Description
A richly spiced, slow‑cooked apple butter sweetened with pure maple syrup — perfect for spreading or stirring into yogurt.
Ingredients
- 4 lb (≈ 1.8 kg) apples, peeled, cored, and diced
- 1¼ cups apple cider
- ½ cup (120 ml) pure maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (or 1–2 cinnamon sticks)
- ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves (or a pinch)
- Pinch of sea salt or kosher salt
Instructions
- In the bowl of your slow cooker, combine the diced apples, apple cider, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Cover. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
- Cook on low for 8–10 hours (or on high for 4–5 hours), stirring about halfway through. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
- If you used a cinnamon stick, remove it. Transfer the cooked apples to a blender or use an immersion blender and puree until smooth. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
- Return the puree to the slow cooker, cook uncovered on high for 1–2 more hours, or until the mixture has thickened to your liking. Taste and adjust sweetness (add more maple if desired). :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
- Let the apple butter cool, then transfer to clean jars and refrigerate. It will keep for up to ~1 month. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
Notes
- The cooking times may vary depending on your slow cooker and the apple variety.
- Use firm, flavorful apples (like Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji) for best results.
- If you prefer, you can omit the maple syrup for a less sweet version or adjust to taste. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
- To freeze, leave some headspace in the jar for expansion. Apple butter can also be canned following safe canning procedures (though recipes with maple syrup may require special attention). :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
- The flavor improves after resting in the fridge for a day or two.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (approx.)
- Calories: 232 kcal
- Sugar: Estimated from natural + added – varies
- Sodium: small (from pinch of salt)
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: ≈ 60 g
- Fiber: ≈ 4–6 g
- Protein: ≈ 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
