Washington State Apple Butter

Capture the essence of fall with this irresistibly rich and velvety Washington State Apple Butter, a slow-cooked spread bursting with the natural sweetness of locally sourced apples like Fuji, Honeycrisp, or tart Granny Smith. This recipe transforms 4 pounds of fresh apples into a luscious, spiced delight, blended with warm cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, and lightly sweetened with a mix of granulated and brown sugar. Perfectly thickened over 8–10 hours in a slow cooker, this apple butter is finished with a splash of vanilla for an extra layer of flavor. Whether slathered on toast, swirled into oatmeal, or used as a filling for pastries, this homemade treat is a versatile marvel. Make a batch, store it in jars, and savor the comforting taste of the Pacific Northwest all season long.

Nutriscore Rating: 69/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:480 mins

Total Time:500 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 4 pounds Washington State apples (such as Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Granny Smith)
• 1 cup Granulated sugar
• 0.5 cup Brown sugar (light or dark, depending on preference)
• 2 teaspoons Ground cinnamon
• 0.25 teaspoon Ground cloves
• 0.25 teaspoon Ground nutmeg
• 0.25 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
• 1 cup Water

Directions

Step 1

Wash, peel, core, and roughly chop the apples into uniform pieces for even cooking.

Step 2

Place the prepared apples into a large slow cooker. Add water and stir to coat the apples evenly.

Step 3

Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 8–10 hours, or until the apples are very soft and break apart easily when pressed with a spoon.

Step 4

Using an immersion blender, carefully puree the cooked apples until the mixture is smooth. (If you don't have an immersion blender, use a countertop blender, blending in batches and allowing the mixture to cool slightly before blending.)

Step 5

Add granulated sugar, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, ground nutmeg, and salt to the pureed apples. Stir to combine.

Step 6

Cover the slow cooker again and cook on low for another 2–3 hours, stirring occasionally. The mixture should thicken to a spreadable consistency.

Step 7

Once the apple butter has reached your desired thickness, stir in the vanilla extract.

Step 8

Allow the apple butter to cool slightly, then ladle into sterilized jars for storage. Seal jars if canning, or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.

Step 9

Serve on toast, biscuits, pancakes, or use as a filling for baked goods.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2366.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2109.9

Total Fat 3.1g	0%
Saturated Fat 0.5g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 642.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 559.4g	0%
Dietary Fiber 46.6g	0%
Total Sugars 500.3g
Protein 4.8g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 271.2mg	0%
Iron 2.6mg	0%
Potassium 2104.8mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 1.2%

Protein: 0.8%

Carbs: 97.9%