Crock Pot Apple Butter Recipe (6 Ingredients) - HappiHomemade

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Learn how to make the best Crock Pot Apple Butter Recipe with just six simple ingredients! Low in sugar and perfectly spiced, it’s better than anything you’ll find in the store and super simple to make.

A spoon removing homemade apple butter from a mason jar.

We grew up slathering apple butter on everything in the fall! If you’re unfamiliar, it’s basically the smooth, richer, sweeter, spicier cousin of applesauce. For years, we bought jars of it from our local grocery store.

However, they’re almost always packed with sugar and unnecessary chemicals. So, we decided to try our hand at making our own, and it turns out it’s a pretty simple process!

Plus, unlike store-bought options, you can control the amount of sugar and spices included to suit your preferences. Make a few large batches, and can extras so you can have fresh, homemade apple butter all year long.

Recipe Ingredients

Below is an overview of the ingredients and instructions to make this recipe. Please be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details!

Overhead photo of red apples, vanilla extract, fall spices and sugar in white bowls.

Apples – Stick with soft, sweet apples like Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, or Macintosh. Firm, tart apples like Granny Smith will not work!
Vanilla Extract – This adds delicious vanilla flavor.
Sweetener – We use monk fruit sweetener to keep this recipe low in sugar. However, granulated white sugar or brown sugar will also work well.
Spices – Ground cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and ground cloves add a warm, almost pumpkin pie-like taste.

How to Make Apple Butter in a Crock Pot

Prepare the apples. Peel and slice the apples with an apple peeler and slicer. Then, transfer them to a slow cooker.
Combine. Pour the vanilla over the apples.

Peeled and spiral cut apples in a crock pot on a white marble countertop.

Cook. Cover, and cook on low or high until the apples are soft. Then, use a potato masher to smash the fruit until it resembles applesauce. You will still have chunks!

Softened peeled and sliced apples in a slow cooker being mashed with a spoon.

Flavor. Stir in the sweetener and spices, and continue to cook, stirring every hour.

Monk fruit sweetener and warm spices on top of apples in a crock pot.

Cool. Once the apple butter is dark in color and has reduced in half, turn the slow cooker off. Allow the mixture to cool slightly before enjoying.

Tip: If you prefer a smooth texture, use an immersion blender to blend until your desired consistency is achieved! Or, allow the apple butter to cool completely, transfer it to a blender, and blend until smooth.

Overhead photo of chunky apple butter in a slow cooker ready to be blended.

An immersion blender blending softened apples in spices in a crockpot for apple butter.

How to Use

We typically use this crock pot apple butter recipe as a topping with biscuits, toast, and scones. However, it’s also incredible as a topping with pancakes, waffles, crepes, and French toast. Or, use it with savory recipes like pork chops. Truly, the options are endless if you’re willing to use your imagination!

A mason jar almost overflowing with crock pot apple butter surrounded by cinnamon sticks.

Common Questions

What’s the difference between applesauce and apple butter?

Typically, apple butter is sweeter with more spices and has a thicker consistency more like jam than applesauce. It’s also darker in color because the apples caramelize as they cook.

Do I need to refrigerate apple butter?

Not necessarily. If you’re using the apple butter right away you’ll want to store it in the fridge for up to one month. However, you can also freeze it for up to one year, or use a water bath canner to preserve extras for two years!

Do I have to peel the apples?

We prefer the smooth texture peeling the apples gives us, but it’s not completely necessary.

Up close photo of a spoon in a jar of apple butter.

Up close photo of a woman's hands using a copper spoon to get apple butter.

Print Recipe

Crock Pot Apple Butter Recipe

Skip the store-bought options, and take advantage of fall produce with this easy six-ingredient sweet spiced crock pot apple butter recipe!

Prep Time20

Cook Time5

Total Time5 20

Course: condiment

Cuisine: American

Keyword: apple butter, apple butter recipe, crock pot apple butter, how to make apple butter

Servings: cups or 24 (¼ cup) servings

Calories: 49kcal

Cost: $5.00

Equipment

1 slow cooker
1 apple peeler/corer optional

Ingredients

5 lbs apples or enough to fill a 6 quart slow cooker
2 Tablespoons vanilla extract
1 cup monk fruit sweetener or sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Instructions

Peel and slice the apples by hand or with an apple peeler/slicer. Add the peeled and sliced apples to the slow cooker. Pour the vanilla extract over the apples.
5 lbs apples or enough to fill a 6 quart slow cooker, 2 Tablespoons vanilla extract
Cook on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for 3 hours. Then mash with a potato masher until it looks “applesaucey”. There will still be chunks of apples.
Stir in the monk fruit sweetener, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice and ground cloves. Cook on LOW another 4 hours or HIGH for 2 hours, stirring every hour.
1 cup monk fruit sweetener or sugar, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
By hour 10 (or 5), the apple mixture should be dark in color and have reduced in volume. Turn the slow cooker off and allow the apple butter to cool before enjoying. Use an immersion blender to achieve a smoother apple butter, if desired.
Store in airtight containers in the fridge for 1 month, the freezer for 1 year, or use a water bath canner to preserve for up to 2 years.