Mmm...Mmmm...Apple Butter

I love the fall!  I love everything about it..the cooler weather, the bright colors, the falling leaves, the pumpkins, and our new favorite tradition- apple picking!  Two years ago we spent a week in New Hampshire in October.  Grace was only 18 months old, and we decided she would have a fun time picking apples.  We were right!  We spent an afternoon at an apple orchard, and Grace toddled around picking up all the bruised, rotting apples from the ground and put them in our bag (which we later removed), and then tried to carry it around all by herself.  It was such a fun experience!  Then, last year we found a fruit farm in the Columbus area that has pick-your-own apples, and we decided to try it out.  Once again, it was great fun! 

When we got home, we decided we needed to do something with all of our apples (there was no way we could eat them all).  I really wanted to make apple butter (both Jeremy and I really like it), but thought it was probably too time consuming and difficult to make.  But, I looked online and found a recipe for apple butter in the crock pot!  I should mention, that I have always loved my crock pot.  For someone who is not always that adept in the kitchen, I feel like you really can't screw anything up too badly in the crock pot.  So, we gave it a shot...with wonderful results!  We made two batches, which came out to about 12 jelly jars plus a large rubbermaid container full.  I had also never canned anything before (once again, it always seemed above my culinary abilities), but was surprised to find out how easy water bath canning is.  A year later, we just finished our last jar of last year's apple butter.  It lasted a whole year, and was much cheaper than buying it in the store!

Needless to say, when fall began approaching this year, we planned another round of apple butter making.  It's so good and so easy I just had to share the recipe with you all.  The original recipe can be found here, but here is our slightly altered version:

• Peel and core 6 pounds of apples*  
  

* I've found that slightly tart apples yield the best flavor.  Last year we used Golden Supreme (I think), and the apple butter was superb.  This year we used Honeycrisp, and the result was a little too sweet.

• Cut the apples into small chunks and place in a crock pot
• In a bowl, mix together 3 cups (approx.) of sugar*, 2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. cloves, and 1/4 tsp. salt and pour the mixture over the apples, mixing well.

* The amount of sugar will vary depending on the sweetness of the apples...3 cups was a little much for the Honeycrisp apples but almost perfect for the Golden Supreme

• Cover and cook on high for 1-2 hours

After about 1 hour of cooking

• Reduce heat to low and cook about 11 hours, stirring occasionally* until the mixture is thickened and dark brown.  Using a whisk may be helpful in increasing the smoothness of the mixture.  

 *It is important to stir every hour or so to prevent the apple butter from burning and sticking on the bottom.  I have a friend who used this recipe but let the apple butter cook over night.  When she woke up she had a burnt mess in her crock pot! 

After 5 hours of cooking

After 11 hours of cooking

• Uncover and cook an additional 1-2 hours to increase thickness.  
• To test if the apple butter is ready, put a small spoonful on a plate.  If there is little or no water separation from the apple butter (you may notice a ring of liquid around the apple butter), then you're done!
• Transfer apple butter to sterile jars (We used a measuring cup with a spout, but a funnel would also come in handy)

• Wipe excess apple butter off jar rims (otherwise you may not get a good seal)
• Place lids on jars and screw on the lid bands just until snug (not too tight)
• Using a jar lifter, place jars in a large water bath canner or stock pot of boiling water, ensuring that water is 1 inch above the jars and cover with lid

 A jar lifter

• Let the jars boil for 15 minutes

• Using the jar lifter, remove the jars from the boiling water and place on several towels on the counter to cool
• Within a few minutes you should hear a slight popping noise from each jar as they seal.  

• Once cool, tighten the lids on the jars and store for future use

If you like apple butter, I highly recommend trying this recipe.  It is so yummy and easy to make...oh, and it makes the house smell fabulous while it cooks!!  Happy Fall, everyone!