mama says

          October 27, 2011 at 6:02 pm

          I’ve never heard this … have seen plenty of canned pumpkin butter, but I guess freezing is safer after all. Thanks for the info!

          Reply
  11. Heather In Michigan says

    October 26, 2011 at 9:32 am

    Is it really THAT easy? awesome.

    Reply
  12. Charlotte Moore says

    October 26, 2011 at 10:10 am

    You are so funny girl!!

    Reply
  13. Citysister says

    October 26, 2011 at 10:19 am

    I just processed a bushel of apples this morning and made 10 quarts of sauce as well as 3 pints of salted caramel apple butter (not as bad for you as it sounds…used homemade brown sugar instead of sucant and a touch of salt along with the cinnamon.)

    Reply
    • Angelina says

      October 26, 2011 at 7:53 pm

      Homemade brown sugar? How do you make that??

      Reply
  14. Paula L. says

    October 26, 2011 at 10:28 am

    Okay, so going through my head now is a half of a half of a half of a half…etc! Only you could get away with that. Or, Maybe, Erma Bombeck… I love your humor. thanks for the crock pot recipe….

    Reply
  15. darialauren says

    October 26, 2011 at 10:30 am

    Haha I wish I could meet you you are hilarious! We have the samsame kind of humor lol :)thanks for your great posts! Hey moneysavingmom.com just made apple butter…I think without slaving over applesauce first. Maybe worth it to check it out it may be easier im not sure..anyways enough rambling!!!!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 26, 2011 at 10:34 am

      Yes, I did see the recipe posted at MSM, but hers had to stay in the crock pot much longer – esentially so that the apples became applesauce, then cooked down into apple butter. I figured since I was making applesauce anyway, I’d just go directly to the apple butter process with this and save time in the crock pot, stirring and watching it, etc! :)

      Reply
      • C Dazey says

        October 26, 2011 at 10:47 am

        When I do apples, I through the apples directly into the crockpot and let them cook all day. They are applesauce first, then applebutter after long enough.

        Reply
        • C Dazey says

          October 26, 2011 at 6:37 pm

          I meant I throw the apples…not through them! lol

          Reply
      • darialauren says

        October 26, 2011 at 11:19 am

        Oh nice ,good thinking! Im making your yogurt and cream cheese for the first time today! Can’t wait to see how it comes out!

        Reply
        • Melissa says

          October 28, 2011 at 10:53 am

          I totally agree on not wanting to slave over applesauce that I will just later turn into butter…we love this recipe (and that it uses honey instead of sucanat): http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1730,146187-246195,00.html

          Reply
  16. Krisha says

    October 26, 2011 at 3:08 pm

    Is that your ww bread too in the picture? It looks delicious too!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 26, 2011 at 3:20 pm

      Yes, I meant to link to it in the post! https://www.heavenlyhomemakers.com/how-to-make-whole-wheat-bread-tutorial

      Reply
  17. Christine says

    October 26, 2011 at 5:14 pm

    I made apple cranberry butter this year. Just add cranberry juice. So yummy on turkey sandwiches.

    Reply
  18. Nicole Stoddard says

    October 27, 2011 at 10:18 pm

    Wish I had known about the LID OFF part of this when I made some last weekend. I had a crockpot full of very dark applesauce, so had to cook it down on the stove to get to right consistency. After 8 hours, I gave up and canned what I had. Still tasty, but not what I expected. Next time, I will be more successful!

    Reply
  19. Jill says

    October 29, 2011 at 5:28 am

    Hi there, I just stumbled upon your post because I was trying to find out why my apple butter is taking so long! It has now been in my crockpot for 24 hours – on low with the lid askew over a splatter guard, and has reduced/thickened just ever so slightly… Now I know that I should NOT have FILLED my 6 qt. crock pot to the top with applesauce! I will now crank it to high, take the lid off, and see where I am by the end of the day.
    BTW… Love the site and your post was too funny!

    Reply
  20. Connie says

    October 31, 2011 at 3:37 pm

    I do not put my applesauce through any strainer. I simply use my grinder. The applesauce ends up sort of chunky and we like it that way. No cooking. Though it does need to be heated up or processed longer because I don’t cook it. Of course, you would probably want to peel the apples doing it this way.

    Reply
  21. Tammy says

    February 23, 2012 at 11:52 pm

    I have a very similar recipe from an aunt but even easier (not as healthy though). I buy a #10 can of applesauce from the grocery store (the unhealthy part but just getting into healthy stuff now), then add the spices and cook in the crockpot until the right consistency (about 6-8 hours). Here comes the even easier part. Once you fill the jars and screw on the lids, turn them upside down for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, turn them upside right again and leave alone for several hours. They will seal themselves without the water bath. My aunts, mom and I have canned apple butter for years this way. The #10 can produces 6 pint jars of apple butter (no halves, sorry).

    Reply

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