Homemade Apple Butter
So basically, my crock pot hates me.
It’s supposed to be one of the easiest appliances to use, right? Everytime I’ve tried to something has gone wrong. Things are either over cooked or undercooked, and definitely not very tasty. I decided I needed to find a recipe that couldn’t possibly fail. When I realized I had 5 pounds of apples, I had my answer.
I found a recipe for crock pot apple butter, and it seemed super easy. Peel and chop the apples, add sugar and spices, let cook overnight. I could do that. My crock pot could do that.
It turns out peeling and chopping 5 1/2 pounds of apples is kind of a pain in the a…pple. Your hands get all slippery and tired, and you get sticky apple juice everywhere. Then the apples didn’t fit into my crockpot, so I had to puree them all in order to make the most of the space I had. Finally I got everything in the crock pot and turned it on. The recipe said the whole thing would take less than 12 hours. Great!
12 hours later? Not even close to done.
I ended up cooking this apple butter for a full 24 hours. Between prepping, cooking, and canning, the whole project took 26 hours! 26! A lot of that was downtime, but still. My crock pot is cursed.
It was so worth it though. It’s dark, sweet, tangy, silky, and spicy. It is SO GOOD on toast with a little vegan margarine, you have no idea. It’s like concentrated apple pie. I wish you could taste it. Well, actually, you might be able to!
Since I have a lot of this stuff, and it’s such a b…anana to make, I’m going to give away three jars to VeganYumYum readers. Yay!
Win Homemade Organic Apple Butter!
Contest is closed! Stay tuned for the winners!
1) Comment!
2) Use a valid email address! (Will not be published!)
3) Win apple butter!
In one week (November 11th at 5 PM), I’ll use a random number generator to pick three numbers, corresponding to the comments here. Those people win a 1/2 pint jar of organic apple butter, complete with fun spreader knife and recipe card. I’ll email you to tell you you’ve won: just reply with a mailing address.
Some general rules: If you don’t leave a valid email address with your comment, I’ll pick another person. If I don’t hear back from you with your mailing address, I’ll pick another person. I’ll ship overseas, so don’t worry, everyone can play!
For those of you who don’t win, here’s the recipe. I used this recipe found I online.
Crock Pot Apple Butter
Makes 4 Pints
5 1/2 lbs Apples, peeled and finely chopped (as many different kinds as you can!)
4 Cups Sugar
2-3 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Ground Cloves
1/4 tsp Salt
1 Sprinkle Nutmeg
Peel and core the apples. Slice finely or puree in a food processor. Add apples and remaining ingredients to your crock pot. Cook on high for 1 hour, then on low for 8-10 hours. Remove lid (or crack it open a bit) and cook on high until a wooden spoon stands upright in it. The apple butter will have reduced by about half to get to this point. Blend if desired.
Fill sterilized jars with simmering apple butter and process for 15 minutes in a boiling-water bath. Remove jars and let sit, undisturbed, overnight. Test the seals and refrigerate any jars that have not sealed completely. Fully sealed jars will keep for 18-24 months unopened. Once opened, the apple butter will keep for 2 months in the refrigerator, or indefinitely in the freezer.
Good luck!
I keep not making apple butter because it’s so much apples and effort for so little output, but I would happily accept some of yours. :)
(Also, I only have a very small crockpot.)
Your website is my favorite and I can’t wait for your book!
This looks amazing, and I have a ton of apples I need to use up. Think it will work on the stove instead of crockpot, or do I need to run to goodwill and pick one up?
Wow! That looks incredible! I had a similar experience with some crabapple jelly I recently made. But after all that time it never set up!
I love homemade apple butter but haven’t had a chance to visit any apple festivals this season. Thanks for a chance at this fabulous giveaway!
I LOVE apple butter! Divine!
I love your blog. I never comment, but today… it’s a special day!!! I’ve never tasted apple butter, can you believe? I want it now :) LOL Smacks, Fernanda.
apple butter is such a scrumptious giveaway!
Of course I’m going to at least take a chance with this… it looks DELISH! Thanks for all the wonderful goodness you bring to the world :-)
ditto 512. this looks absolutely wonderful…
You have the most beautiful blog! I set it as my homepage so your nice pictures are the first things I see when I open Firefox.
I had no idea you could make apple butter in a crock pot, what a great idea!
Love this blog! And, I must say, that apple butter looks so goood. :)
Yum! Yum! Hope I win!
Wow, apple butter! Organic too! Simply divine..! :)
this makes me feel okay that I don’t have a crock pot!
i’ve never wanted to win apple butter as much as i do now!! your pictures and recipes are inspirational! thank you for having such a wonderful blog!
I love your site – the photos, the recipes, and the enthusiasm. Thanks for sharing your talents. I’ll definitely try out the iPhone app too. Way cool!
I love your blog; it has always been one of my favorites, and one of the first ones I started reading. I would also love some apple butter! Yum!
Oh yum!!
i’ve never heard of such a thing as apple butter. but i’d love to try.
I love apple butter, that looks sooooo good!!
Sounds tasty, and a good excuse to buy a crock pot. Off I go!
Commenting because that looks delicious!
Yum! Love the blog, cant wait for the cookbook
ooh, count me in!
I guess I’ll try my luck too :)
Oooooh, how can I resist???
That apple butter looks scrumptious! I have been meaning to leave a post on your blog for a while, but this ‘contest’ is a definite motivation! I have tried several of your wonderful recipes, and love them all. I really hope that you will get your cookbook published eventually – I’ll be first in line to buy it!
Lissy (in Costa Rica)
Makes me wish I had a crockpot.
f.y.i. Random number generators aren’t truly random! (but they’re usually good enough)
I always say I will make some apple butter but I never really get down to it! It looks delicious!
Sounds and looks yummy!
i wish i had a crockpot!
p..s i finally made your sweet chili lime tofu yesterday, it was amazing! cookbook soon!!
I would love to win an apple butter!
ohh… apple butter… arrghh (homer simpson noise)
Oooh, I was on my honeymoon and didn’t see this earlier, but I would love some apple butter!! That stuff is amazing! :)
I hope your random number generator can count this high :)
I would love some apple butter!
Great recipe! I look forward to trying it if I can’t score some yummy apple butter.
My great great great grandmother had an apple butter mill. Very progressive for her time. My family still has the signs she would include with every order.
I never had apple butter before, but looks delicious. So let’s see if I can be so lucky … my number – 543.
i love your blog! especially all the amazing photography!
Good vegan gravy girl! I remember apple butter from camp when I was 10 and now you are making it and giving it away when I am 63. Can your mother win a jar? To all the other entrants, don’t hate me for trying — without me you wouldn’t have Lolo. (If you pick my number, can I chose an alternate winner). I know, I am just kidding, wonderful child. xo
Oh boy! How did I miss this one the first time around? If I don’t win, I’ll certainly be breaking out the crockpot to try this recipe.
Your blog makes me happy. Oh and yay apple butter!
I love your site! It makes being vegan a little more exciting. ^_^
Indubitably appetizing!
The butter looks delicious, but peeling that many apples sounds intimidating.
I’m a college student! I’m vegan! I need real food!
Wow that looks so good!