Apple butter

Ooo, apple butter—cozy, spiced, and smells like fall in a jar 🍎🍂 Let’s do a super easy slow-cooker version that’s rich and spreadable.

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Slow Cooker Apple Butter

Ingredients:

• 5–6 lbs apples (Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, or Granny Smith)
• 1 cup brown sugar (adjust to taste)
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp cloves (optional, but very cozy)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup apple cider or water

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Instructions:

1. Prep apples:
   • Peel, core, and chop apples. Add to slow cooker.
2. Season:
   • Add brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, salt, vanilla, and cider. Stir well.
3. Cook:
   • Cover and cook on LOW 8–10 hours (or HIGH 4–5 hours), stirring occasionally, until apples are very soft and dark.
4. Blend:
   • Use an immersion blender (or blend in batches) until smooth.
5. Thicken:
   • Leave lid slightly ajar and cook another 1–2 hours on LOW, stirring occasionally, until thick and spreadable.
6. Cool & store:
   • Let cool. Store in jars in the fridge up to 2 weeks or freeze for longer storage.

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💡 Pro tips:

• Want it less sweet? Cut sugar in half—apple butter doesn’t need much.
• Flavor twist: Add a splash of bourbon or maple syrup at the end.
• Perfect on toast, biscuits, pancakes, pork, or stirred into yogurt.

If you want, I can give you a no-peel version, an oven method, or a small-batch apple butter for just a few apples. 🍎