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Home » Recipes

Crockpot Apple Butter

Sep 7, 2021 · 54 Comments

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Crockpot Apple Butter is smooth, spiced, and tastes like apple pie! You would never guess just how easy it is to make and that it's actually healthy too! You can even cook it overnight and wake up to the scent of sweet cinnamon apples! This stuff is the BEST. Especially for Fall! Directions on how to make this apple butter recipe with no sugar, as well!

Crockpot Apple Butter is smooth, spiced, and tastes like apple pie! You would never guess just how easy it is to make and that it's actually healthy too!

Two pieces of toast slathered in apple butter on a white and blue plate with apples, a jar or apple butter, and a stainless steel Crock Pot in the background.

Crockpot Apple Butter

I love making crockpot apple butter, especially in the fall, because it makes my whole house smell like warm cinnamon apples. Basically the very essence of fall!

Crockpot apple butter is made of simple ingredients. It actually has no butter or dairy components to it at all, despite its misleading name.

Apple butter is actually more similar to applesauce than butter. Both apple butter and applesauce are made by slow cooking apples, often with spices and sugar. Apple butter is cooked for longer so that the apples break down more, creating a smoother, richer, almost caramelized sauce.

What are the Best Apples for Crockpot Apple Butter?

You can really make apple butter with any apples. Some may need to be cooked a little longer, especially the firm baking-type apples like Granny Smith.

The very best apples to use for apple butter is actually a combination of sweet soft apples and tart baking apples. I usually use half of each.

Sweet and soft apples include

  • McIntosh
  • Red delicious
  • Golden
  • Gala
  • Fuji

Tart baking varieties include

  • Granny smith
  • Honeycrisp
  • Braeburn
  • Melrose

To make the best apple butter, pick an apple or two from each list to combine the sweet and tart. This will help the apple butter keep its apple flavor and not be overpowered by spices or sweetness.

Can You Make Apple Butter with No Sugar?

Yes! I frequently make apple butter with no sugar. Just simply omit the brown sugar from the recipe.

I usually opt for using only sweeter variety apples when omitting the sugar, such as Gala, Red Delicious, or McIntosh.

You could also consider adding a sugar free sweetener such as a couple drops of stevia.

Can You Make Apple Butter on the Stovetop?

Yes, absolutely! I like to make apple butter in the slow cooker simply because it require less attention from me. But it will be done a little faster if you make it on the stovetop.

To make apple butter on the stovetop, place all ingredients in the recipe below plus one cup apple juice in a large heavy bottom pot. Bring mixture to a boil. Then reduce heat, cover, and simmer on low until apples are soft and broken down, about 2 hours.

To finish, turn off heat, remove lid, and allow apples to cool for about an hour before continuing to puree in a food processor, blender, or immersion blender.

What to Do with Apple Butter

Our favorite thing to do with apple butter is to slather it on toast with a little butter. It's so simple, but so yummy.

It's also delicious on bagels, English muffins, muffins, and especially cinnamon raisin bread.

Get creative with it, too. Add it to oatmeal or yogurt for an apple flavor, or as an ice cream topping topped with a few pecans or walnuts.

More Apple Recipes You'll Love

  • Slow Cooker Applesauce - even easier than apple butter and just as delicious!
  • Apple Brown Betty - one of the easiest apple desserts on the planet! And so good!
  • Homemade Taffy Apples - my grandma's recipe! A fall-time MUST!
  • Crockpot Apple Oatmeal - perfect for busy school mornings!
  • The BEST Classic Apple Pie - seriously the best. We make it every holiday!
A jar of apple butter next to honeycrisp apples in front of a stainless steel Crock Pot

Homemade Crockpot Apple Butter

A traditional and easy homemade crockpot apple butter recipe using fresh apples or ready-made applesauce. A delicious and healthful alternative to jelly or jam
4.97 from 26 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Sauce
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Crockpot Apple Butter, Slow Cooker Apple Butter
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Total Time: 6 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 48 servings
Calories: 36kcal
Author: Michelle

Ingredients

  • 6 pounds apples
  • ½ cup brown sugar (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • a pinch or 2 of ground cloves

Instructions

  • Peel, core, and slice all 6 pounds of apples.
  • Place prepared apples in slow cooker with remaining ingredients. Toss apples gently to incorporate all ingredients.
  • Cook on low for 4-6 hours or until apples are very soft.
  • When apples are soft, turn off crockpot, remove lid and allow to cool slightly before pureeing (about an hour).
  • Puree apples in a blender or food processor, or using an immersion blender (as seen in the video). Depending on the size of your processor, you may need to puree in several batches.
  • Then just put it all in a container with a lid (such as a mason jar), and put in the refrigerator or freezer. Or immediately slather generously on toast.

Video

Notes

Makes about 6 cups. 
 
  • Crockpot apple butter is naturally gluten free, dairy free, and vegan.
  • You can reduce the amount of sugar by omitting the brown sugar. If you do omit the sugar, consider using a sweeter variety of apple, such as Gala or Red Delicious, as Granny Smith apples will make pretty sour apple butter without the sugar.
  • Typically, I will use half Granny Smith apples, and half of a sweeter variety, usually Gala or Red Delicious. Fuji or Golden apples will also work. You can also choose to use all of one kind.
  • Allow to cool with the slow cooker lid off for at least an hour or until cool enough to handle before pureeing to prevent burns.
  • To make your apple butter silky smooth, make sure they are cooked long enough to be broken down. They should be so soft that they fall apart when you stir them. Then puree them thoroughly using your food processor, blender, or immersion blender.
  • To store, place in a container with a lid (I use mason jars.) in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
  • To freeze, place in a freezer safe container, covered for up to 3-6 months.
  • Stovetop directions: Place all ingredients plus 1 cup apple juice in a large heavy bottom pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for about 2 hours until apples are soft and broken down. Then follow steps 4-6 of the recipe to finish your apple butter.

Nutrition

Serving: 2g | Calories: 36kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 63mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 31IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg
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Breakfast, Crockpot, Dairy Free, Dips, Sauces, & Spreads, Fall, Freezer Meals, Gluten Free, Kid-Friendly Food, Recipes, Snacks, Snacks & Appetizers, Vegetarian Apple Recipe, Crockpot Apple Butter, Crockpot Recipe, Slow Cooker Apple Butter

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Debra says

    March 04, 2015 at 10:45 am

    I leave the peels on and process in my ninja. When using the gala's if omit the sugar (DH) is diabetic.

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      March 04, 2015 at 1:16 pm

      So do you cook the apples at all or just process and go?

      Reply
  2. Whitty says

    March 29, 2015 at 11:56 pm

    I have been looking for an apple butter recipe, and this looks and sounds perfect! Thanks!

    Whitty
    http://www.whittyj.com

    Reply
  3. Karen edwards says

    September 14, 2015 at 3:12 am

    Crockpot Apple-butter can not wait to try.

    Reply
  4. Beth Carroll says

    September 22, 2015 at 11:07 am

    If you are using applesauce to make this, how much do you use ?

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      September 22, 2015 at 12:36 pm

      About 8 cups

      Reply
  5. Christina says

    November 12, 2015 at 6:37 pm

    Hi! Any idea if this can be pressure canned?

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      November 12, 2015 at 7:03 pm

      I'm so sad to admit that I haven't ever tried canning 🙁 (It's on my bucket list though!) So I'm honestly not sure. We usually put ours in canning jars and store in the freezer.

      Reply
      • carmon says

        September 10, 2016 at 8:10 pm

        I have your recipe in the crock pot, and my house smells like snow whites kitchen. have you tried canning this recipe yet? im really wanting to can this to use for later in the season.

        Reply
        • Michelle says

          September 10, 2016 at 9:31 pm

          I haven't tried canning it. But I do keep it in jars in my freezer, and it keeps really well.

          Reply
          • Bonnie says

            October 31, 2020 at 1:52 pm

            Apple butter can be canned. Also, to eliminate sugar just add 2 very tipe pears. It does not change the flavor.

  6. Linda Leclair says

    November 22, 2015 at 10:35 am

    What kinds of apples do you use?

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      November 22, 2015 at 6:54 pm

      I've used all types of apples and it always turns out great! My favorite to use are probably Gala, and I'll sometimes throw in a couple Granny Smith with that to give it a little extra tang. If you decide to use very sweet apples you can reduce the sugar, or if you're using sour apples, you can add some. Apple texture doesn't matter too much since you're pureeing it at the end.

      Reply
  7. chelsea says

    August 06, 2016 at 8:11 am

    How long does this keep in the fridge?

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      August 06, 2016 at 8:49 am

      About 2 weeks.

      Reply
  8. Carmeille says

    September 12, 2016 at 4:03 pm

    How long do you keep yours in the freezer?? 😀

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      September 12, 2016 at 8:39 pm

      You can keep it in the freezer attached to your refrigerator for 6 weeks to 3 months, and you can keep it in a deep freezer for up to 6 months.

      Reply
  9. Umi says

    October 21, 2017 at 2:17 am

    Can this apple butter to be canned? So it will last longer in shelf?

    Reply
  10. Barbara Anderson says

    October 22, 2017 at 9:29 am

    Ball has instructions for water bath canning apple butter. I have canned applesauce and the process seems to be the same. I have a batch of your apple butter in my crock pot and plan to process them.

    Reply
  11. Sabreen says

    November 15, 2017 at 1:30 pm

    Do you know of anything that can be used as a substitution for sugar?

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      November 16, 2017 at 9:18 am

      You can use stevia or xylitol. Or sometimes depending on the apples you buy you can just skip it all together for this recipe.

      Reply
    • Bonnie says

      October 31, 2020 at 1:56 pm

      Eliminate sugar or sweetners and add 2 very ripe pears.

      Reply
  12. Janet McDonald says

    December 19, 2017 at 1:43 pm

    If using applesauce how long do you cook it? Is the only difference between sauce and butter the puree?

    Reply
  13. Scarlett Taylor says

    September 21, 2018 at 9:19 pm

    What size crockpot do you use? Or about how much apple butter does this make?

    Reply
  14. Jackie says

    October 23, 2018 at 3:56 pm

    Is the brown sugar packed..

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      October 24, 2018 at 10:45 am

      Yes

      Reply
  15. Jessica Formicola says

    July 29, 2019 at 1:18 pm

    I could seriously eat apple butter by the spoonful! This recipe looks incredible and I can't wait to go apple picking so that I can make this!

    Reply
  16. ROBIN says

    July 29, 2019 at 1:25 pm

    A delicious easy recipe and great for gifting too!

    Reply
  17. Vicky says

    July 29, 2019 at 2:54 pm

    Does it get any easier than apple butter made in the crock pot? I have bought apple butter in the past, but will be making it from now on since this recipe looks so easy!

    Reply
  18. cheflolaskitchen says

    July 29, 2019 at 3:07 pm

    Yum! Can't wait to try it out!

    Reply
  19. Sapana says

    July 29, 2019 at 3:23 pm

    Yum!! I love this recipe and just how smooth and creamy it is - and how easy it is to make. Perfect for toast and so much more.

    Reply
  20. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says

    October 27, 2019 at 12:03 pm

    You just can't beat some apple butter! I will definitely be giving it a go in the crockpot!

    Reply
  21. Shadi Hasanzadenemati says

    October 27, 2019 at 1:43 pm

    Love how easy and delicious this recipe is. It's perfect for a gathering or a party.

    Reply
  22. Adrianne says

    October 27, 2019 at 2:31 pm

    Yum, apple butter is the best and so easy to do! I can imagine spreading this on everything in site, perfect as a breakfast spread too, cheers!

    Reply
  23. Romina says

    October 27, 2019 at 2:54 pm

    This looks so smooth and lovely! I can’t wait to try it on some toast.

    Reply
  24. Helen of Fuss Free Flavours says

    October 27, 2019 at 3:22 pm

    Applebutter is such a classic Autumn/Fall recipe. Perfect if you have a big haul of apples. And so good for making Applebutter cake with. Great way of making it in the Crockpot and so easy too.

    Reply
  25. Anita says

    December 01, 2019 at 9:13 pm

    I'm still seeing plenty of apples in the market. Gotta get the last of them before running out and start making plenty of homemade apple butter. 🙂

    Reply
  26. Harry says

    December 31, 2019 at 8:01 pm

    This turned out AMAZING!!

    Reply
  27. Milly says

    July 20, 2020 at 10:15 pm

    Super easy to make and delicious

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      July 22, 2020 at 8:50 am

      So glad to hear! It's definitely one of our family favorites.

      Reply
  28. Shadi Hasanzadenemati says

    September 03, 2020 at 10:48 am

    Love how easy this recipe is. It’s perfect for our family!

    Reply
  29. Katie says

    September 03, 2020 at 10:52 am

    My mouth is watering just thinking about this. Can't wait to try it!

    Reply
  30. Patty at Spoonabilities says

    September 03, 2020 at 10:53 am

    I know this will be such a hit in our house! Such a perfect recipe to add to my collection of fall goodies! Yum!

    Reply
  31. Rosemary says

    September 03, 2020 at 11:13 am

    Great recipe and I know it would be the perfect gift for my mother in law who is an apple fan.

    Reply
  32. Kathryn Donangelo says

    September 03, 2020 at 11:19 am

    I could eat this by the spoonful!! SO good and easy to make too. I'm making a double batch next time 🙂

    Reply
  33. Cindi M Bauer says

    September 04, 2020 at 1:57 pm

    This is an easy homemade crockpot apple butter to make.
    My husband and I truly enjoyed this apple butter! 💗🍎😋
    I give this recipe 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Reply
  34. Erika says

    September 04, 2020 at 2:52 pm

    This apple butter looks so good! This is perfect for the fall and I can't wait to try it!

    Reply
  35. Alice | SkinnySpatula says

    September 04, 2020 at 4:19 pm

    This is a fantastic idea, I love that it keeps for up to two weeks in the fridge, too.

    Reply
  36. Cyndy says

    September 04, 2020 at 5:44 pm

    I'm so happy to have found this recipe. I made it in the crockpot this morning and it smells like apple heaven in my house! Can't wait to try it on a warm piece of toast tomorrow morning.

    Reply
  37. Beth says

    September 04, 2020 at 6:10 pm

    This looks so delicious! My family is going to love this recipe! I can't wait to make this!

    Reply
  38. Suzy says

    September 04, 2020 at 6:18 pm

    Just in time for apple season! This is so good! Love how tasty it is on toast!

    Reply
  39. Tani P says

    November 14, 2021 at 4:04 pm

    Easy to make and it's very delicious! Thanks for sharing

    Reply
  40. Lauren says

    October 16, 2022 at 1:17 pm

    We went apple picking yesterday and I can't wait to make apple butter for my first time!

    If I half the recipe, is the cooking time still the same in the crock pot?

    Reply
    • Michelle says

      October 17, 2022 at 10:34 am

      Yes, I always cook them for quite a while to let them marinate in the spices.

      Reply

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Hello! I'm Michelle!
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