https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/best-serving-piping-hot-apple-butter • Posted by silveredging
This recipe makes a lot, but it also makes a great item to share at pot-lucks and with family and friends. It never fails to fly out of the kitchen when I make it. The secret to this recipe is in the apples, if you can get orchard apples just after the first frost their tangy sweetness will punch up the flavor. You’ll know they were out in the frost if their skins are slightly wrinkled. However, apples from the grocery store are nearly as heavenly. I would recommend yellow apples for a sweet butter, small green ones for tarty-sweetness, and red ones if you want the seasonings to really stand out. Combined with the orange zest, the scent of this cooking will be sure to draw your family into the kitchen.
This recipe makes a lot, but it also makes a great item to share at pot-lucks and with family and friends. It never fails to fly out of the kitchen when I make it. The secret to this recipe is in the apples, if you can get orchard apples just after the first frost their tangy sweetness will punch up the flavor. You’ll know they were out in the frost if their skins are slightly wrinkled. However, apples from the grocery store are nearly as heavenly. I would recommend yellow apples for a sweet butter, small green ones for tarty-sweetness, and red ones if you want the seasonings to really stand out. Combined with the orange zest, the scent of this cooking will be sure to draw your family into the kitchen.
Ingredients 3 lb. Apples, see above for guides of apple taste 3 cups of sugar, I usually use white sugar but brown sugar works especially well with green apples 1 Orange zested 3 tsp. Cinnamon 1 tsp. Nutmeg ½ tsp. Allspice 10-15 whole cloves, or a ½ tsp. of powdered cloves. I recommend the whole cloves, but make sure to fish them out when you are done or you may get a surprising bite! Dash of salt, this seems like an odd addition, I know, but salt is needed to bring out sweetness. Think about it, salt is in real butter, cookies, cakes, and just about anything else you can think of. ¾ cup of water.
Wash, peel, core, and dice your apples. I recommend sitting on the couch and watching your favorite TV show while doing this, it isn’t the fastest process. I had my little brother help me, so he grated the apples for me, which actually lent a better consistency if you want to use your apple butter as an ice cream topping.
Fill your crock pot with the product of your television labors (the apples). You can zest your orange straight into the pot at this point.
Stir together the remaining ingredients and shake over the apples.
Stir. Cover and cook on low overnight. If the apple butter seems too watery in the morning, stir it and allow to simmer for an additional hour uncovered.
This picture is with the Apple Butter on bread and the Market-Fresh Vegetable Soup that will be my next post.