If you like cozy, cinnamon-y fall flavours, this Delicious apple butter recipe you’ll love! is about to become your new favourite spread. Despite the name, apple butter doesn’t actually contain butter. It’s a smooth, thick, deeply cooked apple spread that tastes like apple pie in a jar.
Whether you’re in the United States, United Kingdom, or Canada, this homemade apple butter is easy to make with basic ingredients and simple equipment. You can use it on toast, swirl it into yogurt, top pancakes, or even bake it into cakes and muffins.
What is apple butter, exactly?
Apple butter is like super-concentrated applesauce. You cook apples slowly with sugar and warm spices until they turn dark, caramelized, and spreadable. The longer and slower it cooks, the richer the flavour.
It’s:
Dairy-free (despite the name)
Naturally fruity and sweet
Perfect for fall and winter breakfasts
Great for using up a big bag of apples
The Delicious apple butter recipe you’ll love! below keeps things simple, with options for stovetop or slow cooker, so you can choose whatever fits your schedule.
Ingredients for the Delicious apple butter recipe you’ll love!
This recipe makes about 3–4 small jars (depending on your cooking time and how thick you like it).
Apples
You’ll need:
3–4 lbs (about 1.5–2 kg) apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
Good choices (alone or mixed):
Gala
Fuji
Honeycrisp
Braeburn
McIntosh (great in Canada and the UK)
Cox’s Orange Pippin (common in the UK)
You can mix sweet and slightly tart apples for the best flavour.
Sweetener
1–1¼ cups (200–250 g) granulated sugar
You can replace part of this with brown sugar for a deeper, caramel flavour (for example, ½ white and ½ brown).
You can adjust the sweetness later, so don’t stress the exact amount at first.
Spices & flavour
1½–2 tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp ground allspice or cloves (optional, they’re strong—use lightly)
½ tsp fine salt (helps the flavour pop)
2 tsp vanilla extract
½–1 cup (120–240 ml) apple juice, apple cider, or water to get things started
This combination creates a Delicious apple butter recipe you’ll love! that tastes like a warm slice of spiced apple pie.
How to make apple butter: step-by-step
You can make this Delicious apple butter recipe you’ll love! on the stovetop or in a slow cooker. Both versions start with the same basic steps.
Step 1: Prep the apples
Peel, core, and chop your apples into chunks (about 1–2 inch / 2–3 cm pieces).
Add the pieces to a large pot (for stovetop) or a slow cooker bowl.
Don’t worry about cutting them perfectly—everything will get blended later.
Step 2A: Stovetop method
Add the sugar, spices, salt, and liquid (juice/cider/water) to the pot with the apples.
Stir to coat the apples.
Place the pot over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.
Once it’s bubbling, reduce the heat to low, cover with a lid slightly ajar to let some steam escape, and cook for 45–60 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples are very soft.
If the mixture looks too dry or starts to stick, add a splash more liquid and lower the heat.
Step 2B: Slow cooker method
The slow cooker route is the most hands-off way to make a Delicious apple butter recipe you’ll love!
Add apples, sugar, spices, salt, and liquid to the slow cooker.
Stir to combine.
Cover and cook on:
LOW for 8–10 hours, or
HIGH for 4–5 hours,
until the apples are very soft and starting to break down.
If there seems to be a lot of liquid at the end, remove the lid and cook on HIGH for another 30–60 minutes to reduce slightly.
You can even start this overnight or in the morning and finish it later.
Step 3: Blend until smooth
Once the apples are very soft and fragrant:
Turn off the heat (or slow cooker).
Use an immersion (stick) blender directly in the pot/slow cooker to blend the mixture until completely smooth.
If you don’t have an immersion blender:
Let the mixture cool slightly.
Carefully transfer it in batches to a regular blender.
Blend until smooth, then return to the pot or slow cooker.
Be careful when blending hot mixtures—always leave some space in the blender and hold the lid with a towel to avoid splashes.
Step 4: Cook it down thicker
Now you have something like a very smooth applesauce. To become apple butter, it needs to thicken and darken.
On the stovetop:
Simmer the blended mixture over low heat, uncovered, for 30–60 minutes, stirring often so it doesn’t scorch.
In the slow cooker:
Cook on LOW with the lid off for 1–2 more hours, stirring occasionally.
You’ll know it’s ready when:
It’s thick enough to mound on a spoon instead of running off.
A spoonful placed on a plate doesn’t quickly seep liquid around the edges.
The colour has deepened to a rich, caramel-like brown.
Stir in the vanilla extract near the end of cooking.
Taste and adjust:
Add a bit more sugar if you like it sweeter.
Add a pinch more cinnamon if you want stronger spice.
This is your moment to customize the Delicious apple butter recipe you’ll love! to your exact taste.
Variations on this Delicious apple butter recipe you’ll love!
Once you master the base recipe, you can twist it a little to suit your style.
Maple apple butter
Replace part of the sugar (¼–½ cup) with pure maple syrup. This works especially well in Canada and the northern US where maple is easy to find. It adds a rich, cozy flavour.
Less-sugar apple butter
If you prefer a less sweet spread:
Start with ¾ cup sugar instead of 1–1¼ cups.
Taste after thickening and only add more if needed.
Apples themselves are naturally sweet, so you might be surprised how little sugar you need.
Extra-spiced “chai” apple butter
Add:
½ tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp cardamom
A pinch of clove
This gives you a chai-inspired version of the Delicious apple butter recipe you’ll love!—amazing in oatmeal or stirred into warm milk.
Practical tips for perfect apple butter every time
Here are some real-world tips to make this recipe smooth, safe, and stress-free.
Use a heavy-bottomed pot
If you’re cooking on the stovetop, a heavy pot (like a Dutch oven) helps prevent scorching, especially in the thickening stage. Apple butter is thick and sugary, so it can burn in thin pots if you’re not careful.
Stir more as it thickens
At the start, you don’t need to stir constantly. As it gets thicker and darker, stir more often (every few minutes) so it doesn’t stick or catch on the bottom.
Adjust the sweetness at the end
Different apple varieties have different sweetness levels. Instead of worrying about being exact up front:
Use the lower end of sugar at first.
Once the apple butter is nearly done, taste it.
If needed, stir in a bit more sugar and cook a few minutes longer so it dissolves.
Don’t stress about exact cooking time
Humidity, pot size, apple variety, and temperature all affect how long it takes to thicken. Instead of watching the clock, watch the texture:
You’re aiming for thick, glossy, and spreadable.
If it’s runny, keep going. If it’s very thick and dark but not burning, you’re there.
Storing your apple butter safely
For everyday use (no canning):
Let the apple butter cool.
Transfer to clean jars or containers with lids.
Store in the fridge for about 2–3 weeks.
For longer storage, freeze in small containers or freezer-safe bags for up to 6 months.
If you’re interested in canning for shelf storage, it’s best to follow an official, tested canning guide from a trusted source (like a government food safety site or extension service) to make sure everything is safe.
How to enjoy your Delicious apple butter recipe you’ll love!
Now for the fun part—eating it. This spread is ridiculously versatile. Try:
On toast, bagels, English muffins, or crumpets
Swirled into oatmeal, porridge, or overnight oats
Stirred into yogurt with granola on top
As a topping for pancakes, waffles, or French toast
Spread inside a grilled cheese with sharp cheddar for a sweet-savoury combo
As a filling for cakes, cupcakes, or thumbprint cookies
Warmed slightly and spooned over vanilla ice cream
It also makes a lovely homemade gift—just label a jar and let people know to keep it refrigerated.
Conclusion
From a humble bag of apples and a few pantry spices, you can create a Delicious apple butter recipe you’ll love! that feels comforting and special at the same time. Whether you cook it slowly in a crockpot or simmer it on the stovetop, the key is patience, gentle heat, and tasting as you go.
This homemade apple butter is perfect for cozy breakfasts, quick snacks, and simple desserts across the US, UK, and Canada. Once you’ve tried it on warm toast or stirred into hot oatmeal, it’s hard to go back to store-bought spreads.