Apple Butter Recipe Made for Water Bath Canning
I have a soft spot for fruit butters, and apple butter holds a special place in my heart. It’s essentially a spreadable apple pie. It is rich with the warm sweetness and gentle spice of baked apples. This makes it irresistibly comforting. Its versatility is one of its greatest charms. You can smear it generously on breakfast toast. Add a dollop atop muffins or scones. Melt it into buttery biscuits. It elevates each bite into something cozy and indulgent. Each spoonful carries the essence of homemade goodness. It turns everyday baked goods into small, delightful moments of sweetness. These moments feel like a celebration of fall all year round.
And believe it or not, my apple butter isn’t just for spreading. It shines in a wide range of baked and cooked recipes. It enhances both breakfast and dinner dishes with its rich, spiced sweetness. From morning muffins to savory glazes or sauces, it adds a deep flavor. This depth transforms ordinary meals into something special. Below, you’ll find a carefully curated list of our favorite recipes. They showcase apple butter in creative and delicious ways. This gives you plenty of inspiration to enjoy this versatile treat in every meal of the day.
The easiest method to cook apple butter is in a large slow cooker. A good batch takes all day and cooks down for hours. Your entire house will smell like cinnamon apples, and it is delightful.
I prefer to prepare and cook the recipe in a slow cooker before bed. In the morning, it should be ready to process in the water bath canner. If your apple butter is runny, take the lid off the slow cooker. Cook it for longer to cook off the water.
I have also heard some pressure cooking the apple butter to speed up the cooking time. I believe it works but I have not cooked mine in a pressure cooker.
Canning Equipment
Are you new to canning? Or do you need more materials? You can get everything you need to make this recipe all right here and through Amazon.
Cost to make this recipe.
I had estimated it would cost roughly $14 to purchase all the ingredients for this apple butter. This is the cost for the entire batch, or $1.16 per half-pint. As a homesteader, I save a lot of money every autumn. I grow apples in the yard. This eliminates over $11 from the entire price. That’s outstanding. So my homesteader cost is more closer to $2.82 or $0.24 per half-pint.
Similar jam recipes to preserve
Recipe adapted
This recipe came from Ball’s Fresh Preserving online website. All images and texts are original to Vintage Mountain Homestead. Click here for more information about our home food preservation disclaimer.
Apple Butter
Ingredients
- 8 lbs apples of any variety …[$11.12]
- 8 cups white granulated sugar …[$2.32]
- 1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon …[$0.12]
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg …[$0.19]
- ½ tsp ground cloves …[$0.19]
Instructions
- Peel, core, and slice all apples and add to the slow cooker.
- Add all sugars and spices to cooker. Stir briefly and set on low to cook for 10 hours. I cook this recipe overnight.
- After 10 hours, puree with an immersion blender.
- Keep in slow cooker to cook longer while you set up your water bath canning system and when ready can away. I sometimes need to cook it longer if it is too watery. Process for 5 minutes in water bath canner.
Apple Butter
Cooking Methods
- Slow Cooker
- Water Bath Canner
- Mason Jars, Lids, and Rings
Ingredients
- 8 lbs apples of any variety, …[$11.12]
- 8 cups white granulated sugar, …[$2.32]
- 1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon, …[$0.12]
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg, …[$0.19]
- ½ tsp ground cloves, …[$0.19]
Instructions
- Peel, core, and slice 8 lbs apples of any variety and add to the slow cooker.
- Add 8 cups white granulated sugar, 1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon, ½ tsp ground nutmeg, and ½ tsp ground cloves. Stir briefly and set on low to cook for 10 hours. I cook this recipe overnight.
- After 10 hours, puree with an immersion blender.
- Keep in slow cooker to cook longer while you set up your water bath canning system and when ready can away. I sometimes need to cook it longer if it is too watery. Process for 5 minutes in water bath canner.
Could I substitute pumpkin and follow the same steps to make pumpkin butter and have it be safe to eat?
Are you asking to substitute pumpkin for the apple? If so, yes, you can, but you cannot can it. Pumpkin butter is not safe to can like apple butter. You must only refrigerate or freeze. You can find my pumpkin butter recipe here: https://oneacrevintagehome.com/pumpkin-butter/
Thanks for the comment.
How can I make this more keto (lower carbs)?
You can substitute the white sugar for an alternative keto-friendly sugar. But I cannot say if it will be safe for home canning, nor can I say if it will have the same taste and consistency as my recipe. I find Swerve sugar, which is a 1:1 substitution ratio, to be quite sweeter in taste. So you will need to do your own taste testing.
Thanks for the response. I use several sugar substitutes in my keto cooking and baking but in this case I decided to keep to your recipe. Seemed kind of cruel to alter apple butter. 😳 It’s been a staple in my family for generations. I’ve made it before using the Betty Crocker Cookbook recipe. I must say yours is better. 😁. I look forward to more of your recipes.
Do I have to water bath or can I just refrigerate if I don’t need to preserve?
No you definitely don’t have to water bath can the recipe. Refrigeration is perfectly fine, the apple butter just won’t last as long as canned shelf life.
Do you know the time for pressure canning, or would it be similar to applesauce?