Homemade apple butter in the slow cooker is a timeless treat that brings the rich flavors of cozy fall right into your kitchen! Not only does it smell amazing, but the thick, caramelized spread is incredible served on warmed toast, biscuits, pancakes, and more!

overhead view of wooden cutting board with glass jar of apple butter, silver knife, cinnamon sticks, surrounded by apples with black slow cooker in background

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What is apple butter?

Apple butter is a thick, sweetened spread made from cooked apples. Similar to preserves, spread it on toast, muffins, biscuits, or anything else that could benefit from a little extra sweetness!

Similar to apple sauce, apple butter is made when the apples are cooked and mashed or pureed; however, it cooks much longer and becomes more concentrated, leading to a dark, rich brown color. Because it cooks for an extended period, the sugars also caramelize and create a velvety smooth taste and texture.

What’s To Love About This Recipe

Apple butter may be an old-fashioned recipe, but it’s easy to make with minimal prep.
This recipe utilizes the slow cooker for hands-off cooking, eliminating the need to hover over the stove to get this delicious spread. Stir it a few times and let the slow cooker develop the caramelized flavor as the apples cook!
If your family’s apple-picking was a little too ambitious this year, try this recipe to use up all those extra apples before they go bad. Take advantage of seasonal produce to make the butter with apples at peak freshness!
Prefer to cut down on sugar? This recipe is easy to sweeten naturally with maple syrup instead of refined sugar.
Once you make a batch of this homemade spread, it’s the perfect addition to fall breakfasts or for holiday gifting in personalized jars.
Don’t let those apples go to waste! Apple butter also freezes well so you can savor those rich fall flavors later on!

Ingredients Needed

Apples – Use a mix of sweet and tart apples (like Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, or Granny Smith) for depth of flavor, or only sweeter-variety apples to reduce added ingredients. You will need about 10-12 medium-sized apples that are peeled, cored, and sliced.
Brown sugar – Brown sugar creates a thickened, caramelized texture. Adjust the amount based on the sweetness of your apples.
Pumpkin pie spice – This cinnamon-based blend adds an autumnal element, but you can also substitute it with an apple pie spice or a custom blend.
Vanilla extract – Stir in the extract after blending the apples for the best flavor. It adds just the right amount of richness!
Maple syrup – This is an optional sweetener, but it adds richness and depth to the apple butter.

wooden bowl containing red apples surrounded by salt shaker white bowl of brown sugar, bowl of pumpkin pie spice, clear bowl of maple syrup and bottle of vanilla extract

How To Make Slow Cooker Apple Butter

Add sliced, peeled apples to a 6-quart slow cooker.

overhead view of black slow cooker with sliced apples

Sprinkle the apples with brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and salt.

overhead view of black slow cooker with sliced apples covered by brown sugar

Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours, stirring occasionally, until the apples are very soft and dark brown.
Use an immersion blender (or transfer contents in batches to a blender) to puree until smooth.

overhead view of black slow cooker with cooked apple mixture with immersion blender

Stir in vanilla extract and maple syrup if desired, and continue to cook uncovered on low for 1-2 more hours, until thickened to your liking.

closeup of gold measuring spoon with wooden handle of syrup with black slow cooker with blended apples in background

Let the apple butter cool thoroughly, then store it in airtight jars in the fridge or freeze.

Pro Tips

Use sweeter apples if you prefer to lessen added sweeteners.
Use an immersion blender for the easiest pureeing directly in the slow cooker (and save time from washing another dish!).
To thicken the apple butter further, be sure to cook it uncovered on low for an additional 1-2 hours.
A slicer or apple corer can speed up the prep and is worth it for making frequent or large batches of apple butter.
Peel the apples to produce the right consistency for apple butter.
Stir occasionally during cooking to prevent burning along the edges of the slow cooker.

overhead view of black slow cooker of completed apple butter mixture

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Vary the flavor with different combinations of sweet and tart apples.
Try adding pears along with apples for a twist! Peel, core, and slice them similarly to the apples so that they cook together evenly.
Swap pumpkin pie spice for cinnamon and nutmeg, and add more or less brown sugar to your preference.
Add a splash of lemon juice for brightness.

How to Use Slow Cooker Apple Butter

You’ll want to have something warm and ready to test fresh apple butter from the slow cooker! This is the perfect fall spread for hot-from-the-oven muffins, toast, pancakes, biscuits, or waffles.

Add sweetness to oatmeal or plain yogurt by swirling in a spoonful. Also, use apple butter as a filling for baked goods or spread on grilled cheese with brie for a luxurious bite.

Portion apple butter into jars to give fresh or canned for holiday or hostess gifts. It’s the best homemade touch and a simple, tasty treat anyone can enjoy!

overhead view of plate with toast with apple butter surrounded by jar of apple butter, cinnamon sticks and apples

Storing and Reheating

How To Best Store Leftovers

Fridge

Store apple butter in airtight jars for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

Freezer

Freeze in small jars or silicone cubes, tightly sealed, for up to 3 months.

Canning

If you have canning experience or are prepared with the necessary equipment, canning is a great option to store portions of apple butter for an extended time. Leave empty space in the jars for some expansion, and can the butter in sterilized jars using a water bath.

How To Best Reheat Leftovers

Gently warm up the apple butter in a saucepan or microwave-safe bowl if desired.