Autumn is the time for apples. Here is an easy recipe to use some of your extra fruit. Do you have a favorite way to use or preserve them? Let us know!
Canning Apple Butter using a Crock Pot
This is an incredibly easy method for canning apple butter in a slow cooker or crock pot. Slow cook the apples overnight and your kitchen will smell heavenly in the morning.
Home canned apple butter slathered on lightly toasted and buttered fresh bread. Add a cup of tea or decaf coffee. A favorite bedtime snack for me!
After cooking in the slow cooker you will need to process in a boiling water canner.
You will need enough apples to fill your crock pot. About 6 pounds. I make this in my large 6 quart slow cooker. Adjust the amount of apples and sugar to the size of your cooker.
Prepare
Gather your canning supplies
- water bath canner
- canning jars
- canning lids and rings
- jar lifter and canning funnel
- large pot or blancher
- bowls
- large spoons
- sharp knife
- towels and dish cloths
- whisk
- apple peeler corer slicer this is optional but I HIGHLY recommend it. They are worth their weight in gold! See if you can borrow one if you don’t have one. It is an incredible time saver.
Ingredients
apples -enough to fill your crock pot very full.
- 1 -2 cups sugar (to taste)
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp salt
Procedure
Peel, core and slice your apples.
Put your apples into your crock pot. Fill it up to the brim. The apples will settle quite a bit as they cook and soften.
In a bowl mix sugar, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Pour this mixture over the apples.
Cover and cook approximately 10 hours. Stir occasionally. Leave the lid slightly ajar to allow moisture to escape this will help the apple butter to thicken up nicely.
As the apples cook you will be able to go from stirring with a spoon to a whisk. They will whisk up nice and smooth.
The color will get darker and darker as the apple butter thickens as well. I love to let them cook good and long. It makes the apple butter so yummy.
