The Best Apple Butter Recipe for Canning or the Freezer

Full of rich caramelized apple flavors and warm fall spices, our apple butter recipe is smooth, thick, and exceptionally delicious – ready to top your yogurt, toast, savory meals, and more. You can make it in a crockpot or on the stovetop so I've included instructions for both options. This apple butter recipe is pH-tested and is safe for canning. Or, you can simply freeze it instead. It's also lower in sugar and doesn't require peeling, milling, or straining. (A blender will help make it smooth. ) Apple skins add valuable nutrients, fiber, flavor, and natural pectin that helps thicken the apple butter after all. Don't miss the list of creative ways to use apple butter at the end of this post. Though we zhuzh-ed it up a bit, our recipe is roughly adapted from Ball’s Complete Book of Home Preserving so it's safe for canning. Making Apple Butter in a Crockpot vs Stovetop Making apple butter on the stovetop is much faster, usually taking about 2 to 3 hours total.