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This homemade Slow Cooker Apple Butter cooks low and slow until the apples become soft, silky smooth, and full of warm Fall flavor. A combination of Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apples gives it the perfect sweet-tart balance, while brown sugar, molasses, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves make every spoonful taste extra cozy.
For more cozy apple recipes, try my apple fritter cake or serve this apple butter with my homemade buttermilk biscuits.
It may not be Fall just yet, but a girl can dream! Fall is easily my favorite time of year. We’ve had a tradition in my family to go apple picking every year since I was 8. It’s one of my most fond memories and something I look forward to annually.
So what do we do with all of those leftover apples?! We make apple pie filling, apple crisp without oats, apple fritters, apple bread, and of course this homemade apple butter recipe.
I’ve been making this apple spread for years and I just absolutely love it. It’s a family recipe that I’ve received permission to share from my mom and grandmom so just know a LOT of love went into it! ❤️
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Apple Butter
- Mostly hands-off: Your slow cooker does the majority of the work while the apples cook down.
- Richly spiced: Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, molasses, and vanilla give it a deep, warm flavor.
- Thick and spreadable: Once the apples are softened, I add a cornstarch slurry create a thick yet smooth consistency that it’s not watery!
- Perfect for Fall: It makes your entire house smell like you’ve been baking all day, and who doesn’t want that?
- Plenty of ways to use it: Spoon it over pumpkin spice pancakes, spread it on toast, or add it to baked goods and breakfast recipes.
Ingredients You’ll Need
(The complete list of ingredients and measurements can be found in the recipe card.)
- Apples: I recommend combining Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples. Using both gives you a better balance of sweetness, tartness, and apple flavor than relying on one variety.
- Brown sugar: Sweetens the apples while adding notes of caramel and molasses.
- Cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves: These warm spices give the apple butter its cozy fall flavor. Cloves are especially strong, so a little goes a long way.
- Orange juice: Adds brightness and a subtle citrus flavor that balances the sweetness.
- Molasses: Deepens the flavor and helps give the apple butter its rich, dark color.
- Cornstarch and water: Combine to make a slurry that thickens the purée into a smooth, spreadable apple butter.
How to Make Slow Cooker Apple Butter
These step-by-step instructions will guide you through the process. For the complete printable recipe with measurements, scroll down or tap “Jump to Recipe.”
Slice apples into about 1/2 inch thick pieces (peeling optional as per your preference) and place them in the bowl of the slow cooker. Add brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, orange juice, and molasses. Toss together so that all of the apples are coated. Set slow cooker to low and cover with the lid. Cook for 10 hours, until desired texture is reached.
Step 1: Core the apples and cut them into slices about ½ inch thick. Peeling is optional. If you leave the peels on, wash the apples thoroughly and plan to blend the finished mixture until completely smooth. Place the sliced apples in the slow cooker. Add the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, orange juice, and molasses. Toss until the apples are evenly coated and no large pockets of dry spices remain. Cover the slow cooker and cook the apples on low for approximately 10 hours. When they’re ready, the apples should be very soft, darkened in color, and surrounded by a deep amber-brown liquid. You should be able to mash a slice against the side of the slow cooker with almost no pressure.
Step 2: Use an immersion blender to purée the apples directly in the slow cooker until completely smooth. You can also carefully transfer the hot apples to a countertop blender in batches. Avoid sealing extremely hot food tightly inside a blender, as steam needs room to escape. Set the slow cooker to high and remove the lid. Stir the cornstarch and water together in a small bowl until smooth, then pour the slurry into the apple purée while stirring. Cook the apple butter uncovered on high for approximately 2 hours. Turn off the heat and stir in vanilla extract.
Pro Tip: Remember that the apple butter will continue to thicken as it cools. Allow the apple butter to cool before transferring it to airtight containers or jars.
How to Tell When Apple Butter Is Done
Spoon a small amount onto a chilled plate and let it sit for one minute. The apple butter should hold its shape when the plate is tilted, and you shouldn’t see watery liquid collecting around it.
You can also drag a spoon across the bottom of the slow cooker. The path should remain visible briefly before the apple butter slowly settles back into place. If it immediately runs together, let it continue cooking uncovered.
Britney’s Pro Recipe Tips
- Use a combination of apples. Sweet and tart varieties create a fuller, more balanced flavor.
- Keep the lid off during the final cook. This allows excess moisture to escape so the apple butter can become thick and spreadable.
- Stir more frequently near the end. Once the mixture thickens, it is more likely to stick around the edges or scorch on the bottom.
- Judge doneness by texture, not only time. Slow cookers and apple varieties can vary. Continue cooking if your apple butter still runs off the spoon like applesauce.
Ways to Use Apple Butter
Spread apple butter over toast, English muffins, or warm butter swim biscuits. My kids love to eat with their morning almond butter overnight oats or yogurt, but my personal favorite is over some baked brioche French toast.
For something savory, add it to a cheese board, pair it with sharp cheddar and sliced ham in a sandwich, or mix a spoonful into a glaze for pan seared pork chops or roasted chicken.
It also makes a delicious filling for apple pie cinnamon rolls, apple cider donuts, and apple cider whoopie pies… or simply warm it up and spoon it over vanilla ice cream!
Video Tutorial
Apple Butter FAQs
I recommend combining a sweet apple with a tart apple. Honeycrisp and Granny Smith are my favorite pairing, but Fuji, Pink Lady, or Braeburn can also be included. Avoid using only very mild apples, which can produce a flatter flavor.
Nope! I’ve tried making this recipe by peeling the apples and leaving the skin on – I’ve found it doesn’t make a big difference at all.
Peeling the apples creates a lot of work that I don’t have patience for, but that’s just me! If you want to peel the apples, you absolutely can! If you do, I recommend using an apple peeler to make the process faster and easier!
Simply put, apple sauce has a bit more water in it that apple butter. The consistency of apple butter is a lot smoother and thicker than applesauce. Both can be made in a slow cooker, but this apple flavored spread is cooked a bit longer for a more intense apple flavor.
More Apple Recipes!
- Easy Cinnamon Sugar Apple Galette
- Brown Butter Waffles with Cinnamon Apples
- Apple Cider Cinnamon Rolls with Brown Butter Frosting
- Apple Butter Cocktail
- Dutch Apple Cake
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If you make this recipe, please leave a star rating on the recipe card and comment below! You can also tag @BritneyBreaksBread on Instagram and hashtag #britneybreaksbread so I can celebrate your beautiful creations!
Slow Cooker Apple Butter
Equipment
- Crockpot™ Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 5 lbs (2268 g) Apples, I recommend using a variety of granny smith and honeycrisp
- 2 cups (440 g) Brown Sugar
- 1 tbsp (12 g) Cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp Nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp Ground Cloves
- 2 tbsp (30 g) Orange Juice
- 1 1/2 tbsp (22 g) Molasses
- 2 tbsps (8 g) Cornstarch
- 2 tbsp Water
- 1 tbsp (15 g) Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Slice apples into about 1/2 inch thick pieces (peeling optional as per your preference) and place them in the bowl of the slow cooker. Add brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, orange juice, and molasses. Toss together so that all of the apples are coated. 5 lbs Apples 2 cups Brown Sugar 1 tbsp Cinnamon 1/2 tsp Nutmeg 1/4 tsp Ground Cloves 2 tbsp Orange Juice 1 1/2 tbsp Molasses
- Set slow cooker to low and cover with the lid. Cook for 10 hours, until desired texture is reached.
- Carefully pour apple butter into a blender (be careful, it'll be very hot!) OR use an immersion blender to puree until smooth. Place back in the slow cooker. Set slow cooker to high and leave the lid off.
- In a small bowl, mix together cornstarch and water to create a slurry. Pour mixture into the apple butter and stir. Continue to cook for 2 hours, stirring occasionally so that the bottom doesn't burn. The longer it cooks, the thicker it'll be come so you can cook until it's at your desired consistency. 1 tbsp Vanilla Extract 2 tbsp Water
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract. Allow it to cool completely and store in an airtight container. 1 tbsp Vanilla Extract
Video
Notes
- The longer the apple butter cooks, the thicker it will become.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Where does the Apple cider come in, since it is not listed the ingredients?
Hi! That’s a typo, I just updated the recipe! It’s been fixed, thanks for catching that.
How do u store it
In an airtight container in the refrigerator. It’ll last for 2-4 weeks.
I’ve let this sit in the crockpot for probably 3+ hours after blending. It is still extremely runny. Any suggestions?
Did you let it sit uncovered? You can place it in a pot over low heat and that will help any liquid cook off and thicken the apple butter.
Best tasting apple butter hands down. It’s a must try loved it
Thank you so much!
Easy to make and very good! Tastes like fall! Spice up toast, muffins, bagels and more
So glad that you enjoyed it!