Go Back
A glass jar of apple butter sitting on a burlap napkin.

Apple Butter

This homemade instant pot apple butter recipe is so simple to make and delicious! Fall eating should always include something with apple butter on or in it!! The spices add warmth to dishes that make it ideal for fall and winter cooking and eating.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 day 6 hours

Equipment

  • Instant Pot or Crock Pot
  • immersion blender
  • measuring cup
  • measuring spoons
  • wooden spoon

Ingredients

  • 30 apples, cored and chopped
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3 tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 tsp ground cloves
  • 2 tsp ground allspice

Instructions

  • Wash, core, and chop enough apples to fill your instant pot. Add 2 cups of sugar, 2 tablespoons of cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of ground allspice, and 1 teaspoon of ground cloves. Mix with the apples. Add your lid, set the timer for 10 hours, select the "slow cook" or "crock pot" function, set your lid to "vent" mode, and select "low" heat and the "keep warm" option.
  • After 10 hours, take your lid off and stir your apples. Add more washed, cored, and chopped apples (or apple pulp leftover from making apple juice and apple jelly) to fill your pot back up again. Add another 1 tablespoon of cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of ground allspice, and 1 teaspoon of ground cloves.
  • After another 10 hours (20 hours into the process), take your lid off and stir your apples. Add more washed, cored, and chopped apples to fill your pot back up again. Add more spices to taste. Set your lid back on and set the timer for another 10 hours on "low."
  • After yet another 10 hours (30 hours into the process), take your lid off and stir your apples. Use your immersion blender to blend your apple butter to the consistency and texture that you want. Be careful not to blend so much that you liquefy your apple butter, though. If your apple butter still has too much juice in it, continue cooking on low heat for another 5 to 10 hours until it's the consistency that you want. Alternatively, if it's too dry, add water or apple juice.
  • Taste your finished apple butter and add more spices to taste.

Canning Your Apple Butter

  • Prepare your water bath canner, jars, lids, and bands by heating up your canner with the jars submerged in water. Use new lids and make sure lids and bands are clean.
  • Ladle hot apple butter into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles and adjust headspace, if necessary, by adding more apple butter. Wipe the rims of your jars with hot water, center the lid on your jar, and screw the band down until it's fingertip-tight.
  • Place jars in your hot canner using a jar lifter. Make sure jars are covered by at least 2 inches of water. Bring to a boil and process jars for 10 minutes. Remove the lid and wait 5 more minutes. Then carefully remove your jars and cool for at least 12 hours.
  • After 12 hours, remove the bands and ensure that the lids have sealed properly. Then label and store your apple butter.