Easy Stovetop Apple Butter

Apple picking season is in full swing during September and October, and one of my favorite things to make with a freshly picked bushel is homemade apple butter. When I say this recipe is irresistible, I'm not kidding! It's an incredibly easy process that results in the richest, sweetest apple butter, perfect for adding to oatmeal, spreading on breads, muffins, scones, and more. Trust me, a recipe as simple and delicious as this one is too good to pass up!

For more apple recipes, try Apple Frangipane Tart with Sweet Shortcrust Pastry, Apple Cider Bundt Cake, Spiced Apple Pie Cookies, and Salted Caramel Apple Pie.

Why you'll love this easy stovetop apple butter

• Deep, Rich Fall Flavors: Fresh apples, rich molasses, warm autumn spices, brown sugar... all the sweetest flavors combine here for a super comforting taste.
• Versatile Recipe: You can use this stovetop apple butter to elevate so many different foods, like muffins, breads, pancakes, yogurt, and more!
• Minimal Effort, High Reward: The majority of this recipe is spent letting the apple butter simmer on the stovetop for an hour, so it's the perfect "set it and forget it" recipe to make in batches!

Ingredient Notes

• Brown Sugar: You'll need 1 cup of high quality brown sugar.
• Apples: Freshly picked honeycrisp apples are the best to use, in my opinion!
• Apple Cider: Use a fresh, local apple cider for optimal flavor.
• Spices: Use a blend of high quality cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and ginger for the ultimate fall flavor.
• Molasses: Be sure to use unsulphured molasses! I highly recommend Grandma's Molasses.
• Vanilla: Add a high quality vanilla extract for optimal flavor.

See recipe card for full information on ingredients and individual quantities.

Step by Step Instructions

Here are step by step photos and instructions on how to make this easy stovetop apple butter recipe! For the full ingredient list and method, see the recipe card at the end of this post.

STEP 1: Prep. In a large heavy bottomed pot, add all ingredients except vanilla. You can either peel the apples or leave the peels on.

STEP 2: Simmer. Place over low-medium heat and cook for one hour, stirring occasionally until the juices are simmering and the apples are very soft.

STEP 3: Blend. Use an immersion blender (or transfer to a blender) to blend the apple mixture until it becomes a smooth puree. Continue cooking for an additional hour, stirring occasionally until thick and a deep shade of brown.

STEP 4: Add vanilla. Remove the pot from heat and stir in the tablespoon of vanilla. To get an extra smooth apple butter, pour it through a fine mesh sieve into a large bowl until it reaches your desired consistency.

STEP 5: Chill. Transfer the apple butter to glass jars and chill in the fridge. Enjoy with toast, biscuits, muffins, or by the spoonful!

Expert Baking Tips

• Use a large heavy bottomed pot or dutch oven for even, consistent cooking. 
• Pour the apple butter through a fine mesh sieve to get an extra smooth consistency! 

All of the recipes on this blog are carefully developed with gram measurements so you can easily recreate them in your own kitchen with success. Volume measurements are extremely inaccurate and leave room for significant errors. Not all measuring cups are made equally, so your one cup of flour will be different from my one cup of flour. By providing precise measurements in grams (aside from minor ingredients, which are given in tsp/tbsp), you can make these recipes accurately and with less cleanup! All you need is this kitchen scale. 

If this still isn't enough to convince you, I have provided volume measurements in the recipe card. If you are interested in understanding the conversions, this is the best conversion chart.

But trust me, once you try baking in grams you'll never turn back!

Happy baking! x