Nothing says Fall like a warm pot of apple butter! This year we stepped up and made a delicious Spiced Apple Butter to add to our pantry and to offer at the market. Apple butter is a more concentrated version of applesauce and this recipe offers an extra flare with the addition of cinnamon and cardamom. I’m excited to show you how easy it is to make this delicious pantry item. Let’s go!

What do you need?

Apples!!! Take your pick on variety. This year, I used gala apples because they were on sale at the store. In a month or so, I should be able to get bulk apples from a local co-op. They typically have different varieties than the grocery store. But, any apple at the store is great for this!

Sugar is the next most important ingredient. I haven’t experimented with lower-sugar recipes because that’s not a huge concern for me. The amount of apple butter we consume at a time is so low, that I’m not concerned about how much sugar we are getting from it. On that note, I do use a non-GMO evaporated cane sugar option. I’ve used this for 8 years now and I LOVE IT!

Last come your spices! Get creative! I never would’ve thought of cardamom until I read about it and I’m in love with the flavor. We love mixing up Chia spices and this apple butter reminds me so much of Chai. We also included cinnamon because cinnamon and apples and Fall just seem perfect together.

How to Make Spiced Apple Butter

The first step is to wash, core, peel, and slice your apples. Now, if someone would like to send me one of those fancy apple corer/peelers, I would love you forever, because I did this all by hand. Phew! My hand hurt by the end of the day from using a vegetable peeler on 36 lbs of apples, but it got the job done. Sometimes, having the tool that makes a difficult process easier is worth it! I get not everyone has space for, or wants to have a bunch of random kitchen tools, but I’m all for something that makes the job easier.

After you have cored, peeled, and sliced your apples, put them into a cooker with some water (a pot, slow cooker, instant pot, or roaster) and bring the apples to a simmer. The goal here is to soften the apples. Once the apples are soft, you can blend it all up either in a blender, or my favorite way is with an immersion blender (or stick blender). This saves you from having to dirty your blender and everything stays right there in the same pot.

Once the apples have been blended, add the sugar and the spices and stir it all up. I like to let mine cook down just slightly, but you don’t want it to get too dark. I’ve totally burned a batch before and it was so disappointing. I’d rather ere on the side of not quite done and then I could reduce it a little more later if I wanted to.

Time to Can It

Once your mixture is reduced to your desired color, taste, and texture, you are ready to can it up! I prefer to use half-pint jars for the market, but for our family use, I usually can in pints. This part is really simple. Fill your jars to 1/4 inch headspace, wipe your rims, put on lids and rings, and process in a water bath canner for the time based on your elevation.

How to Use Spiced Apple Butter

Now that you’ve made this wonderful spiced spread, it’s time to use your creativity and eat it! We enjoy this paired with goat cheese on a warm piece of sourdough bread. What about spread on some homemade biscuits? Delicious! It also makes wonderful muffins. However you choose to use your Spiced Apple Butter, don’t forget to share it with your friends and family! Now, Let’s get to that recipe!

How to Make (and Can) Spiced Apple Butter

Recipe by TheHomemadeMama

Servings

20

Half-Pints

Prep time

1

hour 

Cooking time

1

hour 

30

minutes

Nothing says Fall like apples and cinnamon and cardamom. This delicious spread pairs wonderfully with goat cheese on a cracker of piece of toast or add it to your oatmeal, or muffin mix.

Ingredients

• 12 lbs Apples (I used Gala)

• 6 cups Water

• 4 cups Sugar

• 2 TBSP Ground Cinnamon

• 1 TBSP (or more) Ground Cardamom

Directions

• Make it!
• Wash, core, peel and slice apples.
• Add apples and water to a pot and cook on low heat until soft.
• Blend up using an immersion blender.
• Add sugar, cinnamon, and cardamom.
• Cook down to the desired consistency and color.
• Can it!
• Prep water bath canner, jars, and lids.
• Fill jars with hot apple butter and process in water bath canner for the amount of time for your elevation. (For me, it’s 15 minutes.)
• ENJOY!!