Apple Butter

I'm not going to lie. I love apple butter but the main reason I wanted to try this recipe was to make my home smell AMAZING! I was not disappointed. If you need to create a welcoming aroma in your house, this will do the trick. Not to mention the benefit of having apple butter to eat afterwards. It could quite possible by my version of crack in the autumn. I want to put it on everything: toast, bagels, rolls... Basically anything with carbs. I found a pinterest recipe for pancakes with apple butter mixed in. Watch out! This will be happening. That pinterest thing is so handy. 

Start with apples. Duh. Any type will do. I picked the cheapest kind and now I do not remember what kind that was. Sorry.

Then you need to core and peel the apples. This handy device was handed down from my grandma and I love it!

Once you've done this step, throw all the apples into a big slow cooker and sprinkle with all the spices and water. It was difficult for me to get it mixed evenly but I tried my best. You can do the same better!

At this point it already smelled like three apple pies cooking at the same time. You will leave the apples to cook for a long time with the lid not completely closed so air can escape. I used my wooden spoon to prop it open. Here is the end result after using a food processor to blend it all together. I had to use my single serve blender because I'm not fancy. I should invest in a processor huh.?

Ta da!! Here is the recipe that actually makes sense.

Ingredients

- 10-12 apples, any type

- ½ cup brown sugar

- ½ cup filtered water

- 2 tsp cinnamon

- 1 tsp nutmeg

- ¼ tsp allspice

Directions

Peel, core, and dice apples, then place them in a slow cooker.  Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.   Place the lid on the slow cooker, but prop it open slightly to allow moisture to escape (I prop the handle of a wooden spoon between the lid and the base). Set slow cooker on low and cook for 12-16 hours, until apples have reduced significantly and turn a deep caramel color.

Remove apple mixture from slow cooker and place in a food processor or blender and process until smooth.   The apple butter is now ready if you plan on storing it in the fridge.  Apple butter will keep quite well in a fashion similar to jam.  

Recipe makes just over a pint (2 cups).

Original Recipe found here