This recipe is so simple – it’s the easiest apple butter recipe from scratch. I use all fresh ingredients, and I promise you it tastes just as good as the apple butter you grew up with.
I grew up on pretty much 100% home-canned applesauce, which is amazing as my mom actually hates cooked apples. She did it for us and I’ve loved it ever since. But apple butter, now that’s the next level!! I use it on toast, cooked with pork or chicken, in quick breads and cakes, etc!
All you need is 6 simple ingredients, and this apple butter sauce is yours! Fill your home and belly with the smells and flavors of fall!

Recommended Equipment
- Blendtec Immersion Blender (use coupon code OHSWEETBASIL20 for a 20% off discount!)
- Apple Peeler or Swivel Peeler
Before You Begin
Prepare all the apples by removing the cores, peeling them, and slicing them into bitesize pieces.
What is Apple Butter?
Though it contains no butter, apple butter is a similar consistency of butter. Apple butter is super concentrated sweetened apples that have been pureed to a smooth spreadable sauce. You can think of it as an apple jam. It has intense delicious apple flavor.
Watch How Apple Butter is Made…
Apple Butter Ingredients
Here are the 6 (possibly 7) ingredients you need to make apple butter from scratch:
- Apples: You’ll need about 16 apples depending on the size of the apples to get 6 lbs of apples. Weigh the apples first and then core, peel and cut them.
- TIP: You’ll need at least a 6 quart slow cooker to hold all these apples.
- Dark Brown Sugar: You can use light brown sugar too, I just love the richness the dark brown sugar adds.
- Sugar: just regular granulated sugar, helps apples caramelize
- Cinnamon: an absolute must for apple recipes and all things fall
- Ground Cloves: adds an extra bit of warmth and flavor
- Salt: cuts through all the sweetness and enhances all the flavors
- Vanilla Extract: this is optional but does add delicious flavor
This is just an overview of the ingredients used in this recipe. The measurements for all the ingredients can be found in the recipe card down at the end of the post.
VARIATIONS: use apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice for mix of flavors

How to Make Apple Butter in a Slow Cooker
It doesn’t get easier than making this apple butter recipe in the slow cooker! Here is an overview of the steps:
- Combine the white sugar and spices/seasonings in a small bowl and stir to combine.
- Add the prepared apples to the slow cooker and cover them with the brown sugar and the sugar/spice mixture. Stir to coat.
- Cook on low for 10 hours then puree with an immersion blender. Then cook for another hour to allow the
- TIP: If you don’t have an immersion blender, move the apples to a regular blender and mix until smooth.
- Place in jars or other airtight containers. Store in the fridge or freezer. See section below for storage tips.
The complete instructions for this crockpot apple butter recipe can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
How to Make Instant Pot Apple Butter
Follow the same steps listed for the slow cooker but you will cook the apples on high for 90 min, then allow a natural release. Then purée it with a blender or immersion blender to a desired consistency. The only way to get the deep caramel color is to slow cook it. Don’t latch the lid and press the slow cook function and let it cook. Sometimes I have to add a little juice, like 1/2 cup, to the apples so they don’t burn in the initial 90 minute cook.

Do You Have to Peel the Apples?
I do prefer to peel the apples before adding them to the slow cooker, but it’s not absolutely necessary. With unpeeled apples, the texture just wasn’t as smooth for me, but sometime people prefer a little texture. Do what you have time for!
What Apples are Best for Apple Butter?
For this apple butter recipe, I used a combo of golden delicious, honeycrisp, and pink lady apples. You can honestly use any combination of apples you want…fuji, gala, cosmic crisp, McIntosh, Jonagold, etc.
How to Store Homemade Apple Butter
To enjoy your homemade apple butter for days on end, you’ll need to store it in an airtight container. I love the Ball pint jars for storing these for up to three weeks, and they’re pretty inexpensive at just over $15 for a pack of 12 at Walmart. You can also use them for canning, making dressings, and drinking water!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Easy: Though the cook time is long, the workload it minimal. Once the apples are prepped, it just a matter of mixing them with the other handful of ingredients and letting everything cook down.
Flavor: The apple flavor is intense and combined with the sugar and warm spices, the flavor couldn’t be any better or more comforting!
Big Yield: One recipe make a huge batch of apple butter. It is a great recipe to share with friends and neighbors.
Stores Well: It stores extremely well in the refrigerator or freezer so you can enjoy some right away or freeze some for later.

How to Use Apple Butter
You can use apple butter is so many different ways! It’s a good thing this recipe makes an abundance of apple butter because I add it to almost everything.
It is a great spread for toast, bread, biscuits, or English muffins.
Try it as a topping for ice cream, pancakes, waffles, or french toast.
It makes an incredible dip for apples, crackers or cheese, or you can mix it in with oatmeal or yogurt.
And buckle up for these two, but it makes a great addition to your pork chops or grilled cheese sandwich! So yum!
What is the Difference Between Applesauce and Apple Butter?
Apple butter is like applesauce’s sweeter, thicker and concentrated in flavor older sister. Apple butter is spreadable and darker in color. It’s pretty much apple sauce that has been cooked longer and reduced more so the flavor is more intense.
Canning Apple Butter
Apple butter is great for canning. Make the recipe as written and then can using a steam or bath canner just like you would applesauce.
Storage Instructions
Apple butter will keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
It also freezes extremely well. Store it in vacuum bags for up to a year.

This is the best apple butter recipe you’ll ever find and it couldn’t be easier to make! It is a smooth and flavorful spread that is everything right about fall wrapped up into the perfect bite.
More Apple Recipes to Try:
- Apple Cake with Caramel Frosting
- Easy Apple Dumplings with Sprite
- Apple Pie Bread Pudding with Vanilla Sauce
- Mini Dutch Apple Cheesecakes
- Apple Pie Bombs al la Mode
- Caramel Apple Sweet Rolls
- Best Apple Crisp
- Apple Cider Cupcakes with Cinnamon Frosting
- Apple Pie Fried Ice Cream
Apple Butter Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 Pounds Apples, about 16 apples, roughly peeled, cored and chopped in bite sized pieces
- 1 Cup Dark Brown Sugar, light brown sugar is also fine
- 1 Cup Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Cinnamon, heaping
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground Cloves
- 1 Pinch Salt
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla, can be added after pureeing if desired
Instructions
- Stir all the seasonings and white sugar together in a small bowl.1 Cup Sugar, 1 Tablespoon Cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon Ground Cloves, 1 Pinch Salt
- Add all apples to a slow cooker and cover in the sugar/spice mixture and brown sugar. Stir well to coat all of the apples.6 Pounds Apples, 1 Cup Dark Brown Sugar
- Cook in slow cooker on low for 10 hours, then puree with an immersion blender (see note for discount code). Then cook for another hour.1 teaspoon Vanilla
- Place in jars or sealed containers in the fridge for up to 3 weeks or freeze in vacuum bags for the year.
Notes
Nutrition
Recommended Products

Melissa
I’ve made this recipe before it is great. I was going to do another batch soon and wanted to know if you can water bath can this recipe as is?
Sweet Basil
Yes! Can it just like you would applesauce. I’m so glad you love this recipe!
Kay
Hi!
If I half the recipe would the cook time stay the same?
Thanks!
Sweet Basil
Hi Kay! It will probably reduce the time but I’m not sure by how much.
VA
A FEW YEARS AGO I MADE APPLE BUTTER IN THE MICROWAVE. AS I REMEMBER IT DIDN’T HAVE ANY SUGAR ADDED. I’VE LOST THE RECIPE. DO YOU HAVE ONE LIKE THAT IN YOUR FILES??
Sweet Basil
Hey there! This recipe is the only one I have. It’s so easy in the slow cooker and you can reduce or omit the sugar if you want.
VA
THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPLY. I’LL PROBABLY GIVE IT A TRY LEAVING OUT THE SUGAR-SINCE WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP SUGAR INTAKE AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.
Sweet Basil
It should be great as long as you use the sweeter varieties of apples!
Tammy Bartlett
Can I use the hot water method with this recipe? Thank you
Sweet Basil
Hi Tammy! We are unfamiliar with that method, but we would love to hear more about it!
KM
Great recipe so far, but quick question: should the slow cooker be on high or low for 10 hours? Thanks!
Sweet Basil
Hi there! Set the slow cooker to low. Great question! I’ll clarify that in the recipe! Thank you!