This easy apple butter recipe is simmered with vanilla and warming spices — perfect for spreading, gifting, and savoring all season long.
Sweet, Spiced, and Perfectly Spreadable
If you’re looking for a cozy way to use up a batch of apples, homemade apple butter is always a good idea. ♡
This classic fall recipe transforms fresh apples into a rich, velvety, caramelized butter infused with warm vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. It’s delicious spread over toast or biscuits, stirred into oatmeal or yogurt, served on a cheese board for a sweet touch, or packaged up for gifting. And, of course, it’s guaranteed to make your home smell downright heavenly as it cooks!
If you’ve never made apple butter before, it’s incredibly easy to whip up with a short list of ingredients. I’ve included options below for Instant Pot, Crock-Pot or stovetop instructions, so choose whichever you prefer. Let’s make some homemade apple butter!
Apple Butter Tips
Here are a few simple tips to help your apple butter turn out perfectly every time:
- Use a mix of apples. Combining both sweet and tart varieties (like Honeycrisp, Fuji, and Granny Smith) gives the best depth of flavor.
- No need to peel. The peels soften completely as the apples cook and add extra flavor, color, and natural pectin to help thicken the butter.
- Watch the thickness. Apple butter continues to thicken slightly as it cools, so stop cooking once it looks thick, glossy, and spreadable. If your apple butter ends up too thick, just stir in a splash of water or apple juice to loosen it up. If it’s too thin, keep cooking uncovered for a few extra minutes until it reaches your desired texture
- Adjust to taste. Every batch of apples is different — so taste and tweak the sweetness, spices, or acidity (with a bit more lemon juice) before storing.
- Store it properly. Once cooled, refrigerate in sealed jars for up to 2 weeks, or freeze for up to 6 months.
Apple Butter Variations
This recipe is endlessly customizable, so feel free to get creative with your favorite flavors and add-ins! Here are a few simple ways to switch things up:
- Use maple syrup: Swap part (or all) of the sugar for pure maple syrup for a deeper, more caramel-like natural sweetness.
- Add ginger: Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of freshly grated ginger or a pinch of ground ginger for a little zing.
- Add bourbon: Add a tablespoon or two of bourbon after blending for a different twist (the alcohol cooks off quickly but leaves lovely depth of flavor).
- Make it chunky: Prefer a more rustic texture? Mash the apples with a potato masher instead of blending for a lightly chunky, applesauce-like version.
Ways To Use Apple Butter
Once you’ve made a batch of apple butter, there are so many delicious ways to enjoy it! Here are a few of our favorites:
- Spread it on toast or biscuits for a cozy fall breakfast.
- Swirl it into oatmeal or yogurt for a naturally sweet, spiced boost.
- Serve it with cheese and crackers — especially sharp cheddar or creamy brie — for an easy appetizer.
- Use it as a glaze for pork chops, chicken, or roasted vegetables.
- Bake with it by adding a few spoonfuls to muffins, quick breads, or cakes for extra moisture and flavor.
- Stir it into sauces or marinades for a sweet-savory twist.
- Gift it! Spoon into small jars, tie with ribbon, and share with friends or neighbors — it’s always a hit around the holidays!
More Apple Recipes To Try!
Looking for more ways to enjoy apple season? 🍎 Here are a few of our other favorite apple recipes to try next!
- Instant Pot Applesauce
- Homemade Apple Cider
- Healthy Apple Muffins
- The BEST Apple Crisp
- Apple Spinach Salad
Apple Butter
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 40 mins
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6 to 8 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 5 pounds apples (mix of sweet + tart, such as Honeycrisp, Fuji, and Granny Smith)
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 1/4 cups cane sugar or brown sugar (adjust to taste — start with less if you prefer it less sweet)
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice (plus more to taste at the end)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prep the apples. Core and chop the apples (no need to peel).
- Combine ingredients. Add the apples, water, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, salt, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice to your pot of choice. Stir well to combine.
- Cook the apples. Choose your preferred method:
- Instant Pot: Lock the lid and set to Manual / Pressure Cook (high pressure) for 15 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining steam.
- Crock-Pot: Cover and cook on Low for 8–10 hours, or High for 4–5 hours, until the apples are completely tender.
- Stovetop: Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, then reduce to low. Cover partially and cook, stirring occasionally, for 1½ to 2 hours, until the apples are very soft and fragrant.
- Blend until smooth. Use an immersion blender right in the pot (or carefully transfer to a blender in batches) and purée until smooth.
- Thicken.
- Instant Pot: Switch to Sauté (low) and cook uncovered for 10–20 minutes, stirring often, until thick and glossy.
- Crock-Pot or Stovetop: Continue cooking uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 30–60 minutes, until the apple butter darkens and thickens to your desired consistency.
- Finish. Stir in vanilla (if using). Taste and adjust with more lemon juice or sugar if needed. Let cool slightly, then transfer to jars for storage.
I have a couple of questions: Do you have instructions for a hot water bath canning process and also approximately how many 1/2 pint jars does this recipe make. Thanks!