Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
slow cooker apple butter - featured image

Slow Cooker Apple Butter for Small Batches

  • Author: Maya
  • Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: 16 servings (approx. 1.5 to 2 cups) 1x

Description

A small-batch, slow cooker apple butter recipe that uses imperfect apples and requires minimal effort. This cozy, hands-off method yields about 1.5 to 2 cups of rich, spiced apple spread, perfect for toast, oatmeal, or cheese boards without the waste of large batches.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4–5 medium apples (about 1.5 lbs / 700g), peeled, cored, and chopped (mix of Honeycrisp and Granny Smith recommended)
  • ½ cup (100g) dark brown sugar
  • ½ cup (120ml) apple cider
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon (2g) ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon (0.5g) ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon (0.5g) nutmeg
  • ⅛ teaspoon (0.25g) allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon (1g) salt

Instructions

  1. Wash, peel, core, and chop the apples into rough chunks. Place them in the slow cooker.
  2. Pour the apple cider and lemon juice over the apples. Sprinkle the brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, and salt on top. Stir to distribute.
  3. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours, until the apples are completely tender and fall apart easily.
  4. Turn off the slow cooker. Use an immersion blender to blend the mixture until smooth, or mash thoroughly with a fork.
  5. To thicken, either cook uncovered on HIGH for 30-60 minutes stirring every 15 minutes, OR transfer to a saucepan and simmer on medium-low for 15-20 minutes until reduced by a third and coating the back of a spoon.
  6. Ladle the hot apple butter into clean mason jars. Let cool to room temperature before sealing. Store in the refrigerator.

Notes

Avoid Red Delicious apples as they turn mushy and flavorless. If using a 6-quart slow cooker, ensure the mixture isn’t too thin or it may cook too fast. The apple butter will thicken further as it cools. If it remains runny after cooling, simmer longer. Adjust sugar based on apple tartness. Can be frozen for up to 3 months.

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 6-8 hours
  • Category: Condiment
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
  • Calories: 45
  • Sugar: 9
  • Sodium: 1
  • Carbohydrates: 11
  • Fiber: 1

Keywords: slow cooker apple butter, small batch apple butter, apple butter recipe, fall recipes, apple preserves, gluten-free apple butter, homemade apple butter

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us — we can't wait to see what you've made!

Find it online: https://globaltablerecipes.com/slow-cooker-apple-butter-for-small-batches/