Several of you commented about growing up making and eating apple butter on last week’s Chicken Sausage, Apple Butter and Fontina Panini post. As I mentioned, I had only just recently tried it for the first time. The idea of having a pile of apples cooking down with sugar and spices on the stovetop on a gorgeous autumn Sunday was too enticing to resist. So yesterday a new Apple Butter-making tradition was begun in my house.
Wow, this homemade apple butter was so much better than the store-bought version I tried last week. First of all, I preferred having the spices in there. Cinnamon, cloves and mace enhance the flavor of the apples so much. I also found the homemade version to have an appealing almost floral-like quality, which I attribute to the honey in the recipe. The house, of course, smelled amazing as it simmered away.
I hear that peanut butter and apple butter sandwiches are pretty divine – my kids will soon be the judges of that (we have a whole lot of apple butter to work through)!
Apple Butter
Adapted from the Overnight Apple Butter recipe by Domenica Marchetti in Cooking Light
Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 1 hour 30 minutes | Total time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Yield: 4 cups
INGREDIENTS:
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup apple cider
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon ground mace
- 10 medium apples (ideally a mixture of varieties), peeled, cored, and cut into large chunks (about 2 1/2 pounds)
DIRECTIONS:
- Combine all ingredients in a Dutch oven. Cover and cook over medium-low heat 1 hour or until apples are very tender, stirring occasionally.
- Place a large fine-mesh sieve over a bowl; spoon one-third of apple mixture into the sieve. Press the mixture through the sieve using the back of a spoon or ladle. Discard the pulp. Repeat this procedure with the remaining apple mixture.
- Return the mixture to the pan. Cook, uncovered, over medium-low heat 15 minutes or until thick, stirring frequently.
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
looks fabulous!!
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc.´s last blog post ..My Favorite Comfort Food: Fall Pies and Tarts
Peanut butter and apple butter sandwiches sound amazing! I have to try that.
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen´s last blog post ..Chocolate Fig Tarts | Fresh Figs in Good Company
Mmmm apple butter on buttermilk pancakes is the best.
Man I haven’t made this in ages–
vanillasugarblog´s last blog post ..cake filled peanut butter cups
I love apple butter, its one thing that really takes me home and to my childhood! Thanks for such an easy and delicious recipe!
Chef Dennis´s last blog post ..Black and White Muffins
Never thought to make my own apple butter, but it’s so simple, thanks for sharing this recipe!
Jeanette´s last blog post ..Easy Caramelized Baked Chicken with Green Olives and Prunes Recipe – 50 Women Game Changers In Food – Clotilde Dusoulier
I am going to make this, my son LOVES it!
this looks great… will give it a shot
I LOVE apple butter but haven’t made my own before. Yours looks soooo good, I’ll have to try it out! 🙂
I love apple butter and yours looks just wonderful, Kathy! What a delicious fall treat. Thanks for sharing.
I seriously cannot wait to try this!!!! I’m even thinking about packaging some in small jars giving away as teacher appreciation gifts this fall. Thanks so much for the recipe!
I am LOVD´s last blog post ..A LOVD {Giveaway}: Ohio’s Amish Country
I LOVE apple butter! I have got to try your recipe.
I love this. I’m embarrassed to say, I usually buy mine from Trader Joes. But yay, to having this recipe for next time. 🙂
naomi´s last blog post ..BaNilla Sandwich Cookies