How to Make the Perfect Warm Cinnamon Spiced Apple Butter
American · Easy · 195 min · 16 servings
This deeply flavored homemade apple butter is slow simmered with warm cinnamon, cloves, and a touch of brown sugar until it becomes a thick velvety spread. It is a quintessential fall pantry staple that is wonderful on toast, stirred into oatmeal, or given as a heartfelt homemade gift.
Why this recipe works
This Warm Cinnamon Spiced Apple Butter recipe has been crafted to deliver restaurant-quality results in your home kitchen. At just 195 minutes from start to finish, it fits perfectly into a busy schedule without sacrificing flavor. Each serving comes in at 65 calories with 0g of protein, making it a balanced choice for any meal.
What you will need
This recipe uses 6 simple ingredients that you can find at any grocery store:
- 3 pounds mixed apples peeled cored and roughly chopped
- 0.5 cup brown sugar packed
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 0.25 teaspoon ground cloves
- 0.25 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Step by step instructions
Step 1: Start the Apples
Combine the chopped apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and lemon juice in a large heavy bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Stir everything together well and cook uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the apples have softened and released their juices and the mixture is bubbling steadily.
Step 2: Blend Until Smooth
Remove the pot from heat and use an immersion blender to blend the cooked apple mixture until completely smooth and silky. Alternatively transfer the mixture carefully in batches to a countertop blender. Once blended return the smooth apple puree to the pot over the lowest heat setting your stove allows.
Step 3: Slow Simmer to Concentrate
Cook the blended apple puree uncovered over very low heat for 2 to 2.5 hours, stirring every 15 to 20 minutes to prevent sticking and scorching on the bottom. The apple butter is ready when it has darkened to a deep reddish brown color and a spoonful placed on a cold plate holds its shape without releasing any liquid around the edges.
Step 4: Cool and Store
Remove the finished apple butter from the heat and allow it to cool completely to room temperature before transferring to clean glass jars with tight fitting lids. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months. The apple butter will thicken further as it cools.
Easy substitutions
Missing an ingredient? Here are some swaps that work perfectly:
- brown sugar → coconut sugar or pure maple syrup for a less refined sweetener
- mixed apples → all Fuji or Honeycrisp apples for a sweeter less tart result
Common mistakes to avoid
Watch out for these pitfalls that can affect your results:
- Cooking the apple butter on too high heat which causes it to scorch on the bottom of the pot and develop a bitter burned flavor
- Not cooking it long enough and removing it from heat before it has concentrated properly resulting in a thin runny spread instead of thick butter
Nutrition facts
Per serving: 65 calories, 0g protein, 17g carbs, 0g fat, 1g fiber.
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