This weekend I realized my apple supply was dwindling AND they were starting to get some soft spots. As we were planning to be out of the house all day, I couldn't dedicate myself to any big baking projects to use them up before they spoiled. I quickly scanned my list of "to do" apple recipes and realized that nothing fit! Always willing to improvise when it comes to cooking, I did a quick google search and decided to switch my overly-ambitious-stand-by-the-stove-for-2-hours-stirring (really, I have no idea what I was thinking...) apple butter for a slow cooker version. I was NOT disappointed by the swap and I don't think you will be either because this recipe is delicious!
Based off a recipe found here from My Baking Addiction...
4 pounds apples - peeled, cored and sliced
1 cup granulated sugar*
1 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed*
2 teaspoons apple pie spice
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 cup apple cider
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
*I used more sugar because my apples were a tart variety. If you have sweeter apples, scale back your sugar*
- Chop up all apples and pile into your crockpot.
- Mix both sugars and all spices together until blended in a medium sized bowl.
- Pour sugar/spice mixture over apple slices and stir.
- Add apple cider to crockpot.
- Cook on low heat setting for approximately 7 hours.
- Add vanilla extract and stir mixture well. It will have darkened in color and many of the apples will have "dissolved" into the mixture. Cook 1 more hour.
- Turn off heat and use blender to puree mixture (use immersion blender if you have one!). Be careful as it is going to be very hot!
- This recipe made four small mason jars (with a little extra that I just spooned into a small bowl). If you can be sure you have people to distribute it to that will use it within 2 weeks, your work is done! I went the extra step and canned it according to the instructions here.
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