This Crockpot apple butter recipe comes together with just six ingredients and can be used atop bagels, yogurt, oatmeal, and more! 

An overhead view of a jar of apple butter. A spoon with more apple butter and cinnamon sticks rest nearby.

Now that fall is in full swing it’s time to crank out some delicious fall recipes. One thing that screams fall to me, aside from pumpkin everything, is apples. We love apples in our house and eat them year round!

I’ve been using my Crockpot like crazy lately and I’m quickly beginning to realize how much I’ve missed using it. I’ll find any excuse to break out the Crockpot and throw something in it, so Crockpot apple butter was a no brainer. 

Now I just need to figure out how two people are going to consume 5 cups of apple butter. Who am I kidding… we will find a way!

The ingredients needed to make apple butter in various bowls and measuring cups on a gray surface.

Recipe Ingredients 

This slow cooker apple butter calls for six basic ingredients, one of the many reasons I love this recipe! 

  • Apples: It’s best to use a combination of different apples for this recipe. Some great options are granny smith, gala, honey crisp, and fuji apples.
  • Sugar: I’ve come to realize that a lot of apple butter recipes call for insane amounts of sugar. In my opinion apples are already sweet enough, so 4 plus cups of sugar seemed to be a little bit too much. There is only 1 and 1/2 cups of sugar in this recipe (a combination of granulated and brown sugar), but I can assure you that it was more than enough to sweeten this apple butter.
  • Cinnamon and nutmeg: Makes this apple butter taste even more like fall! 
  • Salt: Just a pinch of salt enhances the apple flavor and balances out the sweetness. 

How to Make Apple Butter in a Crockpot

The only work you really have to do with making this apple butter is to peel, core, and slice the apples. Once you’ve done that you toss the apples with the sugar and spices and then let it cook in the crockpot.

Once you let the apple butter cook for about 10 hours (yes, 10 hours!) you’ll mash up any chunks of apples and then let it go for another 2 hours. Once those 2 hours are up, you’ll use an immersion blender to blend it until smooth. 

I put my apple butter back into the Crockpot for another 45 minutes to 1 hour with the lid slightly ajar to let it thicken up a little more, but this step is completely optional. Once it was finished, I ended up with about 5 cups of apple butter.

A crockpot filled with homemade apple butter.

What Are the Best Apples To Use? 

I’ve used several different kinds of apples in this recipe, some great options are Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, and Granny Smith apples.

You can feel free to use whatever combination of apples you prefer for this recipe, just try to go more for apples that tend to be a little sweeter.

A jar filled with apple butter. A spoon with apple butter and cinnamon sticks are around the jar.

Crockpot Apple Butter Uses 

This Crockpot apple butter is great spread on some toast, English muffins, muffins, or eaten with a spoon. You can also spoon it atop yogurt, overnight oats, oatmeal, and more! 

Baking Tips

  • The five pounds of apples is measured before peeling, coring, and slicing.
  • Apple butter will keep for about two weeks in the fridge and can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
  • For a sweeter apple butter, feel free to add 1/4 to 1/2 cup more brown sugar.

More Apple Recipes to Try! 

A jar filled with apple butter. A spoon with apple butter and cinnamon sticks are around the jar.

Crockpot Apple Butter

4.80 from 5 ratings
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 12 hours
Total Time: 12 hours 30 minutes
This Crockpot apple butter recipes comes together with just six ingredients and can be used atop bagels, yogurt, oatmeal, and more! 

Ingredients

Servings: 5 cups
  • 5 pounds apples , peeled, cored, and sliced
  • 1 cup (200 grams) light brown sugar , lightly packed
  • 1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions
 

  • Prepare crockpot by spraying well with cooking spray or use a crockpot liner.
  • Peel, core, and slice all of the apples and place them in the crockpot.
  • In a separate bowl, combine the sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Pour the mixture over the apples and stir well, making sure to coat all of the apples.
  • Set the crockpot on low for 10 hours. After the 10 hours, mash any chunks of apple that remain. Allow to cook for an additional 2 hours.
  • Remove the lid and use an immersion blender to blend the apple butter until it's smooth. If you prefer, you can let the apple butter cook a little longer with the lid slightly ajar to let it thicken up some more.
  • Once the apple butter is finished, transfer to containers and allow to cool completely, then refrigerate.

Notes

Apples: The five pounds of apples is measured before peeling, coring, and slicing. I prefer to use a mix of apples in this recipe, some great options are Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, and Granny Smith apples.
Storage instructions: Apple butter will keep for about two weeks in the fridge.
Freezing Instructions: Apple butter will freeze well for up to 3 months, thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert
Author: Danielle
Did you make this recipe?Mention @livewellbakeoften on Instagram or tag #livewellbakeoften.

Adapted from Brown Eyed Baker