Chef John's Apple Butter

Name: Chef John's Apple Butter
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 h
Total time: 10 h 15 min
Yield: 4 cups
Ingredients: 5 pounds Granny Smith apples, cored and cut into 1-inch pieces; 1 ½ cups white sugar; ½ cup brown sugar; 1 teaspoon salt; 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon; ⅛ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg; ½ teaspoon ground allspice; ¼ cup apple cider vinegar; 1 splash water

Rating: 4.9 stars

86 Ratings
70 Reviews
10 Photos

Move over, apple sauce. Apple butter is basically a spreadable apple pie filling, only better. Though cooking time is long, it's super easy and pretty hands-free. Pair it with some sharp Cheddar on a cheese plate, or slather it onto cheesy biscuits (see footnote). Other approved uses include spreading between the layers of a spice cake, filling seasonably appropriate thumbprint cookies, or even as a condiment for pork chops.

By Chef John

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Recipe Summary

prep:

15 mins

cook:

10 hrs

total:

10 hrs 15 mins

Servings:

Yield:

4 cups

Nutrition Info

Ingredients

Original recipe yields 32 servings

The ingredient list now reflects the servings specified

5 pounds Granny Smith apples, cored and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 ½ cups white sugar
½ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
⅛ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground allspice
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
1 splash water

Directions

Step 1

Place apple pieces into a large slow cooker. Add white sugar, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and vinegar. Add a splash of water and mix well.

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Step 2

Cover and cook on High until apples are starting to soften and release liquid, 1 to 2 hours. Reduce heat to Low and cook, uncovered, until all the apple flesh is dissolved, 5 to 6 hours. Stir occasionally.
Step 3

Puree using an immersion blender until smooth. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until darkened and thick, about 4 hours more. Pass apple butter through a strainer if desired. Seal in a glass container and refrigerate until cool.

Tips

Chef's Notes:

Any classic cooking apple should work in this recipe.

If you don't have a slow cooker you can certainly do it on top of the stove over low heat, as long as you use a nice thick-bottomed pot, and stir often. Another option would be to place the mixture in a large roasting pan, and cook it in a slow oven, stirring occasionally until dark and thick.

See my recipe for Irish Cheddar Spring Onion Biscuits.

Nutrition Facts

Per Serving:

82 calories; protein 0.2g; carbohydrates 21.8g; sodium 74.5mg. Full Nutrition

Reviews (70)

Most helpful positive review

Kathleen Sanders

07/21/2019

I made this on my instapot. 7 minutes high pressure and 10 minutes natural release. Then after I blended it I slow cooked it on high with a lid on it slightly ajar for 5 hours. Its SO GOOD. Has a beautiful color and just the right amount of sweetness. I toast some English muffins, put some regular butter on them and then the apple butter. Best way to eat it. Read More

Helpful

(12)

Most helpful critical review

cierrablue

10/31/2018

I love Chef John's recipes usually. This recipe - I hated. Weird with the apple cider vinegar. My boyfriend hated it too. For as long as it took I was expecting something great. No where near to great. Read More

86 Ratings

5 star values: 80
4 star values: 4
3 star values: 1
2 star values: 1
1 star values: 0

Reviews: Most Helpful

Most Helpful Most Positive Least Positive Newest

Kathleen Sanders

07/21/2019

Helpful

(12)

SZYQ1

10/22/2018

Used this recipe because it seemed pretty close to what I used to make. The apple butter was very good and not as sweet as other apple butters. Definitely try to use Granny Smith's as indicated in recipe. I used a mix of McIntosh and Cortland apples and while the butter was still good, it was a little sweeter than I would have liked. My husband thought it was perfect. Thanks for the recipe. Read More

Helpful

(7)

Linda Fields

02/08/2019

It goes without saying, this Chef CANNOT make a mediocre or bad dish regardless of the category. You never cease to amaze me Chef. This Apple Butter is by far the best I've ever had and making it is a breeze. If there were more than 5* to rate it, I'd have them all lined up and knocked each star down when I tagged it! ?? This would be AWESOME as Christmas gifts, a Birthday treat for a lover of this...like me! Thanks for sharing Chef. I can't wait to try more of your recipes. Y'all do yourself a favor, make it and make enough (in my case the freezer) be it canning or freezing. Don't forget the gift idea; your friends will be dropping hints for bigger jars especially those who can't cook! Enjoy! IT ROCKS!! Read More

Helpful

(4)

Vero

09/22/2018

It was well worth the wait & time. Thank you Chef John. Read More

Helpful

(2)

Hollywood

12/16/2019

Made this apple butter today and it turned out GREAT! I only used a splash of apple cider vinegar, instead of water. And I used about a cup of apple cider. I only used one cup of white sugar and increase the brown sugar to 1 cup. I also used about 4 ounces of cinnamon red hot imperials. The color is absolutely stunning and the taste is off the charts!!!!! Read More

Helpful

(2)

Cathy Illenberg

09/20/2018

Love it Read More

Helpful

(2)

pspomer

12/21/2019

I used the left over honey crisp apple slices from my kids' lunch. I cut the recipe to 1/3 of the amounts. In total the process took 3 hours. The apple butter is delicious. I even compared it to a store bought brand already in my fridge and Chef John's far outshone it. I will make this again. Read More

Helpful

(1)

EnablerKat

10/11/2018

SUPER easy! This was my 1st time doing ANY of this kind of thing. Cooked all day made my house smell amazing. Im jarring for the future right now it made 7 8oz jars of apple butter flavor it sweet and tart (might be my fault in my excitement I feel some of the apples were under ripe). I cut a little smaller than 1 inch pieces and was able to cook for a little less time. Read More

Helpful

(1)

Jackie Mehr

10/23/2019

I didn't make any changes other than only having 2# of apples peeled and cored. I just halved the ingredients. Very easy and very tasty. I will definitely make this again. Read More

Helpful

(1)

cierrablue

10/31/2018

More Reviews

Back to Chef John's Apple Butter

All Reviews for Chef John's Apple Butter

- of Reviews

Chef John's Apple Butter

Servings Per Recipe: 32
Calories: 81.8

% Daily Value *

protein: 1 %

carbohydrates: 7 %

dietary fiber: 6 %

sugars:

vitamin a iu:

niacin equivalents: 1 %

vitamin c: 6 %

folate:

calcium: 1 %

iron: 1 %

magnesium: 1 %

potassium: 2 %

sodium: 3 %

calories from fat:

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

**Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-)Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

Reviews for: Photos of Chef John's Apple Butter

1 of 70

All Reviews

Kathleen Sanders

07/21/2019

Helpful

(12)

SZYQ1

10/22/2018

Helpful

(7)

Linda Fields

02/08/2019

Helpful

(4)

Vero

09/22/2018

It was well worth the wait & time. Thank you Chef John.

Helpful

(2)

Hollywood

12/16/2019

Helpful

(2)

Cathy Illenberg

09/20/2018

Love it

Helpful

(2)

pspomer

12/21/2019

Helpful

(1)

EnablerKat

10/11/2018

Helpful

(1)

Jackie Mehr

10/23/2019

I didn't make any changes other than only having 2# of apples peeled and cored. I just halved the ingredients. Very easy and very tasty. I will definitely make this again.

Helpful

(1)

cierrablue