How to Make Apple Butter: A Canning Recipe

Apple butter is wonderful on toast or in hot cereal. It is a great way to preserve fresh apples to eat at a later time. Have you ever wondered what the difference is between applesauce and apple butter? Apple butter is applesauce that has been cooked long enough that the sugars in the apples are caramelized. Apple butter has a longer shelf life than canned applesauce and a darker appearance.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 16 medium apples (free of bruises and blemishes)
• 4 cups sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon

1. Prepare the apples: Wash the apples and core them. It is not necessary to peel the apples. Cut the apples into quarters, or smaller, pieces.

2. Prepare the Sauce: Combine apples and 2 cups of water in a stock pot or sauce pan. Simmer over medium heat until the apples are tender. Puree in a blender, food processor or food mill. If you use a blender, it may be necessary to add a little extra liquid to prevent the blender from overheating.

3. Make the Apple Butter: Return the pureed apples to the stockpot or sauce pan. Add the sugar and the cinnamon. Simmer over low heat stirring constantly to prevent burning. The apple butter will become darker and thicker. You can test that the apple butter is ready to be canned when it will round up or maintain a peak on a spoon.

4. Canning: Pour the apple butter into sterilized canning jars. You can use your dishwasher to sterilize the jars. Leave 1/2 an inch of empty space at the top of the jar to prevent the apple butter from spilling out and ruining the seal. Place sterilized lids and rims on the jars. Boil in water for 15 minutes. You can use a water bath canner, or simply use a stock pot filled with boiling water. Remove the jars after boiling being careful not to disturb the lids. The lids will begin to seal after approximately 1 hour.

5. Store the Apple Butter: You can test to ensure the apple butter has sealed properly after allowing the cans to rest for at least 12 hours. Push on the lid and it should not pop or give. Label the apple butter with the contents and the date. Store the apple butter in a cool, dry, place. Apple butter stored in a cool area will last 12 months or longer.

Tips & Warnings

• Adding a little vinegar to the canning water prevents hard water build up on the outside of the canning jars.

Resources

• How to Make Applesauce: Canning Recipe
• Principles of Canning
• National Center for Home Food Preservation

[FrazzledNanny]

on 3/23/2009 My family loves apple butter. Thanks for the recipe. 5*

[heatherschulte]

on 2/12/2009 My grandma used to make apple butter from scratch. It is so gooooood!