Homemade Apple Butter

Ever since I was a child I’ve loved applesauce.  Back  in those days everything was made with sugar, and applesauce was no exception.  Nowadays if I purchase applesauce it’s natural without sugar, and quite frankly who needs the sugar when you’re already using a sweet apple! 

When I made my Sweet New Year’s Honey Cake I decided to make some apple butter to go with it.  I searched the web for recipes seeking something simple, without too many ingredients.  After viewing 10+ recipes, I decided on a quick cooking method vs. the slow cooker. However, each recipe used sugar. For this Apple Butter I decided I’d use sugar, then determine how much to omit next time.

I think I’d definitely cut the sugar in half or omit it completely.  It tastes great, but is sweet.  If you like that extra sweetness you can use brown sugar, or a combination of brown and granulated.

My recipe basically cooked all of 25 minutes, a far cry from some that were 6-10 hours in a slow cooker. The results were delicious, not mushy, and bright in color compared to the long and slow cooking method.

When it was all said and done, I feel like the quick cooking method tastes more like applesauce, but so refreshing in comparison to the long and slow cooking  method.

I didn’t use as many spices in mine, and I’m thrilled about that. Although extra spices such as, cloves, ginger, and fresh nutmeg would be nice additions, if you’re a fan of fall flavors. I liked the simplicity of the flavors in this Apple Butter.

This homemade Apple Butter or Sauce tasted so fresh!  I left some of the apples chunky, but of course if you prefer yours to be creamy, cook it longer or puree’ it, once finished cooking.

Apple Butter makes a nice fall gift to family, friends, or neighbors.

If you try this Apple Butter recipe, please share your thoughts.

Print Recipe

Quick Chunky Apple Butter

Yield: Approximately 3 cups

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Trying to figure out what to do since you went apple picking and came back with bushels of apples?  Try this Quick Chunky Apple Butter for a refreshing treat!

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2-inch dice
• 1/2 cup unsweetened apple juice ( I used Simply Apple)
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar or (3/4 cup total granulated sugar or combination brown sugar or none)
• 1/2 vanilla bean

Directions:

1. In a nonreactive large saucepan, bring apples, apple juice, lemon juice, and cinnamon to a simmer over medium heat, stirring often.  Reduce heat to medium low and simmer, stirring often, until apples are barely tender, about 10 minutes.
2. Stir in sugar, if desired. Using the tip of a knife, split vanilla bean in half scraping seeds out, and adding to mixture (see note). Add scraped pod to mix. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce heat to maintain steady simmer, stirring often, until apples haven broken down into a thick, chunky puree, about 25 minutes.  Discard vanilla pod.
3. Transfer apple butter to an airtight container or canning jar, and refrigerate for up to 1 week.

Note: To remove seeds from vanilla bean pod, slice pod in half lengthwise from end to end.  Open pod, and with blade directly on half the pod, run knife over pod, removing seeds. Place seeds into mixture and add scraped pod.

Slightly Adapted from: Sarabeth's Good Morning Cookbook

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