Crockpot Apple Butter (Small Batch)

This Crockpot Apple Butter is a spiced apple spread that’s slow cooked to perfection and captures fall in every spoonful. Recipe for small batch apple butter makes 1 jar.

Happy almost first day of fall! It’s technically tomorrow but I’m ready to celebrate it today with Crockpot Apple Butter.

One question I often get once fall rolls around is “what the heck is apple butter?!”

Apple butter isn’t new to my kitchen. In fact, I’ve been using it as an ingredient all the way back to 2012 with recipes such as French toast roll ups, apple crumb cake, and caramel apple cheesecake dip.

I’ve always bought a jar but I’ve been wanting to try my hand at making some. And naturally most recipes out there make tons and tons of jars.

For me all I need is 1 jar. That’s why I’m bringing you this small batch apple butter so you can try it without having to commit to a whole pantry of it.

Because homemade apple butter takes several hours to make, I opted to make crockpot apple butter because it’s mostly hands off; toss your ingredients together then turn on your appliance.

Of course I still get a touch nervous leaving my slow cooker unattended, so I just put it on while I’m working elsewhere in my apartment.

I did leave my place to take some recycling out. When I returned, my entire kitchen smelled like a crisp fall day with just enough sun shining to warm you up.

It was enough to put on a cozy sweatshirt and cuddle up with the cat.

What is apple butter?

Apple butter is a highly concentrated form of applesauce that is cooked until the sugar in the apples caramelize, giving it its dark brown color.

It’s similar to making homemade applesauce but cooking it much longer.

It has a thick, smooth texture spiced with cinnamon and clove that makes it excellent to spread on toast in the morning.

Apple Butter Ingredients

To make your slow cooker apple butter, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Apples: Use a cooking apple such as Cortland, Jonagold, Braeburn, and Golden Delicious. You can mix and match for a sweet and tart balance.
• Granulated and brown sugars: Not only does sugar sweeten the butter, they help draw out moisture from the apples, which allows them to cook down. It also acts as a natural preservative.
• Cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and salt: Spice mix used to flavor apple butter. You can also substitute 1 + 1/2 teaspoons apple pie spice.
• Lemon juice: Helps keep the apples from browning plus adds some acidity to balance the sweetness
• Vanilla: One final touch of flavor at the end

How To Make Crockpot Apple Butter

To make your small batch apple butter:

1. Toss together your apple, both sugars, spices, and lemon juice in a large bowl until apples are fully coated.
2. Add apples to a slow cooker then cook on high for 4-6 hours or low for 6-8 hours.
3. Remove the lid, turn the setting to low (if not already), and cook uncovered for 1 hour.
4. Blend the apples (either in a regular blender or with an immersion blender) then stir in the vanilla. Taste and adjust for spices and lemon.

Transfer to a mason jar, cool to room temperature, then store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.

How can I tell when apple butter is done?

Your slow cooker apple butter is done when it has thickened to a spreadable consistency without a watery appearance.

It’ll thicken up a little more when cool but it shouldn’t be runny on a plate while warm.

Every appliance cooks differently. The cook times I give you should be good, but use your instinct if you feel your apple butter needs to cook longer.

What To Make With Apple Butter

Now that you have 1 jar of homemade apple butter, how do you serve it?

The easiest way is to spread it on some toast for breakfast. However, you can also use it as an ingredient in the following recipes using apple butter:

• No Bake Apple Butter Cheesecake
• Apple Butter Cake (very pretty layer cake!)
• Puff Pastry Danish