This Homemade Healthy Apple Butter will make your whole house smell like FALL! It’s low sugar, low calorie and super easy to make – the Crock Pot does all the hard work!! There are so many delicious uses for it and it even makes for a great hostess gift at Thanksgiving!
This was my first fall making homemade apple butter and I can guarantee you guys, it most definitely won’t be the last!!
There are so many reasons to swoon over this homemade apple butter recipe. Besides the fact that it is one of the most FUN things you could make this fall season. It also MAKES everything you are eating that much more delicious!
And there are so many uses for it. Like, way more than your typical apple butter and biscuits combo. Which don’t get me wrong, we definitely love a classic!!
But you’d be surprised at how many things you’ll find yourself putting this tasty apple butter on. Of course it’s amazing with sweeter dishes but it actually balances savory dishes amazingly, too. It pairs great with chicken, turkey and pork and I am 100% obsessed with turkey, cheddar and apple butter sandwiches now.
It also does not have any added sugar. The only sugars from this recipe come from the apples themselves! In fact, apples are pretty much the main ingredient here, so you’re basically just eating fruit here!
It’s delicious. But besides how good and fun and versatile this apple butter is, the best part is still how crazy easy it is to make. Seriously the slow cooker does all the work! Keep reading for the instructions for how to make this recipe in an Instant Pot.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS HEALTHY APPLE BUTTER RECIPE
- It will make your entire house smell like FALL!
- A healthier way to enjoy a classic, fall apple season staple!
- It has no added sugars – the only sugars from come from the natural sugars of the apples!
- Tastes JUST like apple butter without all the extra sugars!!
- As stated, this recipe is low in sugar, so it’s a great option for anyone with diabetes, insulin-resistance or PCOS.
- Only 20 calories and 5 grams of carbs per 2 tablespoons.
- No peeling required + cooked by slow cooker, making it one of the easiest recipes!
- Perfect way to utilize all the extra apples you got from the apple orchard!
- Goes great on toast, biscuits, sandwiches, muffins, even chicken, pork and so much more!!
INGREDIENTS
- Apples – you’ll need a lot for this recipe, three pounds of apples to be exact! I used Honey Crisp Apples but Mcintosh, Red Delicious, Gold Delicious, and Gala apples would also be a good choice. Granny Smith apples are typically not recommend for apple butter because they are more tart. You can even use a variety of apples if you wanted.
- Brown sugar – I use Swerve or Truvia usually. Feel free to use your favorite brown sugar variation. Golden monk fruit sweetener or traditional brown sugar would all work great for this recipe.
- Sweetener – Again, I usually use Swerve or Truvia. Monk fruit sweetener, erythritol, stevia, or normal white sugar would also work here.
- Vanilla extract – to add more depth of flavor to our butter!
- Cinnamon – just a small 1.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon to bring a warm spice feel to the butter! Add more or less to your preference.
- Nutmeg
- Allspice
- Salt – the salt helps to bring out and balance the sweetness of the apples. Never forget the salt!
I decided to make my own warm spices blend but feel free to use apple pie spice for this recipe too!
HOW TO MAKE CROCKPOT APPLE BUTTER
- Cut the apples into small pieces and discard the cores (about 3/4 – to 1-inch, I used the large setting on my vegetable chopper for this). You do not need to peel the apples.
- Add the apples to the slow cooker. Add the brown sugar, sweetener, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt; stir/toss so everything is dispersed evenly.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 5 hours or LOW for 8-10 hours.
- After the apples have cooked, use an immersion blender to puree the apples. (If you don’t have an immersion blender you could also use a blender. Place the apples and any liquid that the apples made into a blender. Cover with a lid and pulse for about a minute, until very smooth).
- Store apple butter in an airtight container in the fridge.
HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT APPLE BUTTER
- Cut the apples into small pieces and discard the cores (about 3/4 – to 1-inch, I used the large setting on my vegetable chopper for this). You do not need to peel the apples.
- Add the apples to a large 6 qt instant pot. Add the brown sugar, sweetener, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt; stir/toss so everything is dispersed evenly.
- Turn Instant Pot to “Manual” and pressure cook on high pressure for 90 minutes. Allow pressure cooker to natural release for 10 minutes before releasing any remaining pressure.
- Now, use an immersion blender to puree the apples. (If you don’t have an immersion blender you could also use a regular blender. Place the apples and any liquid that the apples made into a blender. Cover with a lid and pulse for about a minute, until very smooth).
- Store apple butter in an airtight container in the fridge.
WHAT TO EAT WITH HEALTHY APPLE BUTTER
- Bread: Biscuits or toast are the classic option that you absolutely cannot go wrong with! Also, english muffins!
- Muffins: Apple butter and muffins were made for each other, truly. Try my Blueberry Muffins with some cream cheese and this homemade apple butter and thank me later.
- Banana and other baked breads: Spread this apple butter on some Banana Bread, Healthy Zucchini Bread or even better – Pumpkin Coffee Cake!
- Sandwiches: Would be delicious on a turkey + cheddar sandwich. Or make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and sub the jelly for apple butter!
- Yogurt: I love making yogurt parfaits with granola, diced apples and a spoonful of apple butter!
- Oatmeal: Absolutely delicious on some hot oats! Try it with my Apple Pie Cauliflower Oats!
- Pancakes and waffles: A sweet addition to your morning pancake stack or waffles.
- Apple desserts: Nothing like a little more delicious apple butter on your favorite apple desserts! One of my favorite fall desserts is this Apple Puff Pastry Recipe with some vanilla ice cream and a spoonful of apple butter on top!
SLOW COOKER APPLE BUTTER TIPS & TRICKS
- No need to remove the apple peels! Trust me, you don’t taste them! We end up pureeing the mixture anyway. Plus, think of all the nutrients the skin contains!
- The sweetness of your apples will depend on how much sugar you will need to add. With sweet apples you will need less. With tart apples, you will need more. Adjust according to your apples and preferences.
- If apple butter needs to be sweeter: Stir in some extra brown sugar or sweetener. Liquid stevia would also be a great option for this recipe since it dissolves better than the granulated sweeteners. Or try maple syrup!
- If apple butter is too sweet: Mix in a few squeezes of fresh lemon juice or a little lemon zest to help balance the sweetness.
HOMEMADE APPLE BUTTER FAQ’S
The main difference is that apple butter is thicker than applesauce and has more of a buttery, spreadable consistency. It’s also a lot darker than applesauce, mostly due to the addition of the brown sugar, vanilla, and all the spices.
Stored in an air tight container, this apple butter will It will keep in your refrigerator for up to 3 months, or in the freezer for up to one year.
I haven’t tried canning this recipe, but you definitely can. Just make sure to take all the necessary steps for canning. This post by Sustainable Cooks is a great resource for that!
FREE RECIPES THAT WORK GREAT WTH HOMEMADE APPLE BUTTER
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Homemade Healthy Apple Butter
This Homemade Healthy Apple Butter will make your whole house smell like FALL! It's low sugar, low calorie and super easy to make - the Crock Pot does all the hard work!! There are so many delicious uses for it and it even makes for a great hostess gift at Thanksgiving!
Ingredients
- 3 lb. apples – I used Honey Crisp
- 1/2 cup brown sugar alternative (92g) – I used Swerve
- 1/4 cup sweetener (48g) – I used Swerve
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1.5 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1/8 tsp salt
Instructions
- Cut the apples into small pieces and discard the cores (about 3/4- to 1-inch, I used the large setting on my vegetable chopper for this). You do not need to peel the apples.
- Add the apples to the slow cooker. Add the brown sugar, sweetener, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt; stir/toss so everything is dispersed evenly.
- Cover and cook on HIGH for 5 hours or LOW for 8-10 hours.
- After the apples have cooked, use an immersion blender to puree the apples. (If you don’t have an immersion blender you could also use a blender. Place the apples and any liquid that the apples made into a blender. Cover with a lid and pulse for about a minute, until very smooth).
- Store apple butter in an airtight container in the fridge.
Notes
MFP entry: LFF Homemade Apple Butter
HOW TO MAKE INSTANT POT APPLE BUTTER
- Follow instructions 1-2 above, just place everything in an Instant Pot instead.
- Turn Instant Pot to “Manual” and pressure cook on high pressure for 90 minutes. Allow pressure cooker to natural release for 10 minutes before releasing any remaining pressure.
- Continue with step 4-5 as laid out in the directions above.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
40Serving Size:
2 Tbsp (30g)Amount Per Serving: Calories: 20Total Fat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0gCarbohydrates: 4.7gFiber: 0.8gSugar: 3.5gProtein: 0.1g
