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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! I prepare this homemade apple butter recipe 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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“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!” – Zayteck
Easy Apple Butter Recipe
I’ve seen apple butter in just about every country gift shop I’ve ever wandered into, but honestly, I’ve never bought a jar that tastes better than this homemade version. It’s rich, perfectly spiced, and totally irresistible. And the best part? While it simmers on the stove, my whole kitchen fills with the cozy scent of fall—it’s like autumn in a pot!
If you’ve never made apple butter from scratch before, don’t worry—it’s easier than you think, and I’ll walk you through every step.
Apple Butter Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Food Processor
Ingredients
- 3 lbs. apples 1,361 grams, peeled and chopped, use a mix of sweet and tart
- 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 tsp ground cinnamon 6 grams, or pie spice
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 4 grams
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 lbs. 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 tsp ground cinnamon
- Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla and enjoy.1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Becky’s Tips
- This recipe yields about 3 cups of apple butter.
- If using tart apples, swap the apple cider vinegar for sweet apple cider.
- To thicken apple butter, continue to cook 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 continue to thicken slightly as it cools.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How to Make Apple Butter Step by Step
Cut the apples: Peel and chop 3 lbs. 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 tsp 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 tsp of pure vanilla extract, and enjoy!
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 your weekday toast, or weekend waffles and pancakes. Forgo the smoked salmon and serve with bagels, or offer as a side to smear on homemade muffins or apple bread. 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.
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.