Stovetop Apple Butter

This stovetop apple butter is a beautiful way to celebrate apple season—rich, thick, and deeply flavorful. Simmered with warm spices, apple cider, and a splash of citrus, it transforms humble apples into a silky-smooth spread that’s perfect on toast, biscuits, pancakes, or straight from the spoon.

Unlike some versions that turn out chunky or uneven, this method delivers a velvety texture with no lumps—just pure apple bliss.

📝 Ingredients

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Simmer the apples
   In a large pot or Dutch oven, combine chopped apples, water, apple cider, and lemon juice. Stir to mix.
   Simmer over medium heat for about 45 minutes, stirring often, until apples are very soft.
2. Purée until smooth
   Use an immersion blender to purée the mixture directly in the pot until silky smooth.
   Alternatively, transfer in batches to a food processor and blend, then return to the pot.
3. Add flavor and sweetness
   Stir in brown sugar, granulated sugar, apple pie spice, and salt. Mix well to combine.
4. Cook low and slow
   Reduce heat to low and cook for another 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens and turns a deep amber brown.
   To test doneness: dip a spoon into the apple butter and draw a line through it—if the line holds and doesn’t fill back in, it’s ready.
5. Cool and store
   Serve warm or let cool completely. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 1–2 weeks.

🍂 Tips & Serving Ideas

• Use a mix of sweet and tart apples (like Fuji and Granny Smith) for balanced flavor.
• Spread on toast, swirl into oatmeal, or spoon over vanilla ice cream.
• Freeze in small containers for up to 3 months—perfect for gifting or enjoying later.