Homemade Apple Butter
Ingredients
Apples: 4 lbs (about 2 kg) of sweet apples (e.g., Fuji, Gala, or Golden Delicious).
Sweetener: 1 to 1.5 cups of brown sugar (packed).
Liquid: 1/2 cup apple cider or apple juice.
Spices: * 2 tsp ground cinnamon.
1/2 tsp ground cloves.
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg.
A pinch of salt.
Flavoring: 1 tsp vanilla extract (added at the end).
Preparation Steps
Prepare the Apples: Peel, core, and chop the apples into small chunks.
Initial Cooking: Place the apples and apple cider in a large pot. Cover and simmer over medium heat until the apples are very soft (about 20–30 minutes).
Puree: Use an immersion blender (or a regular blender) to puree the cooked apples until completely smooth.
Slow Cook & Caramelize: * Stir in the brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt.
Cook over very low heat, uncovered, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
Let it simmer for 1 to 2 hours until the mixture thickens and turns a deep, glossy brown.
Finish: Once it reaches the desired thickness (it should hold its shape on a spoon without liquid running off), remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
Storage: Let it cool completely before transferring to sterilized glass jars. Store in the refrigerator for up to a month or freeze for longer storage.
