Old Fashioned Apple Butter Recipe

If you’re looking for a delicious homemade apple butter recipe, I’ve got you covered! And while some may say it’s not technically made the old fashioned way, it still tastes just like it to me and requires a lot less effort! This old fashioned apple butter recipe has a little secret to it.

I actually use my slow cooker to make it! I know technically you’re supposed to use a large stockpot and cook on the stove top until you reach the desired consistency, but this is a good recipe that requires so much less work.

And I am all about that. I don’t want to have to monitor something like this over the stove with such a long cooking time. It’s important to note that this recipe is for a small batch of apple butter too.

It’s just my husband and I and I didn’t want to make loads of apple butter, especially since I am not planning on canning it right now.

You could easily double this recipe though if you are wanting to make more! This is the perfect crockpot apple butter recipe to make this apple season. Especially since the smell of apple butter will drift all the way through your home.

And let me tell you, there is nothing like it! Keep on reading below for the recipe card and see just how easy this apple butter is to make, even if it’s your first time doing it! 

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Ingredients Needed For Old Fashioned Apple Butter:

As you can see below, the overview of the ingredients are pretty simple. And I like how this recipe doesn’t call for many cups of sugar. I know apple butter isn’t really “healthy”, but hey, using less sugar and local fresh honey makes it sound better to me!

You could also use maple syrup instead of the honey too if you don’t have any on hand. I love how it’s just simple ingredients and nothing too crazy either. 

• 3 lbs apples 
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice 
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (I use my homemade vanilla extract for this!)

How To Make Old Fashioned Apple Butter In Slow Cooker:

First, peel, slice and core apples. You may remember I shared all about how to do that a few weeks ago when I froze fresh apple slices.

And you can use whatever apples you have on hand- Golden Delicious, Granny Smith Apples, Gala Apples or a combination of apples too! If you use a mix of apples, it really enhances the depth of flavor.

But for this recipe I used honeycrisp apples because I wanted to be a little on the sweeter side. So I simply had to remove the already peeled apple slices from the freezer and chop them up for this recipe.

It made the prep work so much easier already having the apples peeled and sliced! That’s why I love to do that every season! In the bottom of your crock pot, stir together the honey, sugar, and all the spices.

Add the apple slices in, and stir it all together to coat the apples well. Cook on low heat for 6-7 hours. Then, remove the lid, and stir until the apples fall apart.

You don’t really need an immersion blender because the apples will fall right apart! You could use a potato masher if you wanted. I like to still have small chunks of apples in mine, not so much like an apple puree.

But, you can do whatever you fancy for yours! Add in the 1 tsp of vanilla extract after taking the lid off. Continue cooking with the lid off for another 60 minutes. Apple butter will thicken during this process.

Let the hot apple butter cool completely to room temperature before handling. Remove apple butter from crock pot and place in fridge for up to 3 weeks.

Other Ways To Store Apple Butter 

If you’re not going to use your apple butter right away, you can also freeze it! I like to add mine into little mason canning jars and then place them in the freezer. You can freeze apple butter for up to a year!

Just be sure not to fill the jars up all the way with the apple butter and wipe off any excess from the rim of the jar before freezing as well.

You can also can the apple butter, but I wasn’t feeling up to using a pressure canner so I decided to freeze it. Since that is so much easier! That way, you can easily grab some when you need it.

It’s nice that there are so many different ways to store it and enjoy it as well. I love adding apple butter to English muffins, or it even pairs nicely with pork chops too.

Or add some to your vanilla ice cream! You can really enjoy this flavorful spread so many different ways. You can even give out the filled jars of apple butter as gifts too!

I love to put a cupcake liner on top before sealing the jar up, to give it more of a festive flair. And you can even add a cute label on the finished product as well! 

Enjoy Your Apple Butter

Well, I hope you enjoyed this easy apple butter recipe! And if you’re looking for a way to use up all your fresh apples, this is your sign to do so!

I absolutely love any kind of fruit butter, but I think my very favorite would have to be apple butter. And if you’re wanting to make some apple sauce while you’re at it too, be sure to check out my apple sauce recipe as well!

If you try this recipe out too, let me know how it goes for you! I hope you love it just as much as I did!