Looking to make some apple butter with all of those fresh apples that are in season this fall?
When it comes to the autumn season, pumpkin pie, hot chocolate and chili are always high on the list for sure. As are apple pie, apple crisp, pumpkin bars and pumpkin cookies as well. But for many, it has long been the taste of apple butter that really brings home the true flavor of fall.
Maybe it’s the rich, creamy texture, or the over the top apple flavor that can seemingly turn any slice of bread into the perfect anytime snack. Whatever it is, apple butter is just one of those fall treats that seems to celebrate everything good about fall – which is exactly why we thought today was the perfect time to share a simple recipe to make your own right at home!
So whether you have fresh apples falling from your own trees in the backyard or a local orchard nearby, here is a look at how to make your own delicious apple butter with fresh apples – and with ease!
How To Make Apple Butter With Fresh Apples
Selecting The Best Apples For Apple Butter
No matter what recipe you use, there is one secret to making great apple butter that is more important than anything else. And that secret? Just as when making great apple cider, always use more than just one variety of apple.
In fact, the more varieties you can throw in to the mix, the better. By using different varieties with differing flavor profiles, you can really add depth to the finished apple butter. In essence, it intensifies the flavor to a whole new level.
Fuji, Golden Delicious, Jonathan and Gala are all excellent choices. As are Red Delicious, Braeburn and McIntosh. The real key is to select several types of apples and mix them all together to get more flavor.
Unfortunately, not everyone is fortunate enough to be growing their own apple orchard in their backyard. But that doesn’t mean flavor getting all of those apples has to cost you an arm and a leg when it comes to making apple butter.
Look For “Seconds” At Your Local Orchard – How To Make Apple Butter With Fresh Apples
One of the best things about using apples for apple butter is they don’t have to be perfect apples. Not in shape, size – or anything for that matter.
Many orchards sell what they call “seconds”, which are apples that have blemishes or spots. Since you are peeling the apples and cooking them down, these apples work just fine. And best of all, they are usually available for a fraction of the price!
And don’t worry if you end up with too many apples with blemishes. You can also use those seconds for making great applesauce or apple cider too.
Making Apple Butter Faster – How To Make Apple Butter With Fresh Apples
If there is one drawback to making apple butter, it’s the time it can take to make it. Traditionally, making apple butter has been a long, slow process. The apples were cooked down slowly over an open flame in a process that sometimes could take nearly a day.
But although those days have a lot of fond memories for people, unfortunately, not everyone has all day anymore. But thanks to a few modern conveniences like a blender, the process can certainly be much faster.
The recipe below is definitely one of our favorites when looking to make fuss-free apple butter. Not only is it ready in a fraction of the time as many slow cook recipes, it’s also extremely easy.
When it comes to making apple butter, the basics never change. You simply need to combine apples with cider and the appropriate spices. But instead of cooking down the apples down for 12 hours or more, this recipe uses a blender to move along the process.
Within a couple of hours, you can have the classic flavor and texture of homemade apple butter – and be ready to enjoy it for months to come. The recipe below can be modified to make more or less apple butter by simply adjusting the ingredients in equal portions.
INGREDIENTS
3 lbs. sweet apples – This is usually about 8 medium apples, but can vary with size and variety. Again, select at least two different varieties for a better flavor.
1 cup apple cider
1 1/2 cup sugar, divided
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
The Process – How To Make Apple Butter With Fresh Apples
Begin by coring and peeling your apples. Cut into 1 inch chunks. To peel the apples, a regular vegetable peeler or paring knife will do the trick just fine. If you are making large batches, a hand crank apple peeler can make peeling fun and fast all at the same time!
The peelers are actually quite economical (around $20), and can be used for peeling potatoes as well. Product Link : Apple Peeler With Base
In a Dutch oven over high heat, add apples, cider and 1/2 cup sugar. Bring to a rolling boil. Lightly cover the pot, allowing some steam to escape and boil for approximately 20 minutes, stirring often until the apples are tender and most of the liquid has evaporated.
Next, carefully place hot apple mixture into a blender (half-full) and process until mixture is smooth. Repeat as needed to process all of the hot apple mixture.
Finishing Up
Now it’s time to return mixture to pot and stir in cinnamon, cloves, and the remaining sugar. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 10-20 minutes until thickened. Let it cool before placing in an air tight container. If it seems runny, know that the mix will continue to thicken as it cools.
Once the apple butter has cooled, it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two months It can also be frozen as well for even longer storage. Here’s to making your own apple butter this fall from fresh apples!
If you do happen to have a few apple trees, remember, as winter arrives, it’s time for pruning! See: Pruning Apple Trees In Winter – How & Why To Prune Your Trees When It’s Cold!
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This Is My Garden is a garden website created by gardeners, for gardeners. Jim and Mary Competti have been writing gardening, DIY and recipe articles and books and speaking for over 15 years from their 46 acre Ohio farm. They publish three articles every week, 52 weeks a year. Sign up today to follow via email, or follow along!