Skip To Main ContentMasterClass logo
|Articles
At Work
Log In
Sign Up
Food

Simple Homemade Apple Butter Recipe

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Jul 27, 2022 • 2 min read

If it’s apple season and you’ve found yourself with a few more pounds of apples than you know what to do with, it’s time to make apple butter.

Learn From the Best

Sign Up

What Is Apple Butter?

Apple butter is a concentrated apple spread made by cooking apples, passing them through a food mill to make applesauce, and reducing the applesauce to a thick, spreadable consistency. In the fall when fresh apples are abundant, apple butter is a great way to use them since several pounds of apples transform into just a few cups of apple butter.

5 Ways to Use Apple Butter

If you’re not sure how to use up that jar of apple butter, try it:

  1. 1. Swirled in pancakes: Make apple butter pancakes by squeezing an apple butter spiral onto the batter after you’ve poured it on the skillet.
  2. 2. In donuts: Try filling cinnamon-sugar donuts with apple butter instead of jam or cream.
  3. 3. With ice cream: If you like your apple pie with vanilla ice cream, a spoonful of apple butter swirled into vanilla ice cream will produce the same flavor combination.
  4. 4. With pork chops: Applesauce is a classic accompaniment to pork chops, so apple butter is a natural substitute. Or, try an apple butter glaze on a pork tenderloin.
  5. 5. On biscuits: There’s nothing like homemade apple butter on top of a homemade biscuit.

Homemade Apple Butter Recipe

email recipe
4 Ratings | Rate Now

makes

2 cups

prep time

15 min

total time

2 hr 45 min

cook time

2 hr 30 min

Ingredients

  1. 1

    In a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan or other wide, shallow pan over high heat, combine apples, sugar, and vinegar with enough water to just cover.

  2. 2

    Wrap the spices in a piece of cheesecloth and add to the apple mixture. Bring to a boil and immediately reduce to a lively simmer. Simmer until the apples are very soft, about 30 minutes.

  3. 3

    Remove spice sachet and pass apples through a food mill into a bowl. If you don’t have a food mill, you can puree the apples using an immersion blender or food processor.

  4. 4

    Return fruit pulp to the saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching, until the mixture has reduced significantly and is very thick and glossy, about 2 hours.

  5. 5

    To test doneness, remove a spoonful of apple butter and let rest at room temperature, away from the steam, for 2 minutes. If the butter remains mounded on the spoon, it’s ready. Alternatively, spoon a little apple butter onto a chilled plate. If liquid runs off the apple butter, it needs more time.

  6. 6

    When apple butter has reached the desired consistency, season with a pinch of salt. Spoon into jars and let cool to room temperature. Apple butter will keep, refrigerated, about 3 weeks.

Become a better chef with the MasterClass Annual Membership. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by culinary masters, including Gabriela Cámara, Chef Thomas Keller, Massimo Bottura, Dominique Ansel, Gordon Ramsay, Alice Waters, and more.