Old Fashioned Apple Butter
20 Macintosh or Cortland apples
½ cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 ½ tbsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
¼ tsp cloves
¼ tsp salt
1 tbsp vanilla
Peel apples and cut chunks directly off the core and into a large saucepan.
Cover pan and cook over medium-low heat for 30 minutes. Add sugars, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt. Stir to combine.
Cover and continue to cook for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Uncover and cook another 30-60 minutes or until thickened, stirring frequently. To test consistency, place a small amount on a plate. If no liquid separates from the apple butter, the correct consistency has been achieved.
Stir in vanilla.
If desired, allow to cool for 30 minutes and then use a blender or stick blender to smooth apple butter.
Serving size: 2 tbsp. 60 calories per serving
Hack: Apple butter will last in the refrigerator for up to 2 months or can be frozen for up to a year.
Hack: Try making these Apple Butter Muffins or Pork Chop with Apple Butter and Onion!
I saw a recipe for apple butter sometime ago, and I followed it closely. I tasted just ok but not exciting. From your ingredients it seems like it needed more spice, the cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon and cloves. I know it had a little but this choice would make it more tasty. Thank you for this recipe. I can try it because I could do something different to have with our crackers and toast.
Thank you for your kind comments. I find that few people think about “spicing up” their sweets but I love it! Please let me know what you think of the finished product.
Hello again, Once again you have given me a comfort food recipe that brings back childhood memories. I love apple butter on a fresh hot biscuit in the morning. I was wondering can this recipe be canned or does need to be treated differently? My mom used to can apple butter way back when. Thanks for the recipe I look forward to your next one
Yes, I believe it can be canned. Unfortunately, I not a canner so I’m unable to give you any advice on the proper procedure. You should check the website of a company that sells those products (Ball comes to mind here) for instruction on how to do it.