I get so excited when apple season rolls around in the fall, and a fresh batch of apple butter is always the first thing on my mind! This homemade apple butter recipe is made on the stovetop with just a few basic ingredients, like fresh apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon. It cooks up perfectly warm and buttery, ready to spread on toast, pancakes, and whatever else my heart desires!
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I see this fall staple in just about every country gift shop I’ve ever strolled through, but I’ve never bought a jar that tastes better than this tried and true homemade recipe for apple butter! Not only does it taste amazing, but making apple butter makes my kitchen smell like true autumn bliss. Yum!
Ingredients for Homemade Apple Butter
- Apples: Use fresh apples, any type you like. I tend to use a mix of sweet and tart apples.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: The acidity breaks through the other ingredients to balance the flavor. If using tart apples, I recommend swapping this for sweet apple cider.
- Water: Helps the apples to cook down without burning.
- Sugar: A mix of brown sugar and granulated sugar sweetens the apple butter and deepens the flavor.
- Cinnamon: Adds classic warm flavor.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the sweetness and cinnamon.
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Tips for Success
To thicken apple butter, simply continue to cook it on the stovetop until it reaches your desired consistency. Apples contain pectin, which is a great natural thickener, so an extra thickening agent isn’t necessary. Be sure to keep it on low heat, though, or it could scorch. Keep in mind that it will also continue to thicken slightly as it cools.
How to Store
Store leftover apple butter in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 months. Enjoy cold or at room temperature.
To freeze, store it in an airtight container, with headspace at the top for expansion. It will keep in the freezer for up to 1 year. Let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using.
Serving Suggestions
This apple butter recipe is the perfect spread for toast, waffles, pancakes, bagels, muffins, apple bread, or anything you like. It’s also a good dipper for fresh apple slices or apple chips (yes, double the apples!). I’ve even used it to make an apple butter old fashioned and apple butter pork chops.
Apple Butter Recipe
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Ingredients
- 3 pounds apples 1,361 grams, peeled and chopped
- ¾ cup apple cider vinegar 170 grams
- 1 cup water 227 grams
- ½ cup brown sugar 107 grams
- ½ cup granulated sugar 100 grams
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 6 grams
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 4 grams
Recommended Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
Instructions
- Add the apples, apple cider vinegar, and water to a large pot. Cover and simmer until the apples are very tender, about 20 minutes.3 pounds apples, ¾ cup apple cider vinegar, 1 cup water
- Transfer the mixture to the food processor and process until they are broken down and mostly smooth. Return to the pot.
- Add in the brown sugar, sugar, and cinnamon. Cook over medium heat until the butter thickens to a spreadable consistency, about 15 minutes.½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla and enjoy.1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- Feel free to use any combination of apples you like.
- If using tart apples, swap the apple cider vinegar for sweet apple cider.
- In place of the cinnamon, you could use pie spice.
Nutrition Information
How to Make Apple Butter Step by Step
Cut the Apples: Peel and chop 3 pounds of apples into small chunks. They don’t need to be cut perfectly, but they will cook down best if they are cut into relatively-even sized pieces.
Cook the Apples: Add the chopped apples, ¾ cup of apple cider vinegar, and 1 cup of water to a large pot. Cover and simmer until the apples are very tender, about 20 minutes.
Process the Apples: Transfer the apples to the food processor, and process until they are broken down into a mostly smooth puree. Then return it to the pot.
Finish Cooking: To the pot of apples, add ½ cup of brown sugar, ½ cup of granulated sugar, and 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon. Cook over medium heat until the apple butter thickens to a spreadable consistency, about 15 minutes. Then remove it from heat, stir in 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract, and enjoy!
Awesome!
That looks great! Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you so much for this recipe! I live in Florida so we don’t have any apple cider, apple butter, or anything apple season. This recipe was so easy and TASTY!!!
Thank you so much!
We’re so happy to hear you loved this recipe!
as is the case with all of these recipe websites you have to spend 10 minutes listening to the b******* that they’re spewing out instead of just getting a recipe don’t waste your time
Hi Bob, I know it can be tough to see sometimes, but there is a “jump to recipe” button right at the top of every page highlighted in yellow that will take you straight to the recipe. Hope this helps!
Bob, go take a nap.