Healthy Apple Butter

This healthy apple butter recipe is simple and plant based. It tastes like fall, makes a great gift, and doesn’t require any peeling or added sugars.

Earlier this month, the man of the place and Little Bear visited a farm down the road and came back with a jar of apple butter. I liked that it was made with local heirloom apples, but I didn’t like that it was made with lots of sugar. Because Little Bear enjoyed having it on a slice of sourdough bread, I decided to make healthy apple butter that I could feel good about giving him.

My mom recently reminded me that my second grade class made crockpot apple butter when we learned about pioneer and folk hero Johnny Appleseed. I vaguely remembered that, but I do recall my parents making it at home. It smelled like autumn as it cooked, making the house feel extra cozy.

For this healthy apple butter recipe, I used one of my unglazed clay pots, instead of a slow cooker. This non-toxic cookware retains heat well, while the nutrients are retained in the food. It still took a few hours, but I didn’t mind because our home was filled with the comforting fragrance of fall.

Little Bear doesn’t seem to mind the lack of sugar in this homemade apple butter. In fact, he seems to prefer it this way. He lights up with joy when he tastes it. And the man of the place said he likes that it tastes more like apples, compared to the sugary spread from the farm.

Besides being patient, which isn’t always easy, making this recipe is super simple. It’s sure to be a seasonal staple here on the mountain. I hope to make lots of sweet memories enjoying this refined sugar-free apple butter with my kids.

What is apple butter?

Apple Butter is a condiment, a country favorite, made from apples and spices that are slow cooked at a low temperature. It’s like a smoother, darker, more concentrated form of applesauce.

Does apple butter contain butter?

No, apple butter is totally plant-based. Just like almond butter doesn’t contain dairy, neither does apple butter.

What apples are best for apple butter?

You can use whatever you have on hand. I like using a mix of sweet apples such as fuji, honeycrisp, gala, and pink ladies, since there is no added sugar in this recipe.

How do you blend apple butter?

Because I use a pure clay pot, I transfer the apples to a glass bowl before using an immersion blender. If you’re using a traditional stockpot, you can use an immersion blender right in the pot. Alternatively, you can use a standard blender. If you don’t mind a little texture, you could also use a potato masher or fork. A food mill works, too.

Healthy Apple Butter Ingredients

•  8 apples, sliced
• 1/2 tablespoon ceylon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 cup purified water 
• pinch of salt (optional)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (optional)
• splash of raw apple cider vinegar after it has cooled (optional)

Homemade Apple Butter Recipe Variations

Vanilla (extract or bean) is completely optional, but I think it enhances and deepens the flavor of this homemade apple butter. You can also sprinkle in more warm spices, such as ground ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, and allspice.

You can use fresh apple juice, apple cider, or apple cider vinegar (or a combination of these) instead of water, depending on if your flavor preference. Personally, I like to add a splash of raw apple cider vinegar after the apple butter has cooled, as a nod to old-fashioned canned apple butter. This way, it adds a little tang and the enzymes and good bacteria in the ACV are preserved. You could also add lemon juice.

Can you make this apple butter sweeter?

Sure! When our apple tree bears tart green fruit next year, I look forward to stirring in a little local honey after the apple butter has cooled. I imagine that pure maple syrup or molasses would make a great vegan substitute.

Apple Butter Preparation

1. Add the sliced apples, 1/4 cup water, cinnamon, cloves, and salt to a large pot. Cover and cook on low heat until the apples are soft.
2. Blend to your desired consistency.
3. Add the vanilla extract (optional) and allow the apples to simmer with the lid off, stirring occasionally, until the sauce darkens and thickens to your liking.
4. Let it cool, add a splash of raw apple cider vinegar (optional), then store in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.

Do you have to peel the apples for apple butter?

No, and the apple butter will still be silky smooth, if you use a blender. Not only is it easier not to peel the apples, but also it’s healthier to leave them on because they are incredibly nutritious. Just be sure to use organic or homegrown, pesticide-free fruit, since apples are one of the “dirty dozen,” twelve crops that are likely to have pesticide residue.

How long does it take to make apple butter?

Traditionally, apple butter cooked for about half a day in a large copper kettle outdoors. This simple stovetop recipe could be ready in under two hours (about an hour for the apples to soften and then around thirty minutes for the sauce to thicken), but I prefer to simmer mine a little longer to let the natural sugars caramelize even more.

How long does apple butter last in the fridge?

It should last for a few weeks in the fridge. When in doubt, throw it out.

What do you put apple butter on?

We enjoy this healthy apple butter spread on sourdough bread, biscuits, English muffins, and pancakes. It’s also delicious stirred into a bowl of oatmeal or swirled into baked goods. When Wilder Baby starts eating solids in a few months, I may even serve it by the spoonful as baby food.

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More Blended Recipes We Enjoy on the Mountain:

Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Pasta Sauce

Homemade Pumpkin Spice Milk (Vegan)

Whole Lemon Lemonade

Tomato Basil Soup