Welcome fall with a batch of this simple, smooth, and delicious Stovetop Apple Butter! This is one of my favorite go to fall recipes, and it couldn’t be easier to make. All you need are fresh apples, warm cinnamon, and a few simple ingredients to make rich and flavorful homemade apple butter right on the stovetop.
Ber months are finally here, which means apples are everywhere at the local market and it’s the perfect time to make a batch of homemade apple butter! If you’ve ever made homemade applesauce or apple butter, you already know just how incredible it smells as the apples slowly cook with warm cinnamon and spices. The aroma fills your kitchen and makes the whole house smell like fall for hours.
This easy stovetop apple butter recipe is all about keeping things simple. The apples are slowly cooked until soft and tender, then blended until perfectly smooth and creamy. The result is a thick, rich, naturally sweet apple butter with plenty of cozy cinnamon flavor.
Spread it on warm toast, spoon it over pancakes or oatmeal, or simply enjoy it by the spoonful. Once you make this easy homemade apple butter, you’ll want to keep a jar in the fridge all season long!
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN APPLE BUTTER AND APPLESAUCE?
Both apple butter and applesauce are made by cooking apples with sugar and warm cinnamon and spices until the apples become soft and tender. So, what’s the difference?
The main difference is how long they’re cooked. Applesauce is cooked just until the apples are soft, giving it a lighter, softer, and more spoonable texture. Apple butter is cooked much longer, allowing more of the moisture to evaporate and the apples to develop a deeper, richer flavor. The result is a thick, smooth, and spreadable apple butter.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS STOVETOP APPLE BUTTER RECIPE
- You can make pear butter, too! This same recipe works beautifully with pears. Just substitute your favorite variety of pears for the apples and adjust the spices to taste. It’s just as delicious as the original apple butter!
- It’s super easy to make. Simply wash and peel your apples, remove the cores and seeds, and let the apples slowly cook on the stovetop. No complicated steps or special equipment needed.
- Homemade is always better and more budget-friendly. Making your own apple butter at home is not only more affordable than buying it at the store, but you also get to control the ingredients and sweetness.
- It smells absolutely heavenly! As the apples slowly cook with cinnamon and warm spices, the delicious aroma fills your kitchen. Seriously, your whole house will smell like fall!
INGREDIENTS NEEDED & NOTES TO MAKE THIS STOVETOP APPLE BUTTER
Apples – Fresh apples with a nice balance of sweet and tart flavors are best for apple butter. Fuji, Gala, Cortland, Gravenstein, Jonathan, and Braeburn are all great choices. Fuji and Gala are two of my favorites because they’re naturally sweet and have a wonderful apple flavor.
Lemon juice – Just a little fresh lemon juice helps brighten the flavor and balances out the sweetness of the apple butter.
Apple cider – Apple cider adds an extra boost of rich, concentrated apple flavor and makes the finished apple butter taste even more delicious.
Water – A little water provides enough liquid for the apples to cook down gently without sticking or burning.
Cinnamon – Cinnamon adds that warm, cozy spice that makes apple butter taste like fall!
Brown sugar – I use brown sugar for a deeper, richer sweetness. You can use either light brown sugar or dark brown sugar, depending on how rich you want the flavor.
TOOLS & EQUIPMENT YOU’LL NEED
Large pot
Rubber spatula
Food processor or blender
Glass jar container
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE THIS STOVETOP APPLE BUTTER
(Be sure to check the printable recipe card below)
680g (1+1/2 pound) peeled apple slices
60ml (1/4 cup) fresh lemon juice
80ml (1/3 cup) apple cider
240ml (1 cup) water
1 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon apple pie spice
110g (1/2 cup) light brown sugar
50g (1/4 cup) granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
STEP 1 – Prepare The Apples
Wash the apples well, then peel them and cut them in half from the stem end down. Remove the cores and seeds using an apple corer or a small paring knife. Cut the apples into slices and set aside.
STEP 2 – Cook The Apples
In a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot, combine the sliced apples, fresh lemon juice, apple cider, and water. Cover and simmer over medium heat for about 40 minutes, or until the apples are very soft and tender. Give them a good stir every 10 minutes to make sure nothing is sticking to the bottom.
Once the apples are soft, use an immersion blender to puree them directly in the pot until completely smooth. If you don’t have an immersion blender, carefully transfer the mixture to a regular blender or food processor and blend in batches.
Reduce the heat to low, then add the light brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, apple pie spice, and salt. Stir everything together and continue cooking uncovered over low heat until the apple mixture becomes thick, dark brown, and rich in flavor.
This usually takes about 30 to 60 minutes, depending on how thick you like your apple butter. Stir frequently as it cooks, especially toward the end, and keep an eye on the bottom of the pot.
If you’re using this apple butter for baking, cook it until thick and spreadable like a preserve consistency. If your apple butter becomes too thick, simply stir in a little water or apple juice, a tablespoon at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency. For an extra-smooth texture, you can give it another quick blend before serving.
TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST STOVETOP APPLE BUTTER
- For the best flavor, choose apples that have a nice balance of sweetness and tartness. Fuji and Gala are two of my favorites, but you can also use Cortland, Gravenstein, Jonathan, or Braeburn.
- Peel the apples for the smoothest texture. Since we’re making a super smooth and creamy apple butter, peeling the apples helps give you that silky, spreadable consistency.
- Use a heavy-bottomed pot. Apple butter gets very thick as it cooks, so a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot helps distribute the heat more evenly and reduces the chance of scorching.
- Cook it low and slow. Don’t rush the cooking process! Once the apples are blended, keep the heat low and let the mixture slowly cook down. This is what gives apple butter its thick texture, deep color, and rich, concentrated apple flavor.
- Stir often, especially toward the end. As the apple butter thickens, it can stick to the bottom of the pot more easily. Give it a good stir every few minutes toward the end of cooking to prevent it from burning.
- Don’t skip the lemon juice. A little fresh lemon juice brightens the apple flavor and helps balance the sweetness, so don’t leave it out!
- Keep an eye on the consistency. Remember that apple butter will continue to thicken slightly as it cools. If it looks a little too thick, simply stir in a small amount of water or apple juice until you reach the consistency you like.
- Let it cool before storing. Once your apple butter reaches the perfect consistency, let it cool before transferring it to clean jars or airtight containers. It will become even thicker and richer as it cools.
HERE’S HOW TO STORE THIS STOVETOP APPLE BUTTER
Let it cool completely. Once your apple butter has finished cooking, let it cool to room temperature before storing. Don’t leave it sitting out for more than about 2 hours.
Store it in the refrigerator. Transfer the cooled apple butter to a clean, airtight jar or container and keep it refrigerated. Homemade apple butter will stay fresh in the fridge for about 2–3 weeks.
Freeze it for longer storage. If you made a big batch, apple butter freezes really well! Store it in an airtight freezer-safe container, leaving a little room at the top for expansion. It will keep well in the freezer for about 6 months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before using.
Stovetop Apple Butter
Welcome fall with a batch of this simple, smooth, and delicious Stovetop Apple Butter! This is one of my favorite go to fall recipes, and it couldn’t be easier to make. All you need are fresh apples, warm cinnamon, and a few simple ingredients to make rich and flavorful homemade apple butter right on the stovetop.
Ingredients
- 680g (1+1/2 pound) peeled apple slices
- 60ml (1/4 cup) fresh lemon juice
- 80ml (1/3 cup) apple cider
- 240ml (1 cup) water
- 1 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
- 110g (1/2 cup) light brown sugar
- 50g (1/4 cup) granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
STEP 1 – Prepare The Apples
- Wash the apples well, then peel them and cut them in half from the stem end down.
- Remove the cores and seeds using an apple corer or a small paring knife.
- Cut the apples into slices.
STEP 2 – Cook The Apples
- In a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot, combine the sliced apples, fresh lemon juice, apple cider, and water.
- Cover and simmer over medium heat for about 40 minutes, or until the apples are very soft and tender. Give them a good stir every 10 minutes to make sure nothing is sticking to the bottom.
- Once the apples are soft, use an immersion blender to puree them directly in the pot until completely smooth. If you don’t have an immersion blender, carefully transfer the mixture to a regular blender or food processor and blend in batches.
- Reduce the heat to low, then add the light brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, apple pie spice, and salt.
- Stir everything together and continue cooking uncovered over low heat until the apple mixture becomes thick, dark brown, and rich in flavor.
- This usually takes about 30 to 60 minutes, depending on how thick you like your apple butter.
- Stir frequently as it cooks, especially toward the end, and keep an eye on the bottom of the pot.
- If you're using this apple butter for baking, cook it until thick and spreadable like a preserve consistency.
- If your apple butter becomes too thick, simply stir in a little water or apple juice, a tablespoon at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency.
- For an extra-smooth texture, you can give it another quick blend before serving.
Leave a Reply