Canning Apple Butter is made easy with the help of a crockpot! Plus with the help of our canning instructions and printable canning label you’ll be sharing this tasty fall treat all year long!
This Apple Butter is a super tasty fall treat, to enjoy all year long! Use this simple crockpot recipe to take advantage of the endless apples in the autumn. Then turn your apple butter into a sweet hostess gift for the holidays with our free printable labels!
Jump to RecipeApple butter is a low sugar alternative to jams and jellies. It can be spread on toast or topped on pancakes, waffles or cheesecake and makes a tasty spice cake when mixed with cake mix!
It also shockingly tasty on a grilled ham and cheese sandwich! It’s also great when mixed with apple pie filling for a sweet and spicy full of flavour apple pie like no other!
Apple Butter Recipe for Canning
Prep in crockpot in less than 30 minutes in the am and process before bed using this crockpot method recipe. Or put this recipe together before bed, wake up and process it before heading to work in the morning!
Homemade apple butter is a great, quick and easy fall project and makes a perfect holiday gift for hostesses, friends and family.
Apples are in abundance in the fall, find free cooking apples in your backyard or pick your neighbours. They are also at their lowest price of the year in the grocery store.
Read about how I process my all my apples in one weekend! The fall is the perfect time to make this tasty treat!
Do check out your neighbourhood for apple trees needing picking if you’re not luck enough to have one of your own.
Gleaning is how I got lots of free fruit when I started canning 10 years ago. The elderly were so happy to exchange fruit for a few cans of yummy goodness.
Once you’ve sourced your apples it’s time to start processing them.
COMMON QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Do you have to can apple butter?
You don’t have to can your apple butter. Canning allows a longer shelf life and doesn’t have to be refrigerated. If you decide not to can your apple butter, it must be refrigerated.
How thick should apple butter be before canning?
Apple Butter should not drip off a spoon. It should be thick enough to spread like butter. The added sugar and the natural occurring pectin and sugar in the apples helps thicken it. The longer cooking time thickens the apple butter.
In fact, apple butter is the perfect solution to thickening apple pie filling and adding an amazing flavour to your pie!
1. EQUIPMENT FOR CANNING APPLE BUTTER
Once you’ve sourced your apples it’s time to start processing them. You’re going to need the following items in your kitchen to help you can your apple butter recipe.
A Crockpot such as this new stainless steel one.
An Apple peeler and corer like my favourite one listed below.
Peel, core and slice your apples is beyond easy with this handy tool above. Once you’ve peeled, cored and sliced your apple just place it in the crockpot, it’s that easy!
This is a tool that I trust, my mother uses one and my nana always did her apples with one as well. There’s really isn’t an easier way when you’re working through an entire apple tree worth of apples.
Immersion Blender
This is the immersion blender that has made life in my kitchen much easier, with lots of options for hand held blending you’re ready to go.
I got this exact same immersion blender for a Christmas gift and it has made blending soups, apple sauce and butters much easier than transferring hot liquids to a blender or food processor- and with less mess.
2. APPLE BUTTER INGREDIENTS
WHITE SUGAR
BROWN SUGAR
CINNAMON
NUTMEG
MAPLE SYRUP
3. THE CROCKPOT APPLE BUTTER LABELS!
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE APPLE BUTTER
STEP 1: PEEL AND CORE APPLES
Process approx. 12 cooking apples such as red delicious or Granny Smith apples. Use an apple peeler corer tool to quickly peel and core apples. Place apples in crockpot.
TIP: If you don’t have an immersion blender or food processor, then cut apples into smaller finer pieces in the crockpot. Then use a whisk just before canning.
RELATED: TURN APPLE PEELS AND CORES INTO ACV!
STEP 2: MIX SUGAR & APPLES & SPICES
Mix brown sugar, sugar and spices along with maple syrup in separate bowl. Simply pour ingredients over the apples, admire and set the crockpot settings.
STEP 3: SLOW COOK
Set crockpot settings on low for 10 hours. If your crockpot has a timer setting like this one, you don’t have to worry about prepping it and forgetting about it. The automatic shut off to keep warm is super handy!
STEP 4: SMOOTH APPLE BUTTER
Once you’ve come back to the crockpot 10 hours later, you’ll be smelling a beautiful fall aroma! A great way to turn your house into a home this time of year!
Go ahead and blend the apples using an immersion blender. You’ll need to ensure you keep it low and controlled to not get the hot apple butter on you.
Another tool you might try using would be a food mill. Food mills make a lovely smooth finished butter.
RELATED: HOW TO MAKE APPLE SAUCE WITH A FOOD MILL
Now that your apple butter is complete you can freeze it, put it in a container in the fridge or can it to eat all year long. Water bath canning is optional for this recipe, keep reading for my canning made easy tips!
STEP 5: FOOD PRESERVATION
If you’re new to hot water bath canning I highly recommend you read this guide. Quickstart Guide to Water Bath Canning. before you prepare your jars and use your hot water bath.
Water Bath Canning is simple and friendly, it’s just very important to know the guidelines so that you don’t poison your family.
Make your apple butter last all year long with hot water bath canning! Simply make your apple butter in the crockpot and prepare for canning when it’s finished.
Prepare eight pint sized jars and lids for canning, wash and sterilize the jars. I like to throw them in the dishwasher on the hottest setting then fill the hot jars with the hot apple butter.
Place the seals in a pot of water to heat.
Fill jars with the apple butter making sure to leave 1/2 inch of head space. Then wipe the rims clean, add the seal and screw top.
Place In hot water bath for 10 minutes for half pint jars. Set jars to cool, label and store for gift giving or eating over the winter months.
CROCKPOT APPLE BUTTER RECIPE
Crockpot Apple Butter
Equipment
- Hot Water Bath
- Crockpot
- Immersion Blender
Ingredients
- 12 Apples, Peeled and Cored
- 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
- 1/2 Cup White Sugar
- 1/4 Cup Pure Maple Syrup
- 1 1/2 TBSP Cinnamon
- 1 1/2 TSP Ground Cloves
- 1/4 TSP salt
- 1 TSP Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- 1. Peel, and Core apples using a Apple Peeler Corer tool2. Fit apples whole into crock pot3. In a medium size bowl combine sugar, brown sugar, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla.4. Pour the sugar mixture over the apples in the crockpot.5. Set the crockpot settings to low for 10 hours.6. Prepare 8 pint jars according to hot water bath canning method.7. Puree the apple mixture with an immersion blender.8. Process the jars for 10 minutes.10. Let cool, label and store
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Don’t forget your free labels!
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Kim M Luniak says
I would love to make this apple butter. We have plenty of fruit trees. Thank you so much for sharing the recipe. Would I be able to freeze instead of canning?
Diana says
Yes for sure! Go ahead and freeze it in 1 cup measures for easier use in recipes like our Apple Pie!