Easy Stovetop Apple Butter Recipe the Old Fashioned Way - Adventures of Mel (2024)

• Is super easy to make – Coring, peeling (if you choose to peel the apples), and slicing the apples is a job made much easier and quicker with a Johnny apple peeler. Then it's just a matter of mixing everything together in a Dutch oven and letting it simmer, 'til it's ready to mash up with a blender. Easy peasy.
• Doesn't require a ton of stirring – Once you get it cooking, you can just stir occasionally as it simmers. There's no need to stand over the stove with this recipe.
• Smells like heaven – I always know it's fall when the aroma of apple butter lingers in the air. It's such a cozy, comforting scent… Why have they not made an apple butter candle yet?
• Tastes downright heavenly – I like to use spices like nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and cinnamon to really give it a delicious flavor. I also add my favorite secret ingredient (keep reading to find out what it is).
• Is budget-friendly – Depending where you buy your apples and your spices, you can make a batch of 5-6 half-pints or 2-3 pints for less than $10. A bit of advice… I'm very partial to canning apple butter in thefall because it's usually pretty easy to find apple secondsat a local orchard or farmer’s market. Buying seconds means you can buy a HUGE box of less-than-perfect apples for a lot less than normal cost, which is going to save you a ton of money. I also like to buy spices in bulk at our local grocery discount store and sometimes thru Amazon; I especially love Badia spices and seasonings. When you compare the cost of making homemade to store bought apple butter, you're saving money. Plus homemade is just better all 'round.

Ingredients and Substitutions Notes:

• Fresh apples – When it comes to picking the kind of apples to use, I recommend apples that are both sweet and tart to really give it a flavor kick. Some of the best apples for making apple butter include Jonathan, Jonagold, Braeburn, McIntosh Red, Winesap, Cortland, Fuji, and Gala. Jonathan and Jonagold are two of my favorites; I've also combined Fuji with Gala to make a really delicious apple butter.
• Molasses – I prefer to use just regular molasses over blackstrap molasses.
• Lemon juice – I prefer to use a fresh lemon juice, either straight from a lemon or my favorite shortcut,Minute Maid lemon juiceyou can find in the freezer section of some grocery stores; I've been able to find it at my local Walmart. There are multiple reasons for adding lemon juice to apple butter, but it's usually to help preserve or protect the color of your apples over time (making your apple butter stay pretty), and/or to make the apple butter more acidic for home canning. Wind fallen apples (including seconds) can have a lower acidity and a higher mold/bacteria count than umblemished apples.
• Vanilla extract – This is my secret ingredient, and you'll understand why I add it when you take your first bite. It's so good!

Follow These Steps to Make This Apple Butter Recipe, Stovetop Edition

1. Core, peel, and slice the apples; again, anapple peeler for apple buttermakes this step so easy. Cut out any worm holes or bad spots, as well.Note:While I do leave the peeling on when makingapplesauce, and you can do that for apple butter too, I usually choose not to for this recipe.

2. Put the sliced apples in your Dutch oven pan.

3. Add molasses, sugar, brown sugar, spices, lemon juice, and vanilla extract to the apples.

4. Stir everything together well.

5. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat; then reduce the heat to low and simmer, with the lid on the Dutch oven, for about an hour, or 'til the apples are softened and tender. How long it needs to cook will depend on the type and texture of your apples. If using a harder, crisper apple, it may take longer.

6. Remove the lid, turn off the heat, and remove your Dutch oven from the stove. Allow the apple butter to cool for 5 to 10 minutes.
7. Then using an immersion blender, blend the apples into smooth apple butter, or 'til you reach the consistency/texture you want. If you don't have an immersion blender, you can use a food processor, or for a chunkier texture, a potato masher.

Canning Instructions:

I prefer water bath canning apple butter. Canned apple butter should keep for 1-2 years in the pantry.

1. While your apple butter is cooking, wash half-pint jars (jelly jars) orpint jarsin hot soapy water, rinse, and keep warm. We like to place ours on a baking sheet in a lower temp oven to stay hot.
2. Once you've mashed up the apples, promptly ladle or pour the resulting apple butter mixture into the hot jars you prepared ahead of time. This is where a funnel pitcher comes in super handy. Be sure to leave about a 1/2-inch gap at the top of each jar.

3. Wipe the rim of each jar with a wet towel or rag, place the lid on, and tighten the band.
4. Then place the hot jars down in a boilinghot water bath cannerwith 1-2 inches of water over the jars, and process those jars in the hot water bath for about 20 minutes.

5. Allow your jars to rest for at least 24 hours, but be sure to check every lid to make sure it's sealed shortly after canning.
6. Before moving to the pantry, write what it is and the year on the lid, so you know when you made it. There are plenty of options forpretty jar labelsfor apple butter, and you can even turn your home canned apple butter into holiday gifts or hostess gifts.

If you choose to can it, Ball has wonderfulCanning Guidesto guide you through the process. You can also consult theBall Blue Book Guide to Preserving.

How do you make homemade apple butter thicker?

After blending the apples into apple butter, you can place the apple butter back on low heat on the stove, and cook uncovered for 30 minutes to 1 hour if you want it to thicken up more. While I have never had to do this, it's a good way to make homemade apple butter thicker.

How should I store it?

If you're not freezing or canning your apple butter, it should be kept in the refrigerator. It should keep in the fridge for about 2-3 months.

What are some ways I can use apple butter?

I really enjoy apple butter on my toast in the mornings with breakfast. It's also really delicious on Grandma's biscuits and Grandma's dinner rolls. And I especially love making my soda scones recipe and adding a dollop of apple butter on my buttered scone. So good! My friend Heather actually adds apple butter to the meatloaf in her meatloaf sandwich recipe, and I want to try this; it sounds so delicious.

MORE APPLE RECIPES:

If you love apple recipes, you're going to love these too…

• Apple Jelly Recipe
• Apple Crumb Pie
• Old-Fashioned Apple Crumble
• CrockPot Mulled Cider
• Cinnamon Baked Apples
• 50 Apple Recipes for Fall