Wondering how to make apple butter? It’s super simple and this homemade apple butter only takes 1 1/2 hours, is free of added sweetener and is naturally vegan and paleo.
What is apple butter?
Apple butter is a super concentrated form of apple sauce that’s usually cooked very slowly to allow the sugar from the apples to caramelize.
There’s no butter in it! You use it the same way you use jam. It’s also great in baking, like in these Apple Butter Muffins.
The muffins you see in the pictures are these vegan pumpkin muffins. It’s also great used in these apple butter donuts!
Where does apple butter come from?
When the first monasteries with large apple orchards appeared in the middle ages, apple butter was born as a way to conserve part of the fruit production. It originated in present-day Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany and made its way to colonial America via the settlers.
How do you make apple butter?
Making apple butter is really super simple.
When I first looked at apple butter recipes, I found recipes that took 8 hours of cooking… even 15 hours. But I wanted apple butter NOW! :D
So with this recipe, you core and then cut the apples (an apple slicer makes this a breeze). Then you put them in a large pot, together with spices and a little apple and lemon juice, and let it go for 1 1/2 hours.
You do have to stir it occasionally but I’d rather do that than let it go for 15 hours. Then you puree it.
When I was looking for recipes, I also found that people usually use a load of sugar in apple butter. 1 cup of granulated sugar, or even more, per pound of apples. Why?!
It could be that apple butter is supposed to be more like a dessert–item and I’ve just never had “proper” apple butter but I was super happy with this version.
Back when I had a crockpot, I made apple butter in it and I think that the version below tastes just the same. The color came out darker with a crockpot, but taste and texture is spot on!
Questions about how to make apple butter?
- What are the best apples for making apple butter?
Softer apple varieties cook more quickly but honestly, I think any apple would do well here. Except for Red Delicious. Just because I don’t recommend those apples for anything.
A mix of Fuji and Golden Delicious is great, but Idared, Cortland, Braeburn and McIntosh are also softer types that will work well. - Can I use something other than apple juice?
I suppose you could but you’d have to think about whether or not it’d taste good with apples and the spices. If you want to omit it, you can use water but realize that it won’t be as sweet as with the juice.
- Can I omit the lemon juice?
I’ve only made it with lemon juice but I think you actually can omit it. The result will just be darker, which isn’t a bad thing!
- Is it possible to can this?
I’ve never really canned anything and don’t feel comfortable telling people that this recipe is safe to can. Especially because it doesn’t have any added sugar! I’m sure people will tell me that they can apple butter with no added sugar and it’s just fine but still… I’m not 100% sure if that’s safe.
I’d love to hear how it comes out if you try it! Enjoy. :D
How to Make Apple Butter (vegan, paleo)
- Prep Time:
- Cook Time:
- Ready in:
- Yield: 3 1/2 cups (875 grams)
Ingredients
- 3.75 pounds unpeeled apples (1.7kg, about 12 medium)
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon cloves
- 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) apple juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Directions
- Core and cut the apples into eights.
- Place the apples, spices, apple and lemon juice in a large pot and stir to get the spices evenly distributed.
- Cover and cook on medium heat for 30 minutes.
- Using a wooden spoon or something similar, smush the apples as much as possible.
- Remove the lid and continue cooking for another hour, stirring every 15 minutes. The closer to the end you get, the more important this step is or the apples will stick to the bottom of the pan and potentially even burn if you forget about them for too long!
- Turn off the heat and if it's thick enough for you, remove from the heat.
- If you want it a little thicker, let it sit on the burner for another 30 minutes or even longer.
- Using an immersion blender, puree the apple butter. You could also use a blender or food processor, but the immersion blender is the least messy option.
- When cool, pour into containers and refrigerate for up for 5 days. Freeze any apple butter left after 5 days.
Join over 12,400 readers and sweeten up
your inbox with new posts for free!
This subscription is free of charge and can be canceled at any time.
110 comments on “How to Make Apple Butter (paleo, vegan)” — Add one!
1 comment is awaiting moderation!
Could I use homemade apple juice for this? I have soooooo many apples that I’m loathe to buy apple juice
Of course! I bet homemade apple juice is even better. :)
Here is a question; what apple juice are you adding that does NOT add a sweetener? I used the half granny smith and half gala mix you recommended, and with NO added sweetener. The resulting flavor is weak and bitter. NO apple Juice, which has a sweetener added to it.
Just any regular no-sugar added apple juice. Mott’s, for example, has no sweetener added apple juice. “Mott’s 100% Apple Juice has no added sweeteners, artificial or natural. All sugar in the product is naturally-occurring and comes from the fruit juice.” Sorry you didn’t like the apple butter but the apple juice, which you didn’t seem to add, is an important ingredient.
You mentioned being worried about lack of sugar. I make conserves, butters, and applesauce without adding any extra sweetener. They can without issue.
Thanks for the info, Jenn! I’m happy to hear that. Now if I just weren’t scared of canning. ;)
I also can homemade applesauce all the time with nothing added. I used to use the “inversion” method, but lately someone told me as long as everything is hot I do’t even have to invert the jar.
Just heat the jars it he over for 20 minutes at 220 degrees, be sure the rings are clean and dry, and pour boiling water over the lids and keep hot until you place them on the jars and secure with the rings. Oh, I also make sure the top of the jars are wiped off before securing the lids. Don’t move them and as they cool you’ll hear that wonderful “ping” sounds of sealing.
Now this post is perfect! Fast, easy Apple butter and canning instructions!
I’m happy Janet stepped in with canning instructions! I’m clueless as far as canning goes. ;)
I have been researching apple butter recipes and, like you, have no patience for this 10+ hour business! I am sooo excited to try this! Thank you for sharing it!
Haha. Exactly! There’s no way I’m waiting 10 hours for anything to get done. Especially not something that I could do in a fraction of the time. ;) I hope you’ll enjoy the apple butter!
YUM!! Any idea the calorie count per tablespoon?
Lisa
I’m afraid that I don’t and can’t really calculate it since it cooks down so much. Sorry! :(
We have a jar of apple butter (the brand is Filsinger’s) with ingredients of only apples and baking soda, and it’s 40 calories/tbsp. This recipe is probably similar!
Thanks for the info, Crissy! :)
I love this chunky sugar-free apple butter, Erin! I would spread it on my morning toast and whatever else I could find. Can’t wait to try it!
Apple is my favorite fruit and I often ad it to different pies, cakes and cookies. And I have never heard anything about apple butter! But if apples are not that sweet, what to do? What else can be added to make it sweeter?
I like the way you cook lady. I hate spending a million years waiting for something to cook. First, I more than likely will forget about it and burn it. Second, I hate waiting that long to eat it :) I’m buying a case of apples this weekend so I’m going to try this recipe as well as makes some apple chips.
I seriously love the simplicity of this recipe! We’ll be going apple picking in the next few weeks and I’m adding this to my to-do list after stocking up :)
Me too! And I can’t wait. :) I hope you’ll enjoy the apple butter. Let me know how it comes out!
Delicious Apples are apples that are trying to be pears, and not making it. They are FEH.
Question about the apple butter — do you peel the apples? Did I miss that in the instructions? When I make apple sauce, I do not peel the apples — don’t even core them. I wash them well, cut them up, cook them with a MINIMUM of water — just enough to generate a little steam — and then put them through a food mill which leaves all the icky bits behind, but gives amazing flavor and a gorgeous pink COLOR, as you get all of the goodness of the apple except the oink.
But since this butter is blended, I don’t think this method will work. Hmm . . . if I try it that way, and Foley food mill it, I’ll let you know!
Thanks for the inspiration.
Cass
Hahaha. Love this comment.
I didn’t peel the apples! The peel has pectin in there, which helps it set up, so I didn’t bother with peeling. Plus it would have taken a lot longer. ;) Putting the apple butter though a food mill would work here, too! I just went for the less messy and quicker way here. I guess that could be why my apple butter wasn’t a pretty color like apple butter usually is?
I found recipes where you cook the apples, put them through a food mill, and then add the spices and cook further. Maybe that’d work for you! I figured most people don’t have a food mill so I try to find other ways of doing things.
I hope you’ll enjoy the apple butter! :)
Your apple butter looks so good, and i love that it’s sugar-free!
Thanks a bunch, Laura! :)
I just made apple butter for the first time this year (never had it before), and I did the crock pot method. Plus mine had sugar :) Love this version, wish I had seen it first. Made muffins with my apple butter today!
I’m sure your version tastes great with all the sugar! :) And apple butter muffins… yummy!
This looks great! I really like your spice proportions.
If you want to can this, it would require pressure canning, due to the lack of sugar and/or acid. I used to make large quantities of pumpkin butter all the time, and I always had jars go bad despite using a pressure canner, and despite having a good amount of sugar in it. Most of us are probably better off just making a small batch that we can keep in the refrigerator and not worry about.
Thank you, Susan!
And I agree. Canning this sounds slightly… worrisome. The whole canning things scares me to begin with and then you add a total lack of added sugar. I’ll just freeze what I can’t use in a few days. Thank you for your advice! :)
Hi Erin! I totally love your web! And this recipe looks so easy and healthy!!
I just have a question… what’s apple butter? I have never heard about this in my country (Spain) and I don’t know what it is. It looks like chunky applesauce, but the name says “butter”, so… Is it like peanut butter or something like that?
But anyway, I think it will taste great on a toast.
Have a nice day! :)
Hi Sara! Thanks for your comment. :) Apple butter is like a thicker version of apple sauce, but with autumn spices. It’s totally smooth and you can spread it on toast like peanut butter or you can bake with it. It’s great stuff! :)
A crock pot works great for apple butter. throw apples in and go to bed. in the morning serve hot apple butter on oatmeal! Jar the rest.
If only I hadn’t broken my crockpot. :(
Love that this apple butter isn’t loaded with sugar! Can’t wait to see the donuts!
Thanks, Jessica! And those donuts. Man. I ate 4 at once. SO good!
You are right about red delicious apples. I do not like the taste of them and you can’t cook them hardly. The only thing I can think of is in a Waldrof salad the red peel looks good. Hahahaha!! My favorite apple to cook with is the golden delicious. It will stay firm if you don’t over cook it but it will get soft if you want it that way. I like the honey crisp for a tart taste too.
Hahaha. So you only use Red Delicious for their looks? ;) And yeah, they don’t even taste good! Worthless things. Thanks for the apple tips! I’ll keep them in mind when I go apple picking. :)
Considering I get bored after about 2 hours of doing the same thing, this is recipe is perfect. Fifteen hours is a bit drastic. Your version looks absolutely wonderful!
Haha. Agreed! And thanks, Jennie. :)
Every year I think about making homemade apple butter, then cave and buy it at the orchard. This year, I think I should do BOTH!
Yay! Do do both! :D
I love that this is sugar-free!! Now I can eat the whole jar :)
Yeah you can! It’s just like eating applesauce with spices. :D