EASY APPLE BUTTER

Easy apple butter image

Provided by Patricia Carter-Thompson

Categories Spreads

Time 8h5m

Number Of Ingredients 7

9 qt applesauce (fresh or canned)
2 Tbsp cinnamon, ground
1 tsp cloves, ground
1/2 tsp allspice, ground
4 c sugar or sweetner (optional)
SPICE SUBSTITUTION
2 1/2 Tbsp pumpkin pie spices (this is my cheat)

Steps:

1. add 5-6 qt of apple sauce to crock pot
2. add spices and half of the sugar if used
3. - set crock pot/slow cooker on low or med
4. - cook down apple sauce. If not cooked down visibly within 8 hrs turn heat to med. until visibly cooked down by half.
5. - while cooking cover crock pot/slow cooker loosely ( I use a wooden spoon or off set my lid to vent off moisture)
6. - you need to keep covered to prevent splatter. It will splatter while cooking. instead of a lid you could use a large pot splatter screen but I don't have one..I use my lid.
7. - cook for a total of 6-18 hrs
8. - Once reduced by half add remaining apple sauce and sugar cook on high for at least 2 hrs until thickened.
9. - Pack into clean hot jars leaving 1/4 inch headroom
10. - seat lid and tighten band onto jar
11. - process in boiling water for 10 min for quart jars for 10 min
12. - place upside down on dry towel to cool - once cool turn right side up and store - refrigerate apple butter once open
13. Hints & Tips: for smoother consistency you can blend with a hand blender. For those who like anise you can use 1/4 t. ground star anise or as much as you want to taste. Some use red hot cinnamon candies in the apple butter while cooking. My Grandmother did.