STOVETOP APPLE BUTTER
This easy apple butter recipe is made on the stovetop! Thick and full of autumn spices, apple butter has a jammy consistency and a sweet, caramelized flavor. If you find yourself with an abundance of apples, this is a flavorful way to use them up!
Servings: 4 cups
Calories: 978kcal
Ingredients
- 6 pounds apples (12 large or 18 medium)
- 1 cup 200 g brown sugar (light or dark)
- 1 cup 200 g granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon sea salt or Kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger or 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 lemon for juice (to taste)
Instructions
- Prepare the apples. Peel, core, and roughly chop the apples. Put the chopped apple in a Dutch oven or large pot on the stove.
- Cook the apples. Turn the heat to medium-low. Stir in the brown sugar, granulated sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. Cover the pot and simmer for about 1 hour, until the apples release their juices and become very tender. Using a wooden spatula, stir vigorously, breaking up larger pieces (you can use an immersion blender or regular blender to achieve a silky smooth texture). Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, to develop even more caramelized flavor. Once it reaches a deep brown color and has a consistency of a thick spread, remove it from the heat and squeeze in fresh lemon juice to brighten the flavor. Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream or spread over toast. Refrigerate leftovers in sterile jars for up to two weeks or freeze for up to 12 months if not canning. Canned apple butter is shelf stable at room temperature for up to 18 months.
Video
Notes
Apples: Choose a variety of apples that are suitable for cooking and have a good balance of sweetness and tartness. Popular choices include Braeburn, Gala, Fuji, Golden Delicious, Cortland, McIntosh, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, and Jonathan apples. As is true for apple pie, it's best to use a mix of apples for a more complex flavor profile.
Nutritional Information is based on the entire recipe, which yields approximately 4 cups (depending on the size of your apples).
Nutrition
Serving: 1recipe (yields 4 cups) | Calories: 978kcal | Carbohydrates: 256g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 330mg | Potassium: 927mg | Fiber: 18g | Sugar: 228g | Vitamin A: 377IU | Vitamin C: 46mg | Calcium: 152mg | Iron: 2mg