Apple season has arrived. Here's an easy recipe for apple butter
Whether your backyard tree is dripping with ripe fruit or you’ve seen the low apple prices at the grocery store, it’s clear apple season has arrived!
Making apple butter is an easy way to hang onto the sweet flavor of your fall apples all year long, and it’s great on toast, crepes, spooned over oatmeal or ladled into overnight oats. Apple butter is also fabulous paired with cheese and crackers, and making apple butter is incredibly easy! Here’s how:
INGREDIENTS
6 lbs. peeled, cored organic apples, chopped
4 cups brown sugar (or less, to taste)
2 teaspoons cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon salt
DIRECTIONS
Toss apples in a slow cooker. In a separate bowl, mix together the sugar, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Pour the sugar mixture over the apples and stir well. Cook on the high setting, covered, for one hour. Uncover, stir thoroughly, and reduce heat to low setting. Cook at this setting for nine to 12 hours. After nine hours, check for doneness and stir. Use a whisk for a smoother texture or a spoon for a grainier texture. When the desired consistency is achieved, spoon the apple butter into glass Mason jars to store.
Apple butter keeps for a week in the refrigerator. Or use a water-bath canner to can apple butter in sterilized Mason jars and store it in a cool cupboard or pantry for up to a year.
