Crockpot Apple Butter

Ingredients

• 6 pounds of best apples for cooking (like Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Granny Smith, peeled, cored, and chopped into small pieces)
• 1 cup of granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
• 1/2 cup of brown sugar (light or dark)
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1 cup of apple cider or juice
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice (optional)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Apples: Begin by peeling, coring, and chopping the apples into small pieces.
2. Combine Ingredients: In your slow cooker, add the chopped apples along with the sugar, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and apple cider. If using lemon juice, add that too.
3. Mix Well: Stir the ingredients in the slow cooker to ensure everything is evenly distributed.
4. Cook the Mixture: Cover the slow cooker and set it to low heat for 10-12 hours or high for 6-8 hours.
5. Check Consistency: After cooking, use an immersion blender to puree the mixture until smooth.
6. Finalize Cooking: Once blended, return the apple butter to the slow cooker and cook uncovered for an additional 1-2 hours.
7. Test and Adjust: Taste the apple butter and adjust sweetness or spices as desired.
8. Jar the Apple Butter: Transfer apple butter into sterilized jars while still hot.