Go Back
–+ servings

Homemade Healthy Apple Butter

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 40 servings
Calories: 34kcal
Author: Lauren
This Homemade Healthy Apple Butter will make your whole house smell like FALL! It's lower in sugar than traditional apple butter and easy to customize to your preference. No peeling required the Crock Pot does all the work!
Print Recipe

Equipment

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

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.

Notes

Helpful Tips for The Best Healthy Apply Butter
  1. 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!
  2. 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.
  3. 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. 
  4. 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!
  5. 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

Serving: 2Tbsp (30g) | Calories: 34kcal | Carbohydrates: 8.1g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.1g | Fiber: 0.8g | Sugar: 7g