Old Fashioned Spiced Apple Butter (Canning Recipe)

This is the perfect apple butter recipe for canning, made on the stovetop or in your slow cooker. It’s got a blend of apples, spices, and a splash of brandy (that’s optional) to make this a fall classic you’ll make every year.

Once you taste homemade apple butter, there’s no going back. Everyone loves it, and it makes a great Christmas gift.

Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need

I love the flavor that apple brandy gives to this, but if you don’t have it or don’t want to go out and get it, you can substitute it with apple cider or more water. It’s worth getting though. I use it for this, cocktails, and mulled wine. It’s useful to have on hand and takes apple recipes to the next level.

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If you’d like to double or triple this recipe, you can make adjustments in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Equipment

• Water Bath Canner
• 6 half-pint jars
• immersion blender
• large saucepan

Ingredients

• 4 pounds apples (peeled and quartered, about 12 medium apples – any variety will do)
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup apple brandy (can substitute apple cider or water)
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon cloves
• 1 tablespoon bottled lemon juice (has to be bottled for safe canning)
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt

How to Make Apple Butter

Step One: Prep Apples

Prep your apples by peeling and quartering them. Peeling the apples by hand is the easiest way to do it. Even if you have a fancy apple peeler with a turning handle, it might take longer to set it up than to peel the apples by hand.

Step Two: Prep Jars

Warm up empty jars by washing them in the dishwasher or heating them in a 200°F oven. Put the rings and lids in simmering water. Then, fill the canner with water and place it on the stovetop. Depending on how fast your stove heats up, you can heat the canner now or later.

Step Three: Cook Apples

Place apples, water, and apple brandy in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to low, cover the saucepan, and simmer the apples for 20-30 minutes or until they are soft enough to be easily pierced with a fork.

Step Four: Blend And Add

Using an immersion blender, blend the apples until completely smooth. Then, add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, lemon juice, and salt. Don’t forget to stir until combined.

Step Five: Cook

Bring the apple butter to a simmer and cook, stirring frequently, for 15-30 minutes or until thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon. The apple butter will become darker as it cooks.

Step Six: Fill And Process

Fill hot jars with hot apple butter, leaving ¼-inch of headspace. Wipe the rims clean and place the lids on top. Screw the bands on, tightening the jars until fingertip tight. Process in the canner for 15 minutes, fully submerged.

Step Seven: Cool And Store

Let the jars rest on the counter for 24 hours until cool and sealed. The jar lid should not move when pressed. Store in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year.

Serving & Storing Apple Butter

This tastes amazing spread over toast, homemade biscuits, pancakes, waffles, or sandwich bread.

After the jars have cooled and sealed, store them in a cool, dark place. They will stay good for up to 1 year. Once you open a jar, keep it in the refrigerator and use it within one month.

Apple butter freezes very well if you don’t want to can it. Pour the finished product into freezer bags and freeze them flat for easy storage.

When you’re ready to eat, defrost them overnight in the fridge and pour them into a mason jar for easy serving!

More Apple Recipes

There are so many ways to enjoy apples. Here are just a few.

• You’ll love this easy and delicious caramel apple cobbler with my signature cookie topping.
• Apple spice cake with boiled caramel frosting is a great sheet cake to serve a crowd.
• Make this apple cinnamon quick bread for an easy breakfast throughout the week.

Pretty Printable

Here’s a pretty version for you to print for your recipe or canning binder.

Printable Recipe