Description
A forgiving, kid-friendly slow cooker recipe that transforms simple apples into a rich, spiced butter. This no-stir convenience recipe allows you to be present with your children while creating a cozy, fragrant autumn treat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 large apples (approx. 3 lbs / 1.36 kg), peeled or unpeeled, cored, and chopped into 1-inch cubes
- 1/2 cup (100g) brown sugar (dark or light)
- 2 tablespoons (30g) unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 teaspoons (3g) ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon (0.5g) ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) real vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup (60ml) water
- 1/8 teaspoon (0.25g) allspice or ground cloves (optional)
Instructions
- Wash apples thoroughly. Peel if desired, remove cores and seeds, and chop into 1-inch cubes. Place chopped apples into the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and optional allspice/cloves over the apples. Add butter cubes and water. Stir gently to distribute spices.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours. Do not cook on HIGH. Apples should be incredibly soft and falling apart after 6 hours.
- If using a food mill, place it over a large bowl and feed cooked apples through to remove skins and seeds. If using an immersion blender, blend until smooth, then push through a fine-mesh sieve. Stir in vanilla extract.
- For a thicker consistency, return puree to slow cooker on HIGH or a saucepan and cook for 1-2 hours, stirring frequently, until thickened. Let cool completely before transferring to jars.
Notes
Trust the low and slow cooking process to prevent burning and develop deep caramelized flavors. Taste the apples before blending to adjust sweetness if needed. A food mill provides the smoothest texture by removing skins and seeds. Store in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours
- Category: Condiment
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 cup
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 10
- Fat: 1
- Saturated Fat: 0.5
- Carbohydrates: 14
- Fiber: 1
Keywords: apple butter, slow cooker recipe, fall recipes, kid-friendly cooking, cinnamon apples, homemade jam, autumn treats, easy dessert topping