Old Fashioned Apple Butter - 100 Year Old Recipe - Slow Cooker Method - The Hillbilly Kitchen

sugar

🥗Healthier: honey

💰Cheaper: brown sugar

Honey adds sweetness with fewer calories.

cinnamon

🥗Healthier: cinnamon extract

💰Cheaper: mixed spice

Mixed spice can provide a similar flavor profile.

Welcome to the Hillbilly Kitchen, introducing the recipe for old-fashioned apple butter.

Harvest apples from the yard, noting the variety and condition of the apples.

Weigh the apples after cutting them up; aim for 8-10 pounds, using about 7.5 pounds in this case.

Decide whether to peel the apples or leave the peel on; both options are acceptable since they will cook for about eight hours.

Core the apples and cut them into reasonably small pieces, ensuring to remove any bad spots.

Add 2 teaspoons of salt to the apple mixture.

Add 1 teaspoon of cloves, 1.5 teaspoons of nutmeg, 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract, and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon to the pot.

Add 1 pound of brown sugar (about 2 cups) and 2 cups of granulated sugar, adjusting based on the sweetness of the apples used.

Add 1 cup of apple cider (or alternative liquid) to the mixture.

Stir the mixture to combine all ingredients evenly, ensuring spices are well distributed.

Cover the slow cooker and set it to cook for eight hours without stirring.

After eight hours, check the apples; they should be brown and soft.

Use an immersion blender to puree the mixture until smooth, or use a hand mixer or blender if preferred.

Taste the apple butter and adjust sweetness or spices as needed before removing from heat.

Transfer the apple butter to sterilized jars while still hot.

Seal jars and allow to cool completely at room temperature.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level: