Easy Overnight Slow Cooker Apple Butter
This overnight slow cooker apple butter is super simple to make and tastes delicious. You may never buy store bought apple butter again!
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Easy Overnight Slow Cooker Apple Butter
I originally shared this recipe for Slow Cooker Apple Butter back in October of 2013 when I only had one baby and we had an abundance of fresh apples every Fall from our apple tree.
Fast forward seven years and we’ve moved to a new location with no mature apple trees and now have three babies. Oh how time flies.
Anyway, enough reminiscing, this recipe is so easy and delicious and was in dire need of a refresh in order for new readers to discover it’s goodness.
I know it’s not apple season at the moment, but if you find yourself with a few over ripe apples in the refrigerator, then you may want to whip of a batch of this amazing apple butter.
Of course if you’re reading this in the fall, get out that crockpot and start cooking up some of this homemade deliciousness!
My favorite way to eat apple butter is on a homemade biscuit. Mmmmm. It’s seriously like heaven.
I used a 6 qt slow cooker for this recipe, if yours is a different size, you may need to adjust the amount of apples and sugar to fit your needs.
How to Make Overnight Slow Cooker Apple Butter:
Peel, core and slice apples. We used one of these apple peeler, corer, slicers:
Put apples and vanilla in slow cooker. Set on low for 8 hours. I left it overnight.
It should look like this in the morning:
Mash apples and mix in cinnamon and sugars. Continue cooking another 6 hours. Process in blender for a smooth consistency.
This recipe should make about 6 pints. Using USDA safe canning practices, process in water bath canner for 10 minutes or store in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks.
Need more delicious fall recipes? Here are some of my favorites:
Slow Cooker Pumpkin Butter
Cinnamon Applesauce Muffins
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread
Apple Pie Crescent Ring
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Slow Cooker Apple Butter
Ingredients
Instructions
- Peel, core and slice apples.
- Put apple slices in slow cooker with vanilla.
- Cook on low 8 hours.
- Mash apples. Add cinnamon and sugars.
- Cook on low 6 hours.
- Process in blender until smooth.
That sounds and looks delicious, I made a load of caramel apple jam last week, made the whole apartment smell so lovely while it was stewing!
Caramel Apple Jam sounds delicious!
I would love your caramel apple jam recipe please!
Hi Missy – LOVE this recipe!! Nothing says fall like apple butter (; I’m joining the 31 Days Challenge too and had to hop over and see what you were up to for day 1…so glad I did. Can’t wait to come back for more upcoming posts this month!
In Gratitude,
Michele
The Homesteading Cottage
Thanks for stopping by! I can’t wait to check out everyone else’s 31 day series!
I love apple butter and made a similar recipe a few years ago! It was so easy! I canned it afterwards.
I made this today. I made a half batch in my regular sized (large) crockpot. I let it cook for 9 hours instead of 8 before mashing it up. That’s when I added the vanilla. Because the batch was smaller it was ready in 2 hours after that. It was still a bit wet so I left the lid off while it cooled. That helped a lot. I used this for an almond & apple butter sandwich for lunch- delicious! I love your series and recipe, keep it up! ^_^
I’m so glad you got to try it! Thanks for the encouragement!
I love this, I never knew you could do apple butter in the crock pot! Pinned to try this amazing recipe! That is a lot of apples! I would love an apple tree 🙂 Saying hello from thrifty Thursday!
Cathy
Hi Cathy! Thanks for stopping by and I’m so glad you liked the recipe! It really is amazing! I hope you enjoy!
Errrrmagerrrrd! This was amazingggg! I started it this morning, so I’m letting it sit on “Keep Warm” overnight, since there is NO WAY I will stay up to can it tonight. I have been in the kitchen all day, making this apple butter, quarts and quarts of apple pie filling, and dried apples. It has been pretty funny watching my dehydrator, 2 slow cookers, AND the water bath canner going all at once. And there is barely a dent in the tree! Good luck with your apple season and thanks for the delish recipe!!!
Wow that’s a lot in one day! I usually do one batch of something at once. Have you checked out my Freezer Apple Pie Filling recipe? It’s way easier and faster than canning!
I bet your house smelled amazing while the apple butter cooked! I may have to try this sometime–pinning!
I NEED to try this! Thanks for linking up with Show Stopper Saturday!
Oh my goodness, this looks amazing! I need to try this one. Thank you for sharing on Show Me Saturdays
Pinned to give this a try. Looks great and sounds easy enough. My dad would love it if I make him some homemade apple butter! 🙂
The most time consuming part is peeling and coring the apples, but once that is done it’s simple! I hope you (and your dad) enjoy!
Missy, now I know what to do with all the apples that are on my tree! So happy you shared this apple recipe with us at the Show Stopper this week… featuring it tomorrow morning!
I have an apple tree too and I’ve already made 9 pints of apple butter, 6 quarts of apple sauce, 4 pints of Red Hot cinnamon apples, 7 bags of freezer apple pie filling, 1 load of dehydrated apple rings and 3 gallons of apple cider! And we still have more apples to go! Crazy! Anyway, I hope you enjoy the recipe and thanks so much for featuring me!! Have a great weekend!
After the apple butter is canned, how long does it last on the shelf? Most of the recipes I am seeing are calling for the jars to be frozen, but I don’t want to keep it in the freezer. Help?!
Apple butter can be canned in a water bath canner since it is a high acid food. Canned foods are best used within a year, but will keep for longer.
I can’t WAIT to try this recipe!! I never even thought about making this in a crock pot! We get some amazing apple butter when we’re home to visit Amish Country in Pennsylvania, I can’t wait to see how this compares!
Thanks for sharing!
Enjoyed reading your website,great ideas,looking forward to trying your
Recipes,can’t wait to see what you post next!!
Thank you
Thanks Ruth. Have a wonderful day!
this sounds so great!! I’m making it this weekend, I noticed the only liquid you add is the vanilla. The apples won’t burn on the bottom? Thanks
I haven’t had a problem with the apples burning. They will release liquid as they cook down so it should be alright.
What size is the crockpot? How many pounds of apples do you use per batch?
I believe I have a 7 quart crockpot. I’m not sure how many pounds. Sorry.
My 5 quart crockpot was able to hold 4 pounds of apples. I followed the rest of the recipe and I think I got good results. It sure smelled wonderful near the end of the cooking time!
This is so yummie and it also works with peaches, believe it or not.
Cool. Thanks for sharing!
I am SO super excited to try this! We have a huge apple tree that is just over abundant with apples this year! Do you know if this recipe freezes well? I’ve never canned before, but I will attempt to figure that out if freezing isn’t a good option. TIA!
Rachel
I have never tried freezing apple butter, but I think it would probably be fine. Search for “Freezer Apple Butter” and see if anything comes up. I freeze apple pie filling so I don’t see why you couldn’t freeze apple butter.
I made this last night. I feel like it is done but it seems very juicy. Is this normal? Does it need to cook longer or just cool down?
It should be thick, but some liquid is alright. I would let it cool down and see if it thickens up. If not you could always cook it longer.
I wish I had this recipe a few weeks back after be went apple picking. Been wanting to make apple butter for ages now, definitely keeping this in my back pocket for next year. Looks super easy & yummy.
Can you freeze it instead of canning it?
I haven’t tried it myself, but I’ve heard of other people freezing it with success.
I freeze my Apple sauce. Can’t see why you couldn’t freeze the butter.
My overnight apple butter was great ,my family was amazed I told them I found the recipe on your site. Now my family are always looking for recipes on graceful little honey bee. Thank you so much
The picture looks more like applesauce than apple butter, it’s usually a darker brown. My mother and grandmother made apple butter every year, the old fashioned way. I used to make it that way too, but hadn’t made any for some time. Then I saw a recipe for crock-pot apple butter and decided to use up about twelve cans of applesauce that I had accumulated. It works great, but you need to vent it. I have a large oval crock-pot, so I laid two chopsticks across it and set the lid on them. It worked great, I don’t remember just how long it took, but it should be dark brown. I like to use some brown sugar and plenty of cinnamon, you might even like a bit of nutmeg and/or cloves for added flavor. I’m 72, so I know old fashioned.
What kind of apples?? Different apples are good for different recipes. Some require tart others sweet. I do not see enough information in these recipes.
Sorry for the confusion Tracy. Any apples can be used, but sweet would be preferred. I’ve made it with both and it turns out great either way.
do you hot pack it to can or water bath?
I can it in a water bath canner.
Can this be processed in a water bath ?
I’ve always water bath canned it without any problems. You could compare it to the Ball recipe to make sure.
Does the Apple butter recipe freeze?
Hi Missy:
I made the Apple butter in the crock pot recipe. It was delicious, fun and easy to make.
Can you make the apple butter in a Instant Pot. I love apple butter and this recipe looks delish.
I’m sure there is a way to adapt it for the Instant Pot, but I don’t know the specifics.
I loved, loved, loved this recipe! Making it for gifts but also plenty for myself. I like that it only has cinnamon as a spice and vanilla as flavoring. The brown sugar is a nice flavor touch also.