-6 1/2 pounds of a variety of apples. I just picked a couple of these and a couple of those from my local farm market bins. I probably had 4-5 different kinds.

-1 cup white sugar

– 1 cup brown sugar

-1 TBS cinnamon

-½ tsp fresh grated nutmeg. Do yourself a favor and buy the actual whole nutmeg and grate it yourself. It makes a huge difference in taste.

-¼ tsp ground cloves

-¼ tsp salt

-1 TBS pure vanilla extract

– Peel, core, and cut apples into pieces. I have a great apple peeler so it only took me about 20 minutes. I timed it.

-Combine the sugars and spices. Toss well with the apples.

-Put into a crock pot. Cover and walk away. Let cook on low for 9-10 hours but stir occasionally. The apples should be nice and brown and thickened. 

-Add vanilla, keep the lid of the crock pot, and cook for another 2 hours on low stirring occasionally.

-So you get a sense of a timeline, my apples were in the crockpot around 10:00am. At around 8pm, I added the vanilla. Before I went to bed at 11pm I just turned the crock pot off and left it on the counter.

-The next day, I used my new immersion blender to make it smooth. I put them in ½ pint jars. You can keep them in the refrigerator for a couple of months or you can freeze up to a year. When freezing, leave enough space at the top for expansion. My batch made 9 ½ pint jars.

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Apples. Butter. I like both so this year I decided to put them together! Apple butter has nothing to do with the sticks you have in your fridge. It’s a delicious smooth and creamy concoction that’s full of apple flavor, spices, and sugar. I usually buy a jar every fall. Not anymore. There is such a difference in flavor when you make it yourself!

I always thought that apple butter was complicated to make. I pictured a big black pot over an open fire and having to stir, and stir, and stir. Nothing can be farther from the truth! It’s a set-it-and-forget-it recipe. I’m so glad I did a little research and decided to make it. Wow. The stuff is really good! Plus it makes your house smell amazing.

The only thing I needed to buy was an immersion blender, which I’ve always wanted anyway. Do you have a crockpot? Then go buy some apples and get started! It’s easier to make than dinner. 

Put apple butter on toast, stir it into oatmeal, top pancakes or waffles, or use as a dip for a charcuterie board. There are many options. I hope you like it as much as we do. Enjoy!