Skip to main content

Apple Butter

Ingredients

4 pounds apples
2 cups apple cider or juice
Sugar (white, brown, or a combination)
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon allspice

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat the oven to 325°F. Chop the apples into eighths (no need to peel or core them) and put them in a pot with the cider. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes, or until the apples are really soft.

    Step 2

    Strain through a sieve into a bowl, pressing on and then discarding the solids. Add 1/2 cup sugar per 1 cup of apple glop. Stir in the cinnamon, cloves, and allspice.

    Step 3

    Put the mixture into baking pans and bake until done. You can stir it occasionally, but if you forget it will still be fine. How many pans you use isn’t important. The more apple in each pan, the longer it will take is all. When is it done? When it’s the texture you like. We usually take a couple hours. And if you overcook it, as long as it isn’t burned, just add some boiling water to get to the consistency you like. This is a very forgiving recipe. Then you can either can it properly (see a general cookbook) or put it in containers and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 1 month. (Or share it with people you like.) We like it not only on our morning toast, but on our morning oatmeal as well. And it’s a delightful addition to a plain bread pudding.

How to Repair Food, Third Edition
Read More
Invert the ratio of gin to vermouth for a party-friendly and slightly lighter drinking experience.
No grill needed for this just-charred-enough sweet and spicy chicken.
Like tiny tomato galettes and chimichurri grilled shrimp.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Filberts, goobers, scaly bark nuts: Explore the world beyond almonds in this guide.
Loosely inspired by pasta Amatriciana, a few pounds of zucchini stand in for tomatoes.
Like swordfish steaks with tomatoes and Peruvian-style tofu.
Use this simple vinaigrette to dress a plate of greens, some steamed potatoes, or anything else that strikes your fancy.