Homemade Apple Butter is a simple way to add apple pie flavour to almost anything and a fantastic way to use up apples before they spoil. I love to add it to yoghurt, oats, as a topping for pancakes or scones or as a filling for pastries. You can also use it as an ingredient for apple muffins, or simply as a topping for some vanilla ice cream.
One of my favourite healthy snacks is some chopped fresh apple, a scoop or two of Greek yoghurt, and topped with dollops of homemade apple butter. Add a sprinkling of something crunchy, like these toasted almonds or even a spoonful of my favourite granola. A healthier everyday option when I’m craving a slice of apple pie.
For those who don’t know what Apple Butter is, it’s not actually made with butter. Go figure why our American friends decided to add butter to the name. It is essentially a concentrated and slightly thicker version of apple sauce with added spices.
Apple Sauce is usually simply apples and a touch of lemon juice or water. The apples are usually also peeled before cooking. Apple butter includes a little brown sugar and spices, such as cinnamon and nutmeg so give it all the amazing apple pie flavours. I also don’t bother peeling the apples since the cooked apples get blended and the colour will already be darker from the spices.
Feel free to use any variety of apples you prefer or have at hand. I always prefer using Granny Smith Apples for anything cooked or baked as they are less sweet and a firmer texture. Cooking or baking fruit always enhances the sweetness so this is my go to. But it is a personal preference and you can use any variety or apple you love.
One note would be to use a little less sugar for a sweeter variety of apple.
As mentioned above, this Homemade Apple Butter is super versatile and great as a topping or filling for almost anything. Why not give it a try on my Apple Pie Pancakes or Apple Pie Ice Cream. It’s also great as a filling for my Apple & Cinnamon Bread and Butter Pudding or my Apple Pie Sandwich Cookies.
Homemade Apple Butter
Ingredients
- 4 – 5 Medium Apples Cored and chopped (peeling optional)
- 1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
- 2 – 3 Tbsp Brown Sugar*
- 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
- ¼ tsp Nutmeg
- ¼ tsp Ground Allspice Optional
- ¼ Cup Water
Instructions
- Core and chop the apples to dice size (peeling optional). Place in a medium saucepan
- Add the lemon juice, sugar and spices, finally add the water and bring to medium heat
- Bring to a steady simmer then reduce the temperature slightly and cook gently over until apples are very soft, around 15 minutes
- Use a hand/stick blender to blend the apples until smooth
- Note: If the mixture is extremely thick while blending, feel free to add a tablespoon of water at a time to help it blend smooth. This will usually depend on the variety of apple and whether they were peeled or not. I most often use unpeeled Granny Smiths and need to add a couple of tablespoons of water at this stage. It should be thick but smooth
- Important: If using a normal blender instead, remember to open the steam hole/vent before blending
- Scoop into a clean glass storage jar or plastic container. Cool to room temperature, the add an airtight lid and chill in the fridge until ready to use
Leave a Reply