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Slow Cooker Apple Butter

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Filled with cozy fall flavors, this Crockpot Apple Butter requires just a few simple ingredients to make! Perfect for swirling into yogurt, spreading atop bagels or toast, and more! 

glass jar of slow cooker apple butter with a wooden spoon resting on top

Slow cooker, Crockpot, gigantic dish that sits on the counter and cooks delicious food for hours on end. Whatever you prefer to call it, it’s a kitchen essential for me. I love experimenting with my slow cooker. There are endless combination to make, countless recipes to mark of my to-do list, and so many wonderful meals that come out of it.

While I use my slow cooker year round, I tend to use it the most during the fall and winter months. I love the ease of throwing something together, letting it cook all day, and having a hot and tasty meal ready with hardly any prep work. It’s almost like a miracle-cooker in my mind!

So because it’s fall and I’m all about the apple (and pumpkin) goodies, I decided to try my hand at this Crockpot Apple Butter. Just a few simple ingredients is all it takes to make this delicious spread, perfectly acceptable to use on toast, oatmeal, ice cream, or my favorite, a spoon!

This Slow Cooker Apple Butter is so easy to make, guys! And you know I’m all about the simple recipes! The hardest part is peeling, coring, and slicing the apples. But if you have one of those handy dandy all-in-one apple corer/slicers, then you’re in luck!

Did I mention how amazing this will make your house smell? This scent is purely, insanely intoxicating…in a good way! And I guarantee that you will love the taste of this Slow Cooker Apple Butter! While it doesn’t take anything like regular butter (more like an apple jam), it’s full of apple flavor, cinnamon, and cozy fall spices.

So what are you waiting for? Grab those apples and get slow cookin’!

overhead view of homemade apple butter in a glass jar with a wooden spoon resting on top

Crockpot Apple Butter Ingredients 

This easy apple butter recipe requires minimal ingredients to make: 

  • Apples 
  • Granulated sugar
  • Brown sugar 
  • Ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves
  • Salt
  • Vanilla bean paste (or extract) 

How to Make Apple Butter in a Crockpot

I made my butter into more of a jam, rather than a smooth sauce. Simply use an immersion blender or potato masher to mash up the chunks to your desired consistency. I like my apple butter chunky and full of flavor, so I purposely left some delicious gobs of apple-y goodness in there.

Here are the basic steps to making homemade apple butter in a slow cooker: 

  1. Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray or use slow cooker liner.
  2. Place apples into bottom of slow cooker. 
  3. Sprinkle the apples with granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
  4. Cook low for 9 hours or on high for 4 hours.
  5. When 1 hour is left, add in vanilla and stir. 
  6. Using an immersion blender or potato masher, mash apples to reach your desired consistency.

What Are the Best Apples for Apple Butter? 

I chose to use honey crisp apples, but whatever apple tickles your fancy will work. Make sure that you adjust the amount of sugar depending on the tartness of your apples, otherwise you will end up with apple butter that is either too sweet, or too bland!

Apple Butter Uses

There are so many ways to enjoy this homemade apple butter! Swirl it into your morning yogurt, spread on toast or bagels, use in baked goods, spoon over oatmeal, use as an ice cream topping, and more! 

glass jar full of crockpot apple butter

Tips for Making Crockpot Apple Butter

  • Sugar: Be sure to adjust the amount of sugar you use based on the type of apples that you chose. The sugars listed in the recipe card below are based on using 5 pounds of honey crisp apples.
  • Cook time: This Crockpot apple butter cooks all day, if you have the time. But I chose to speed up the process a bit and cook it on high for 5 hours, and then on low for 1 hour, after I had pureed the apple mixture. But if you have the time to spare, cook this delicious spread for 10 hours on low. Your house will smell incredible!
  • Storage: This Crockpot apple butter should be stored in an airtight container in the fridge. It’ll last up to 2 weeks. 

Looking for more apple recipes? I’ve got you covered!

Just a few simple ingredients is all it takes to make this Slow Cooker Apple Butter, filled with cozy fall flavors!
Print Pin

Crockpot Apple Butter

Filled with cozy fall flavors, this Crockpot Apple Butter requires just a few simple ingredients to make! Perfect for swirling into yogurt, spreading atop bagels or toast, and more! 
Course Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword apple recipe, slow cooker recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings 4 cups

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 5 pounds apples , peeled, cored, and sliced (I used honey crisp apples)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup light brown sugar , packed
  • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1½ tablespoons vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)

Instructions

  • Spray slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray or use slow cooker liner. Place apples into bottom of slow cooker.
  • In a separate bowl, combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Sprinkle over apples and lightly toss to coat.
  • Cover and cook on low for 9 hours or on high for 4 hours. When 1 hour is left, add in vanilla and stir. Cover and cook on low for an additional hour.
  • Using an immersion blender or potato masher, mash apples to reach your desired consistency. Cool completely and then refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

  • Be sure to adjust the amount of sugar you use based on the type of apples that you chose. The sugars listed above are based on using 5 pounds of honey crisp apples.
  • Apple butter will last up to 2 weeks refrigerated.
Tried this recipe?Mention @pumpkin_n_spice or tag #pumpkin_n_spice!

**September 2017 update!** This recipe was originally posted in November 2014. I decided that the photos desperately needed updating, so I reshot the recipe (but still kept the ingredient list and directions the same). I also kept the original post/story above that I wrote three years ago!**

By Gayle |

Comments

  1. Jessie says

    This recipe just proves to myself how much I really need to invest in another slow cooker. I had to leave mine behind during our last move & never got a new one. I can only imagine how much it'll come in handy once our twins are born as well. Have you tried the apple jam in crepes yet? I bet it'd taste delicious... with a little powdered sugar sprinkled on top :)
    Reply

    • Gayle says

      You should definitely get another slow cooker, Jessie! I use mine all the time! I've never tried it in crepes, but that's such a great idea! I definitely need to try that!
      Reply

  2. Mir says

    This looks really amazing, Gayle! I love using the slow cooker. It literally is the easiest way to cook. And then I make my husband clean it out. :) I bet this made your house smell delicious. Holy wow!
    Reply

    • Gayle says

      I love that you make your husband clean it. Isn't that the worst part of using a slow cooker? :) My house definitely smelled amazing when this was cooking!
      Reply

  3. Ceara @ Ceara's Kitchen says

    I love easy and delicious recipes like this! This apple butter looks amazing Gayle - I wish I had some right now to spread on toast! I can only imagine how wonderful this makes the entire house smell (*better than an apple spiced candle!). Beautiful photos! Pinned :)
    Reply

    • Gayle says

      Thanks, Ceara! I made mine into more of an apple jam because I love that texture. And it is perfect on toast and so full of flavor! And yes, this smell is a little better than an apple candle, though those are wonderful, too! :) Thanks so much for the pin!
      Reply

    • Gayle says

      Thanks for the apple butter love and pin, Michele! You're totally right, definitely a nice change from peanut butter! I also ate way too much of this with just my spoon, it's that good!
      Reply

  5. Laura says

    I just jove how versatile this recipe is, can have so many uses it would stay long in your fridge. Oh well then you'll just have to make more =)
    Reply

  6. Laura says

    Ha, that's would NOT stay long in your fridge, blaming this mistake on the ebola (what we're calling the 2 month cough everyone in my area have these days!!) Sure feels like it.
    Reply

    • Gayle says

      I'm embarrassed to admit how much of this apple butter I ate with just my spoon, Liz! It's so good and so versatile!
      Reply

  11. Mira says

    I love sweet apple butter and yours looks chunky and delicious! Great idea to make it in a crock pot, will have to try it! I'm sure your house smelled amazing! Pinned!
    Reply

    • Gayle says

      Thanks so much for the kind words and pin, Mira! I chose to make mine more like a jam, but you could definitely blend it more to make it smoother. But either way, it's delicious!
      Reply

  12. Kelley @ Chef Savvy says

    I have never had or made apple butter before. I know I am not the norm. This recipe looks super easy especially because you make it in a slow cooker. Can't wait to try apple butter thanks for sharing!
    Reply

    • Gayle says

      Apple butter is amazing, Kelley! And it's incredibly easy to make in the slow cooker. I hope you love this if you try it!
      Reply

    • Gayle says

      Apple butter is life-changing, Ashley! :) It's so easy to make and so tasty, I'm kicking myself that I never made it before this fall!
      Reply

  20. Sues says

    I've never used my slow cooker to make anything like this and I totally love the idea. A container of apple butter always in my fridge would be awesome :)
    Reply

    • Gayle says

      You should definitely try this, Sue! You would love it! And I guarantee this wouldn't last long in your house! :)
      Reply

  22. Heather @ Shards of Lavender says

    Gayle, I absolutely love how you left the apple butter slightly chunky! I make homemade applesauce and do the same thing. I hadn't ever heard of apple butter until moving to Ohio and meeting my husband. His family uses it on cornbread... I will definitely be trying this, as I have several pounds of apples from the orchard just hanging around the house.
    Reply

    • Gayle says

      I love chunky applesauce, too! I usually buy apple butter in the fall whenever we go to an apple orchard or pumpkin farm, but I decided to make my own this year. It was definitely worth it! So easy and so delicious! I hope you love this if you try it, Heather!
      Reply

    • Gayle says

      I can't imagine not having my slow cooker, Nicole! I use it all the time! I hope you like this apple butter if you try it!
      Reply

  28. Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says

    Slow cookers are a life saver - we would have no dinner most days without one haha. I have never tried making apple butter in it though - love that idea! I can just imagine how incredible your house smelled - yum! Pinning!
    Reply

    • Gayle says

      Slow cookers are definitely the best! And the scent from this apple butter was amazing! Thanks so much for the kind words and pin, Kelly!
      Reply

    • Gayle says

      Thanks so much for the kind words, Serene! This apple butter was a great excuse to whip out my crock pot. Have a wonderful week, too!
      Reply

    • Gayle says

      Honey crisp is the best! And I love chunky apple butter and sauces, it seems to give it more flavor! I hope you love this if you try it, Sarah!
      Reply

  37. Stacey @ Bake.Eat.Repeat. says

    This apple butter looks amazing Gayle! I made some in my slow cooker earlier this year, and we loved it, but it didn't look nearly as thick as yours. Maybe I didn't cook it quite long enough! I'll have to try again with your recipe I think!
    Reply

    • Gayle says

      Maybe you need to try this apple butter in your slow cooker, and it might just like you forever! :) Thanks for the pin and kind words, Lindsey!
      Reply

  41. Vanessa @VeganFamilyRecipes says

    Hi Gayle, Apple butter is one of my favorite things but I've never made it in a slow cooker before. Looks really delicious. My neighbor just brought me a bunch of fresh apples from her yard. I'll have to use them for this recipe. :D
    Reply

    • Gayle says

      This was my first time making it and I have to say, definitely not the last! I hope you love this recipe if you try it, Vanessa!
      Reply

  43. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

    You know I've seen apple butter around, but I've never made it before! I think that needs to change. I can see so many uses for this from pork chops to chicken to over yogurt. Pinned! Cheers to a fab weekend, my friend!
    Reply

  44. Blair says

    We're both pulling out the Crock Pot this week! :) Slow cooker apple butter is one of my favorite ways to use up all of the fall apples that we inevitably pick. Your new photos look great!
    Reply

  47. Dalila G. says

    OMGoodness!! Who doesn't LOVE apple butter, totally deeeelicious! I really like your crock-pot idea and the super easy clean-up. I use crock-pot liners like crazy, they really do work. My clean-up time is cut way back with those little beauties. I'm thinking of maybe mixing up a variety of apples....maybe will work out? Good thing is that I do happen to have loads of honey crisp apples. Have a nice day Gayle!
    Reply

    • Gayle says

      Aren't crock pot liners the best? I couldn't live without them. Mixing up the different types of apples will definitely work. Hope you love this and thanks for stopping by, Dalila!
      Reply

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