Spiced Apple Butter Recipes

Steps:

• 1. Cut McIntosh apples into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces. Cut Granny Smith apples into smaller dice.
• 2. Combine apples and cider in a very large stainless steel or enamel saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and boil gently for 20 minutes or until mixture is reduced by half.
• 3. Stir in sugar and lemon juice. Return to a boil, reduce heat, and boil gently for about 25 minutes or until mixture is very thick. There should still be some tender apple chunks remaining. Remove from heat.
• 4. Ladle into sterilized jars and process as directed for Shorter Time Processing Procedure .
• Variation: Spiced Apple Butter
• Add 2 tsp (10 mL) ground cinnamon and 1/2 tsp (2 mL) each ground cloves and allspice with the sugar.

Steps:

• Stir chopped apples, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, cinnamon, cloves, and salt together in a slow cooker.
• Cook on Low until the apples are soft enough to mash easily with a fork, 8 to 10 hours.
• Puree apple mixture with an immersion blender until smooth.
• Cook uncovered until some of the liquid reduces and the color is dark brown, about 1 hour.

Steps:

• Prep apples as directed, combine in slow cooker with apple juice (or cider), brown sugar and spices, cook overnight and into the next day if you can, stirring occasionally - 18 hours or so is optimal. You want the mixture to reduce down significantly. Once the apples are to more or less applesauce consistency, apply an immersion blender to puree the mixture to a velvety texture or put it through a food mill. Once the liquid no longer separates quickly after it's stirred, it's ready to jar up and process. Pour into sterilized jars, process in hot water bath for 10-15 minutes.