Thick, creamy, and sweet Slow Cooker Apple Butter with no peeling required! All those freshly picked apples cooked down in the crock-pot for a perfect sweet and aromatic spread recipe that’s gluten-free, vegan, paleo, and allergy-free!
I did it guys! The long awaited APPLE BUTTER! I am so excited to share the whole story with you…finally! Now you can make this bundt cake with some proper “butter” and I get to tell you about my apple picking experience (if you can even call it that!) This apple butter is not as quick as the slow cooker pumpkin butter I’ll be sharing next week, but it IS just as delicious (so it’s worth it!)
But before the recipe, let’s talk about apple picking! (Photos for proof!) My mom picked my up early in the morning a few Saturdays ago, early so we could beat the seasonal crowds and get a head start before the “kiddos” and their families take over the orchard. No matter, there were still people there, but we did beat most of the crowds. I’d been apple picking once or twice before when I was younger and I remember hating the apples when we brought them home because they didn’t have the “waxy” shine on them like they do at the stores! Haha, if only I knew better back then!
A lot of the rows were picked clean! Literally no Fuji in sight, but the Cortland and Red Delicious were plentiful! I’m pretty sure my 6lbs of apples were a combo of Cortland, Red Delicious, Macoun, Jonagold, and Empire (I think). Note that you can have any combo of 6lbs of apples for this recipe. Anything sweet (i.e. not Granny Smith!) We were done gathering the apples in like 20 minutes and then we headed back to pay and of course pick up some cute baby pumpkins from the market store! After all these years of wanting to go apple picking, it was a bit lackluster, but hey, I got what I came for (and felt very fall-esque!)
All those apples I brought home, reduced down to just about 4-5 cups of apple butter! To make apple butter you’re basically making my slow cooker applesauce, blending it up smooth, and then cooking it down again. This entire process takes about 8-10 hours depending. The apple butter thickens up even more overnight once you put it away in the fridge, so I stopped mine at 9 hours because…I had to go to sleep!
Did I mention there is NO peeling required for this apple butter. That would be a sad nutrient and food waste! You just need to cut the apples up into chunks (cut out the stem and seeds), throw them in a wide and large slow cooker with some sugar and spices, and let it do it’s thing! You don’t have to babysit this all day, but you do need to watch it and mix every so often. I cook this on high so we don’t want anything to burn! Read the recipe fully and you’ll understand! I’m giving you the low (almost no) sugar version in the notes as well; your call!
Slow Cooker Apple Butter
- 6 lbs Apples (cubed, cores and stems removed)
- ¾ Cup Erythritol
- ¾ Cup Dark Brown Sugar*
- 2 Tsp Fresh Lemon Juice
- 2 Tsp Cinnamon
- ¾ Tsp Ground Allspice
- ½ Tsp Ground Nutmeg
- ½ Tsp Ground Cloves
- Optional Flavor: 1 Tsp Vanilla or Maple Extract
- Place the cubed apple in a large slow cooker and put the rest of the ingredients right on top of the apples.
- Cover and cook on high for 4 hours, no mixing required at this time.
- After 4 hours, remove the lid and mash the apples a bit before carefully transferring into a large blender. Blend the mixture until completely smooth.
- Add the mixture back into the slow cooker with the cover slightly ajar and cook on high for another 4-5 hours until thick, mixing every 30 minutes or so.
- Allow it to cool a bit before storing in glass jars and refrigerating for 3-4 weeks.
Spread this on toast, bagels, use it for sandwiches, swirl it in oatmeal, and of course that bundt! Don’t forget to gift some for a special loved one in your life too 😉 Now, with apple butter and the pumpkin butter I’ll be sharing next week, the last thing I need to do this season is…PEAR BUTTER! Be on the look out my fruit butter friends 😉
So tell me:
+ Have you done apple picking yet this year? Do you make it a tradition?
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Apple picking is one of my favorite fall activities! And I LOVE apple butter! Love this easy recipe – especially because you don’t need to peel the apples! Perfect!
Yes! I hope it will be a new tradition 🙂
You had me at ‘no peeling!’
Super easy!
This is such a perfect fall recipe! It just wouldn’t have occurred to me to make my own apple butter, but you have me thinking about it now. Pinned! 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
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Well it is a must now!
Looks great. I’ve got to try it. Thank you.
Enjoy!
This sounds delicious! We just found out my 4 year old son has Celiac Disease, so I’m on the lookout for lots of gluten-free recipes!
You came to the right place!
I love that you don’t peel the apples for this recipe. Saves so much time!
I’d probably cut my finger off too! Haha!
I’ve seen a lot of recipes that bloggers post, but this one I’m finally going to try. It looks yummy & I’m sure my grandchildren will love this. Thanks for sharing! hugs
I know they will!
This looks so tasty! I love home made apple sauce in the Fall!
This is apple butter 🙂
This a great recipe to have for fall. I have pinned this and definitely will be trying it soon.
Let me know how it comes out for you!
Making apple butter in a slow cooker makes so much sense. I made it once by hand and after several hours of constant stirring, I swore I’d never make it again!
That would be horrid torture! Haha!
Apple picking sounds so much fun! The apple butter looks amazing and so does the apple bundt cake 😀 love that you didn’t peel the apples. Those skins really are the best part 🙂
Yup! Thanks!
Wait apple butter? i haven’t heard about that xp but it looks delicious and worth the time of cooking. It take so much time to do it but will try it because it worth it :))
Takes time, but YOU don’t have to do much but wait!
That’s awesome :))
Such a lovely fall recipe and I love that you don’t have to peel the apples!
All the better, eh? 🙂
Yum. I love apple butter! Great fall recipe.
Thanks!
Again, you come up with great tips to make these traditional fall foods easier and tastier. I’ve make apple and pumpkin butters for awhile in my crock w/instructions from a local farm…but I never thought to take the apples out at chunky stage and blend them to smooth goodness. Thanks!
It’s the only way to make apple butter…
I’ve seen a few recipes for apple butter and I’m fascinated, never heard of it before, must actually get around to making this thanks for sharing it!
It is so yummy for Fall!
This homemade apple butter sounds delicious!
Sure is!
Pinned this and can’t wait to try!!
Let me know how it comes out!
This looks absolutely amazing! I can’t wait to make it over the weekend.
I hope you enjoy!
I can’t wait to try this! And give some to the neighbors, what a fun idea!
Yes! A great gift!
This looks absolutely incredible!!! I’m running to the store to buy all of the ingredients!!
I hope you mean the apple orchard!
That looks yummy! Im always buying apple sauce, maybe its time to try making my own 🙂
Applesauce is different than apple butter, dear.
I never knew apple butter didn’t actually have butter in it! Looks delicious! Apple picking is on my list of things to do this fall with my daughter 🙂
Haha, ick, no! All fruit and love here!
This seams super simple! I’ll for sure be trying this!!
Enjoy!
That sounds so yummy!!! We go apple picking every year, and it is my favorite thing ever!
I hope it becomes a new tradition here!
Interesting, I always thought apple butter was actual butter. with apples! Its more like a jam/jelly!
we went apple picking and we bought oh like 40 lbs of apples…
Haha, NO! It’s a delicious fruit spread! Fruit butters beat jams and jellies hands down!
Apple butter is seriously my fave and this recipe sounds delish!
It is so yummy!
I really need to use my slow cooker more so I am definitely going to try this
A slow cooker is essential!
HOLY MOLE’ this looks so good! And so simple! I need to make some while it’s still apple season!
Yes yes!!! Don’t delay!
I actually just went apple picking this past Sunday! I ended up picking more apples than I needed and was looking for a good recipe to use them for. This is perfect!
-Valere
Haha, it’s inevitable that we pick more than we intended 😉 Haha!
That looks awesome! Will try this on the weekend! Thank you for sharing1
Well enjoy!
Obsessed!! Who knew apple butter was this easy to make?!
Just takes some time, but yes!
Yum, I love making slow cooker apple sauce, I will have to give apple butter a try. Thanks for sharing!
Go for it!
This sounds amazing!!! I love apple butter, and the idea of making my whole house smell delicious AND getting to eat this at the end of the day… I’m sold!!!
It’s a double win for sure 😉
Even though the cook time (cooking without watching is the best! love crockpots) is long, this is such a simple method and so much cheaper that what you would get at the store. Plus it’s satisfying because you know it came right from your kitchen. Great tip about using the skins for added nutrients. great recipe!
Yea! There is no time hack for authentic apple butter!
What a lovely recipe (although I admit, I’d use sugar) – I bet it’s great on buckwheat porridge!
It is great in all hot cereals!
You had me at “no peeling required”! Love the suggestion to use maple flavoring. Pinned this!
No time for that nonsense 😉 Thank you!!
Oh my this looks delicious! I will have to give it a try! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you! Enjoy!
This looks delicious! Can’t wait to try it myself! I love eating toast in the morning and I feel like this is a great excuse to eat more bread while still having fruit haha. Thank you for sharing this recipe 😀
This will make your toast totally autumn-y and cozy 😉
Love how easy this is! I’d want to spread this on everything!
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Haha, well spread it on everything is just what I do 😉
My husband and I discovered apple butter on a fall getaway a few years ago and fell in love. It never occurred to me to make it- this looks great!
The first time I had it, I fell in love too!
Ow wow.. you harvest your own food… envy you Rebecca. And the apple butter looks awesome.
Bahaha, not sure how much this can be called “harvesting” 😉
This sounds so perfect for fall!!
You bet!
Ugh, I am dying to go apple picking! This recipe looks and sounds absolutely amazing. I’ve never had apple butter, but I feel like I definitely need to give it a try!
You must go before the season ends! Even though it was super quick and fast (if you aren’t with a bunch of friends I’m assuming) it was still worth it!
Mmm apple butter in overnight oats is so yummy.. actually apple butter in everything is yummy!
Hahaha, you can’t go wrong there 😉 Even by the spoonful!
I’m so excited to see your post! I have a bucket of apples! I recently had a sad and unimpressive apple butter so I am dying for some homemade goodness! My girls will love this!
Make it homemade for sure!! You can put everything you want in it, make it as thick or thin as you want…and you get the benefit of all the aromas!
Will definitely try this recipe with all the apples I plan to pick lol.
Haha! Just what apple picking season is for!