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About This Recipe
This homemade healthy apple butter (lower sugar recipe) couldn’t be easier or more delicious! No peeling required, you just dump everything in the crockpot and let it work its magic!
I love using the crockpot to make this apple butter because the slow cooker cooks the apples slowly, allowing them to release more of their natural sugars which results in more caramelization (aka more sweetness and flavor).
Making your own apple butter is great because you can adjust the sweetness to your preference. I love that this recipe is lower in sugar than many traditional apple butter recipes, but still with just the right amount of sweetness!
It’s also easy to use a sugar substitute to make this recipe even lower in sugar and calories. I’ve tried both ways and both are delicious!
If you’re looking for more delicious recipes to use your apples, try my healthy apple pecan crisp, apple puff pastry or apple blondies with cinnamon glaze!
Why You’ll Love This Healthy Apple Butter
- It will make your entire house smell like FALL!
- Perfect way to use up all those apples you picked from the apple orchard.
- No peeling required!
- Lower in sugar than most traditional apple butter recipes
- Easily made in the Crockpot!
- 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 – dark or light brown sugar work. Dark will bring about a slightly deeper flavor and color (and what I would recommend!) We’re using less brown sugar than usually called for which makes this healthy apple butter lower sugar when compared to traditional recipes. Use a brown sugar substitute to make this apple butter even lower in sugar.
- Sugar – again, using less than traditional. Use a sugar substitute to make this healthy apple butter lower sugar.
- Vanilla extract – to add more depth of flavor to our butter!
- Spices – cinnamon, nutmeg and 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 In The Crockpot
The full printable recipe is below, but let me walk you through the process so you know what to expect when you’re making it!
1. 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, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt.
2. Stir/toss so everything is dispersed evenly.
3. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours (recommended!) or high for 3-4 hours.
4. After the apples have cooked, use an immersion blender to puree the apples.
5. 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.
6. Store apple butter in an airtight container in the fridge.
How To Make In The Instant Pot
- 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.
- Biscuits: The classic choice! Try with my Greek Yogurt Biscuits.
- Toast: Can never go wrong with toast. Or 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.
- 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!
- Pancakes and waffles: A sweet addition to your morning pancake stack or waffles.
- Apple desserts: Nothing like a little spoonful of apple butter on an apple dessert to make it more delicious! Try some on this Healthy Pecan Apple Crisp or this Apple Puff Pastry Recipe with some vanilla ice cream of course!
For The Best Apple Butter
- 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.
- Cook on low. While you definitely can still cook on high, slow and low is best for this recipe. Cooking the apples on low gives the apples more time to release their natural sugars, allowing for more caramelization, sweetness and flavor. You lose some of that by cooking on high; cooking on high also releases more liquid and will make the apple butter more runny.
- 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.
What is the difference between apple butter and applesauce?
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.
How to make apple butter lower sugar?
Making your own homemade apple butter is great because it allows you to customize the sugar content! With this recipe, we’re using a lot less than most recipes. But you also sub the sugar and brown sugar for sugar substitutes, like Truvia, to make even lower sugar. The only sugars then will be coming from the apples and their natural sugars.
Can you can this homemade healthy butter recipe?
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!
How long does homemade healthy apple butter last?
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.
Delicious Recipes To Enjoy With Healthy Apple Butter
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure leave a review, tag me on Instagram or TikTok at @LaurenFitFoodie or hashtag #LaurenFitFoodie so I can see your creations!
Homemade Healthy Apple Butter
Ingredients
- 3 lb. sweet apples I used Honey Crisp
- 1/2 cup dark or light brown sugar (92g) or substitute*
- 1/4 cup sugar (48g) or substitute*
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp liquid stevia, optional or more sugar/sweetener of choice to taste
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes. Scroll for macros and MyFitnessPal code.
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, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt; stir/toss so everything is evenly dispersed.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours (recommended-see tip 3) or high for 3-4 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.
Equipment
- Vegetable chopper optional
- Immersion blender or blender
Notes
- 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.
- Cook on low. While you definitely can still cook on high, slow and low is best for this recipe. Cooking the apples on low gives the apples more time to release their natural sugars, allowing for more caramelization, sweetness and flavor. You lose some of that by cooking on high; cooking on high also releases more liquid and will make the apple butter more runny.
- 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.
*If using a sugar substitute, macros for same serving size is:
20 calories 4.7C | 0.1F | 0.1P
(Log in MFP as LFF Homemade Apple Butter Low Sugar)
Nutrition Information
Nutrition is hand-calculated and accurate. No autocalulations! However, note that values can vary based on the brands you use and if you substitute ingredients.
