Apple Butter
Ingredients
- 10 pounds of apples, cored and sliced
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Tips:
- You can mix and match a variety of apples, depending on the flavor profile you prefer
- Note that softer apples cook down faster
Directions
A century ago, there were thousands of unique varieties of apples in the United States, but with the industrialization of our agriculture we have decided to only focus on a few varieties of apples. With the loss of biodiversity we have lost a lot of flavors, at least at the supermarket. The apple industry settled on a handful of varieties to promote and market. They became commercially extinct—but not quite biologically extinct. You can still find a good variety at the farmer's markets and your local orchards.
How To
- Core and slice apples
- Toss with sugar and spices
- Cook on low for ~12 hours in the slow cooker
- Once the apples are soft, puree in batches in blender until smooth
- Place back in slow cooker for a few more hours to let flavors caramelize
- Apple butter will keep in the refrigerator for a month, and you can also can or freeze some to enjoy throughout the year.
Makes 6 to 8 pint jars
