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Previous falls have found me on apple picking excursions where I seem to overzealously use my fruit picker, resulting in a bounty of apples that one couple alone can hardly consume. In these times of extreme harvests, I need to justify this apple excess. I'm always on the lookout for good ways to use pounds of apples: pies, crisps, applesauce, and most recently, apple butter.
Four pounds of mixed apples are cooked until softened, then puréed in a blender until very smooth. Then it's back to the pot where they slowly simmer for hours with sugar and spices until the mixture becomes a deep brown, very thick, and fits nicely into one mason jar.
Now I haven't gone apple picking yet this season but as I sat on the porch on one of the first crisp, clear fall days, eating this sweet and appropriately spiced spread on a crusty baguette, I felt the desire to get out to the orchard and haul back boxes of apples to fill my kitchen.
Recipe Facts
Ingredients
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4 pounds mixed good cooking apples (such as Fuji, Granny Smith, or Courtland), peeled, cored, and cut into large chunks
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1 cup apple cider
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2 cups white sugar
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2 tablespoons lemon juice
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1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
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1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
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1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
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1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
Directions
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Place apple and apple cider in a large heavy pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cover and cook until apples are completely tender, about 20 to 30 minutes.
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Place half of the apples in the jar of a blender and purée until completely smooth. Pour into a medium bowl and repeat with remaining apples.
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Pour puréed apples back into large pot and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Stir in sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice. Continue to simmer, uncovered, until sauce turns a deep brown and thickens, about 1 to 2 hours, stirring regularly to prevent burning.
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Let apple butter cool to room temperature, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.
Special Equipment
Blender
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
---|---|
98 | Calories |
0g | Fat |
25g | Carbs |
0g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings: 24 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 98 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 0g | 0% |
Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
Sodium 1mg | 0% |
Total Carbohydrate 25g | 9% |
Dietary Fiber 1g | 5% |
Total Sugars 23g | |
Protein 0g | |
Vitamin C 7mg | 33% |
Calcium 6mg | 0% |
Iron 0mg | 1% |
Potassium 70mg | 1% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |