Apple butter was a popular way of using apples in colonial America and continued well into the 19th century. The term 'butter' refers only to the thick, soft consistency, and apple butter's use as a spread for breads. Typically seasoned with cinnamon, cloves and other spices, apple butter is usually spread on bread, used as a side dish, an ingredient in baked goods, or as a condiment. The Pennsylvania Dutch often include apple butter as part of their traditional seven sweets and seven sours dinner table array. [1].
Slow Cook Apple Butter
Ingredients
8 large apples, peeled, cored and cut into large chunks (I love to use a combination of apples that include; Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, Fuji and Gala)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon honey
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Combine all ingredients into a 5-quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 10 hours, overnight is a perfect time and it's wonderful to wake up to that aroma wafting through your kitchen.
Stir as needed.
After about 10 hours, remove lid of the slow cooker and change temperature to HIGH. Cook uncovered an additional 1/2 to 2 hours until thickened and dark brown. Press mixture through a fine sieve, using the back of a spoon.
Spoon into steralized jars, cover, and chill up to a week. Will yield about 2 cups.
Serving Note: Apple is wonderful served on toast or english muffins, with chicken or pork, or on deli sandwiches. I love to have this with a fresh turkey sliced sandwich. Enjoy.
[1] Wikipedia
