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Kettle Style Apple Butter

Hello Friends!
It’s finally here—Apple Butter Season! 🍂 While our young apple trees at ASW Homestead haven’t produced a harvest just yet, we’re hopeful for next season. In the meantime, I was excited to find a great deal on Paula Red apples at the grocery store—just $1 per pound! These apples become beautifully soft when cooked, making them ideal for applesauce and, of course, this rich and spiced kettle-style apple butter.

This recipe has been in our family for over 15 years, and it’s a true autumn favorite. It fills the house (or in our case, the back porch!) with the warm aromas of cinnamon and cloves. Whether you refrigerate it, freeze it, or can it for winter mornings, this apple butter brings cozy flavor to every bite.

You’ll find a printable recipe below. 😊

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Kettle Style Apple Butter

This Kettle Style Apple Butter is a rich, spiced spread made from soft-cooked apples and pantry staples. Slow-cooked in a crockpot, it delivers deep flavor reminiscent of traditional copper kettle methods—without the need for constant attention. It’s perfect for spreading on biscuits, pancakes, or giving as a homemade gift.
Course Preserves & Spreads
Cuisine American, Homestead
Keyword apple butter, crockpot apple butter, fall recipes, homemade apple butter, kettle style, pantry staple, preserve apples, slow cooker

Equipment

  • Spiral apple peeler or knife
  • Crockpot or slow cooker
  • Immersion blender
  • Mason jars (for storage or canning)

Ingredients

  • 10 lbs Paula Red apples, peeled and cored
  • 3 cups Granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp Ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp Ground cloves

Instructions

  • Prepare Apples: Peel and core the apples using a spiral peeler or knife. Place the apples into a crockpot, filling it completely.
  • Cook Overnight: Set the crockpot to LOW and cook the apples overnight for approximately 8 hours.
  • Add Spices: The next morning, stir in 3 cups of sugar, 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon of ground cloves.
  • Cook All Day: Continue cooking the mixture on LOW for an additional 8 hours, stirring occasionally.
  • Blend Until Smooth: Once the apple butter is cooked down and fragrant, use an immersion blender to blend the mixture until smooth and creamy.
  • Cool and Store: Let the apple butter cool slightly. Store in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, freeze for longer storage, or proceed with canning.

Notes

  • Apple Variety Tip: Paula Red apples break down beautifully, but you can use any soft, sweet apple variety you prefer.
  • Batch Size: This is a flexible method—fill your slow cooker with prepared apples and adjust sugar and spices based on taste and volume.
  • Canning Option: If you’d like to preserve the apple butter long-term, follow a water bath canning method. Add hot apple butter to hot sterilized jars, leaving ¼-inch headspace. Process in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes (adjust for altitude).
  • Flavor Tip: Apple butter flavor deepens over a few days. For gifting, let it rest a couple of days before sharing!

Creative Ways to Use Apple Butter

Once your apple butter is ready, there are so many delicious ways to enjoy it:

  • Spread it on fresh biscuits or homemade pancakes

  • Stir it into a bowl of warm oatmeal

  • Add a spoonful to your yogurt parfait

  • Use it as a glaze for roast pork or chicken

  • Swirl it into muffin batter for a fall twist

You can even gift a jar to a neighbor or friend—it’s a thoughtful homemade treat that always gets rave reviews!

Final Thoughts from the Homestead

We hope this kettle-style apple butter becomes a seasonal favorite in your kitchen too. Whether you’re using apples from your own orchard or taking advantage of autumn grocery sales, this recipe is a simple, nostalgic way to savor the season.

Do you have a favorite fall fruit preserve or apple recipe? Let us know in the comments or tag us if you make this recipe at home—we love seeing what you’re cooking up!

And don’t forget to check out our other apple recipes like Homemade Applesauce and Apple Crisp for more ways to make the most of apple season 🍎

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hello friends! i'm amanda

I’m here to share recipes and ideas to help others make their home a simple homemade homestead.

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