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How to Make Homemade Apple Butter - Easily!
Now, it's easy! Here's how to do it, complete instructions in easy steps and completely illustrated. The apple butter will taste MUCH better than anything you've ever had from a store. You can make with sugar, with no sugar and no sweetener, or with another sweetener (all described below) Prepared this way, the jars have a shelf life of 18 months to 2 years, and require no special attention. A side benefit is that your house will smell wonderful while it is cooking - much better than potpourri! Directions for Making Apple ButterYields about 9 - 10 pints Ingredients and Equipment
Apple Butter Recipe and DirectionsStep 1 - Make unsweetened applesauce!
Step 2 - Fill the crock pot
Step 3 -Add the spicesAdd:
In place of sugar, you can use an equivalent amount of Splenda (sucralose) OR 1 twelve ounce can of frozen concentrated fruit juice (preferably a neutral juice, like grape or apple) Step 4 - Cook the Apple butter
Cover it loosely or use a large pot splatter-guard. It will spatter as it boils slowly, so I also cover nearby surfaces with towels. You don't want to seal it tightly because you want the steam to escape so it can reduce in volume and thicken. Leave it to cook for 6 - 12 hours. How long depends on the size and power of your crockpot, and how thick you like it, If you want to stir it occasionally, that's fine but not necessary. I let mine go overnight. It will reduce in volume by about half overnight. As it cooks down (the next morning), add the remaining applesauce (about 2 or 3 quarts) and 2 more cups of sugar. Then let it cook a couple of hours more to mix the flavors.
Step 5 - Wash the jars and lids
Leave the jars in the dishwasher on "heated dry" until you are ready to use them. Keeping them hot will prevent the jars from breaking when you fill them with the hot apple butter. Put the lids into a pan of hot, but not quite boiling water (that's what the manufacturer's recommend) for 5 minutes, and use the magnetic "lid lifter wand" to pull them out. Step 6 - Blend the apple butter (optional)
Tips:
Step 7 - Fill and seal the jarsFill them to within 1/4 inch of the top, wipe any spilled apple butter of the top, seat the lid and tighten the ring around them. Step 8 – Process the jarsProcess means put them in the canner and keep them covered with at least 1 inch of water and boiling. if you are at sea level (up to 1,000 ft) boil pint jars for 5 minutes and quart jars for 10 min. If you are at an altitude of 1,000 feet or more, see the chart below.
Step 9 - Done
Other Equipment:From left to right:
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