Slow Cooker Applesauce Apple Butter - Retro Recipe Box (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between apple sauce and apple butter? ›

But it makes all the difference. Applesauce is a fairly quick process, cooked apples run through a food mill. Apple butter is basically concentrated apple sauce, cooked down even more until it's thicker, silkier, and more intensely apple flavored. Like the difference between tomato sauce and tomato paste, essentially.

Once the apple butter has cooled and been placed into jars or airtight containers, store using the following guidelines: Refrigerator Storage – You can store the apple butter in the fridge for up to 1 month. Freezer Storage – You can store the apple butter in the freezer for up to 1 year.

Apple butter will thicken as it cools, so don't worry if it still looks a little runny in the slow cooker! If you still need to thicken your apple butter, you can continue to cook it uncovered in your crock pot or simmer it on the stove.

*You can also preserve your apple butter via the water-bath canning method, which uses a canning pot. The recommending processing time is 10 minutes for pints and 15 minutes for quarts. Home-canned apple butter has a shelf life of about two years. Store in a cool, dark place.

The production of apple butter was also a popular way of using apples in colonial America, well into the 19th century. The product contains no actual dairy butter; the term butter refers only to the butter-like thick, soft consistency, and apple butter's use as a spread for breads.

I recommend using Golden Delicious, McIntosh, Fuji, or Gala. Don't use Granny Smith; they are too tart and firm for this recipe. Weigh your apples before coring and chopping.

If stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, homemade apple butter can last up to 6 months. If you store it in the freezer, it can last up to a year. It's important to check the apple butter for any signs of spoilage before consuming. Discard if it has an off odor, mold or discoloration.

To check for doneness: Spoon out some of the apple butter, turn the spoon upside down. The apple butter should cling to the spoon without falling off right away. If it does fall off, continue cooking to remove more of the liquid.

Homemade apple butter can stay good, in the refrigerator, for up to 1 month. If it is preserved by water bath canning, it will be shelf stable for up to 18 months depending on the canning lid used.

During the slow cooking, the sugars that are naturally present in the apples caramelize into a deep, molasses-like flavor, and a dark color. This gives the apple butter its rich, sweet flavor and dark brown hue.

What do you eat apple butter with? ›

Just keep cooking, as alilja and Golly suggest. Mix a small amount of corn flour with some water if it's already cooled and keep mixing until it thickens. This is a bad idea if you are expecting your apple butter to keep for more than a week.

Yes! Freeze cooled apple butter in freezer containers for up to three months. Liquids expand as they freeze, so leave extra room at the top of the freezer container. Thaw the apple butter in the refrigerator when you're ready to use.

Apple butter is a spreadable preserve made by slow-cooking apples with warming spices such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and allspice. The apples are cooked for a long time over low heat, caramelizing them, concentrating their flavor and turning them into a spreadable consistency.

As it is exposed to light, heat, and oxygen, butter oxidizes, which alters its molecular structure, changing the taste, texture, and even color.

But when it comes down to it, both applesauce and apple butter can often be exchanged in baking recipes — especially when used as a replacement for some of the butter, oil, or eggs. Try this in our No Butter Choco-Chip Cookies or Yummy Applesauce Bread.

While apple butter is undeniably delicious, it also offers some health benefits. Made from fresh, organic apples, it contains essential nutrients like dietary fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. These components contribute to a healthy digestive system, support immune function, and promote overall well-being.

Applesauce can be used as a direct replacement for oil or melted butter in baking, meaning in a 1:1 ratio.

APPLESAUCE

Unsweetened applesauce makes a great butter substitute for lightening up brownies, cookies, cakes and quick breads. For every cup of butter called for, use 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce.