Making Apple Butter

Apple butter really has no dairy butter in it. The part of the name butter came about because of how thick and soft the spread is which makes it a natural for a spread for breads.

A fun, great-tasting recipe is Crock Pot Apple Butter. The nice thing about using the crock pot is that you do not have to stand over the butter and stir it. Just put the ingredients in the crock pot and let it cook; you only need to stir occasionally.

Ingredients needed for this recipe:

• 15-20 medium apples
• 3 cups white sugar
• 2-3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• Dash of salt

When making apple butter it is really best to use two different types of apples. With different types of apple you add a little more flavor. The apples that taste best for apple butter would be Granny Smith, Red Apples, Jonathan, Macintosh or a Honeycrisp.

Peel the apples and remove the cores. Dice the apples into small pieces. Rinse the pieces and place them into the crock pot. Next you will add the salt, sugar, and spices into the crock pot.

Put the crock pot lid on. Turn the crock pot to high. Cook on high for an hour. Stir the apple butter mixture before reducing the heat. Taste the mixture to see if you need to add anymore spices. If the apple butter tastes too sweet for you, add about 1/4 cup of vinegar to the mixture. This will add a bit of tartness to the apple butter. Also, if the butter is too chunky for your taste then let the apple butter cool down. While it is still warm (before it has cooled completely) place the mixture into a blender or a food processor and puree it. Puree in small batches and then put the mixture back into the crock pot.

Reduce the heat to low. Simmer on low for the next ten to twelve hours. Remember to stir occasionally during this time.

When the batch of apple butter is thick and has turned into a beautiful golden dark color it is done. This color comes about because of how the apples caramelize while cooking.

Let the mixture cool and then place into jars if storing in the refrigerator. The apple butter will last in the refrigerator for about two months. Apple butter can also be stored in the freezer. Place the mixture into small, freezer-safe containers. Leave at least 1/2- to 3/4-inch space at the top of the containers. This allows the mixture to expand as it freezes. Cover and label the containers with the name and the date. It will last in the freezer up to twelve months.