Homemade Apple Butter

I found this recipe online a few years ago, it is fantastic!!! I use my water bath canner to seal jars of this to give as Christmas gifts.

This will make about 11 (1/2 pint) jars of Apple Butter, so adjust the ingredients according to your needs.

If I'm doing this on the stovetop, I like to start first thing in the morning, because it will take ALL day to cook.

9 qts Homemade-Applesauce (or store bought if you must, lol)

2 Tbsp Cinnamon

1 tsp Cloves

1/2 tsp Allspice

2 cups Sugar

STOVETOP:

Fill a LARGE pot with applesauce and spices. If your pot is not large enough, fill it 3/4 full and add remaining sauce as it cooks down and allows room. Bring to a boil, (cover pot loosely, or use a splatter guard - this stuff WILL splatter as it thickens), reduce heat and simmer until thickened. Stir occassionally. Start early in the morning and let it cook all day long. It will cook way down, you want this thick. It will thicken slightly when it cools, however if you don't cook it down long enough, it will be too runny.

CROCKPOT:

Fill Crockpot with applesauce and add spices. If your Crock is not large enough to hold it all, fill it 3/4 of the way and add the rest as it cooks down. Turn it on high, (cover pot loosely, or us a splatter guard - this stuff WILL splatter as it thickens). When it begins to bubble, turn it to low setting. A tip to help with clean up is to cover the surrounding counter or table with towels, that way you can toss them in the wash when you are done and your table won't be super sticky! Let this cook for 2-3 days!!! Yup, that's right - stir occassionally, and check for consistency. Every Crockpot cooks at a different temp, so your Apple Butter may take less or more time.

TO WATER BATH CAN:

Boil jars, simmer lids - keep both hot. Fill ars to 1/4 inch from top, wipe rims, add lids and rings, seal to only just finger tight. Place in boiling water canner and be sure water is covering jars by 1-inch. When water begins to re-boil, start timer. 5 mins for 1/2 pint and pint jars; 10 mins for quart jars.Carefully remove jars from bath using tongs, place on folded towels and let sit overnight to cool.

DON'T tighten, loosen, wipe off water, move or touch the jars, leave them alone! You will hear a "pop" when they seal. In the morning, check seals and store them. Yum!!!

Pop open a jar of Applesauce and make some butter!