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Home » Canning » Crockpot Apple Butter with Canning Instructions

Crockpot Apple Butter with Canning Instructions

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August 4, 2020 by Victoria 46 Comments

This crockpot apple butter recipe is a wonderful treat during the fall! And with these instructions for how to can apple butter in a water bath, you'll be able to enjoy it all year round!

crockpot apple butter in a mason jar with a slice of bread beside it

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Homemade apple butter is a favorite fall treat around here. Slow cooked in a crockpot and served warm over a fresh slice of homemade bread, it's amazing!

Plus, if you water bath can it for later, you can enjoy a piece of fall all year long! (Water bath canning doesn't require any special equipment, so it's a great place to start if you're new to the skill!)

I've been buying a lot of apples recently for things like apple pie, apple sauce, and more... and I always get the organic ones. I know that buying organic can get a little pricey, but for us, it's more costly to our health to buy the "regular" apples.

Related: 10 Tricks for Clean Eating on a Budget

Apples for crockpot apple butter

Since it is apple season my local grocery store has quite a few different varieties of organic apples available. This is perfect because combining varieties allows for a much deeper, richer flavor of finished apple butter.

For this recipe I used a mix of Fuji, Gala, and Jazz apples - About a pound and a half of each, 4-5lbs total.

Best apple types for apple butter recipe

Crockpot Apple Butter Recipe for Canning

Wash, peel, and core the apples.

Peeled apples for crockpot apple butter

And if you're like me, stop and play with the baby for a bit. I mean, seriously, look at my sweet little helper!

Little apple butter helper

Now that we're back from playing with the baby, pay close attention here, because this is THE KEY to making perfect apple butter!

When you slice the apples to place them in the crockpot, slice them as thin as you possibly can.

how thin to slice apples for apple butter

I do this by hand because I just love the "whoosh, whoosh, whoosh" of the blade and I quickly slice the apples. However, you could do it with a mandolin, or a food processor with a slicing blade.

Thinly sliced apples for canning apple butter

Either way, get those apples as thin as you can and get ready for some magic! Because this is what happens when you take the time to slice them thin!

How to Make Slow Cooker Apple Butter Video

That's my favorite part of this process!! Watching it go from whole apple slices to apple butter in just a few turns of the whisk!

Specifics of the "magic" - After you let your apple butter process in the crockpot on low for 8-12 hours, just lift the lid and whisk briefly.

Note: If you don't cut the apple thinly for whatever reason, you can still just cook it in the crockpot for 8-12 hours, then run it through the blender or food processor to achieve the smooth texture.

Now that your apple butter is ready you can either pop it into a container and keep it in the fridge, or you can can it for later!

If you'd like to can it, prep 5 pint jars as shown in my Quick Start Guide to Water Bath Canning and follow the same directions to finish.

You'll process these for 10 minutes in a water bath canner (just any large pot, no special equipment needed).

Be sure to label them once they have cooled completely - I usually wait until the next day. Then enjoy at your leisure! I've eaten this exact recipe up to 5 years after initial canning and it was just as delicious as day one!

canning apple butter in mason jars

I slathered some of this amazing apple butter on a thick slick of homemade sandwich bread this morning and it really hit the spot!

It's also delicious on the drop biscuits, or the easy homemade biscuits that I shared with you recently! Either way, you can't go wrong with this stuff!

Apple Butter FAQ

I get a lot of questions about this recipe for making apple butter in a crockpot for canning! So here are a few common questions and their answers to help you out!

Why Do You Not Use Spices?

Though spices are common in apple butter, I prefer to use this custom blend of apples to create a deep rich apple flavor instead!

Can I Add Spices to my Apple Butter?

Yes! You definitely can add spices to your taste preferences. That's not a problem at all! Do it after the cooking stage though, so the spices don't lose their edge.

Do I have to cook it in a crockpot?

Technically no. However, the magic happens when you slow cook it for a long period of time. If you NEED to cook it in a pot, make sure it's a heavy bottom pot over low heat, and make sure you have a well fitting lid! Stir often to prevent sticking.

Apple butter recipe

Slow Cooker Apple Butter for Canning

This crockpot apple butter recipe is a wonderful treat during the fall! And with these instructions for how to can apple butter you'll be able to enjoy it all year round!
4.83 from 17 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Breakfast, Condiment
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Apple Butter for Canning, Apple Butter Recipe, Canning Apple Butter, Crockpot Apple Butter, Slow Cooker Apple Butter
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 8 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 5 Pints
Calories: 25kcal

Ingredients

  • 4-5 Pounds Apples in Various Varieties
  • 4 Cups Sugar*
  • Crockpot

For Canning:

  • 5 Pint Jars, with lid and ring sets

Instructions

  • Wash, peel, core apples.
  • Slice them as thin as possible.
  • Place apples and sugar into crockpot.
  • Place crockpot on low and cook for 8-12 hours (I do overnight).
  • Using a whisk, thoroughly mix apples until they become smooth. Or use a blender if apples were not sliced thinly enough.

For Canning:

  • Follow jar prepping directions given in the Water Bath Canning post here.
  • Process in large pot for 10 minutes.
  • Let cool for a few hours, lable, and put away!

Notes

*You can reduce the amount of sugar to taste. 

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Slow Cooker Apple Butter for Canning
Amount Per Serving (1 tbsp)
Calories 25
% Daily Value*
Potassium 12mg0%
Carbohydrates 7g2%
Sugar 6g7%
Vitamin A 6IU0%
Calcium 1mg0%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @AModHomestead or tag ##amodernhomestead!

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Easy crockpot apple butter canning recipe

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This apple butter makes an amazing gift for anytime, but especially during the fall and winter holidays!

If you're looking for more great gift ideas, a bunch of my friends and I created some fabulous ideas for you to choose from. Check them out below!

They are sorted by how much time you have, so you can find exactly what you need! Enjoy!

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How to Make & Give Homemade Hot Cocoa Mixes || Homespun Seasonal Living

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Special Gifts That Take One Month to Create (but are well worth the wait)

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Share with your friends!

Filed Under: All Posts, Canning, Seasonal Tagged With: Apples, Canning, Canning Fruit, Fall, fruit, Holiday Recipes, Homestead Skills, How To, Jam, Make Ahead, Quick and Easy, Thanksgiving, Water Bath Canning

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Elizabeth Brown says

    November 23, 2019 at 5:15 pm

    Do you have to add sugar if water bath canning. I made some apple butter and it tasted delicious. But, I didn’t use any sugar. I made a lot. Haha. So I’d prefer to an it than take up freezer space.

    Reply
    • Victoria says

      November 23, 2019 at 5:42 pm

      Hi Elizabeth! Without the sugar, it’s just apple sauce basically, which is totally fine to can!

      Here are the directions for canning applesauce or apples without sugar.

      Reply
  2. Dalia says

    May 17, 2020 at 12:03 am

    This year I’m trying to make apple butter once again.
    Yours looks simply delicious!

    Reply
    • Victoria says

      May 17, 2020 at 9:00 pm

      Hi Dalia! I hope you do get to try it! I’m hoping to be able to make it again soon myself!

      Reply
  3. Kirstie Inholt says

    August 16, 2020 at 9:12 am

    How long does this last after opened and how long does it last canned?

    Reply
    • Victoria says

      August 16, 2020 at 7:15 pm

      Hi Kirstie! Opened in the fridge, I treat this like jam/jelly. If it doesn’t have mold in it and it still tastes right, we call it good. In all fairness, it doesn’t last that long because we eat it quickly! Canned properly it will last for 5-10 years (stored in a cool, dark place). Enjoy!

      Reply
  4. Sharon says

    October 20, 2020 at 5:12 pm

    Can this be made with stevia?

    Reply
    • Victoria says

      October 20, 2020 at 6:19 pm

      Hi Sharon! The caramelization of the sugar is what makes it apple butter instead of applesauce, so you won’t get that with stevia, sadly. Perhaps honey? If you want to try that, it would be about 3/4 of the sugar called for as honey. So for this recipe it would be 3 cups of honey instead of the 4 cups of sugar. I hope that helps!

      Reply
  5. Rana says

    November 9, 2020 at 3:32 am

    I would love to try this recipe & can for Xmas. Question one recipe I read said you need to add vinegar to ensure no bacteria growth when canning. Is that something I need to do?

    Reply
    • Victoria says

      November 11, 2020 at 10:28 pm

      Hi Rana! Acid is only needed in certain recipes, this is thankfully not one of them! You can make and can it as written! :-) Enjoy!

      Reply
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