Delicious Apple Butter With Honey
This delicious apple butter is made from applesauce and gently sweetened with honey. It's easy to make, healthy, and it taste like fall in a jar. Delicious on its own, on pancakes or waffles, stirred into yogurt, as a ingredient for baking, or even paired with cheese.
Equipment
- Instant Pot, slow cooker, or large pot
- immersion blender optional
- Mason jars with new lids.
- Water bath canner or large pot. for canning
- Canning rack optional, for canning
- Jar lifter optional, for canning
- Wide-mouth funnel optional, for canning
- Bubble remover optional, for canning
- Clean towels. for canning
Ingredients
- 4 lbs (8 cups) unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 cup honey or more, to taste
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 1½ tsp apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice, or all spice
- 1-2 tsp vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean, optional
- ½ tbsp lemon juice optional
Instructions
For making the apple butter
- In your Instant Pot, slow cooker, or a large heavy-bottomed pot, combine the applesauce, cinnamon, apple pie spice (or other spices of choice), honey, vanilla, and lemon juice (if using). Stir well to mix everything together.
- Cook the apple butter uncovered on high heat for about 3 hours (or until thick enough), stirring occasionally.Instant Pot: Press the Slow Cook button, then adjust to More (or High on some models).Slow cooker: Set to High with the lid off.Stovetop: Simmer on medium-low heat with the lid slightly ajar to prevent splattering.
- When the apple butter has thickened to your liking, remove it from the heat. For an extra smooth, silky texture, blend with an immersion blender (optional but highly recommended).
- Your apple butter is now ready to enjoy! Store it in jars in the refrigerator, freeze for longer storage, or process in a water-bath canner if you’d like it to be shelf-stable.
For canning
- Set up your water bath canner or large pot, fill with water, and bring to a boil.
- Ladle hot apple butter into jars, leaving ½ inch headspace. Remove air bubbles with a bubble remover or silicone spatula.
- Wipe rims clean with a clean towel, place new lids, and secure rings.
- Place jars in the canner, ensuring at least 1 inch of water above them. Process for 15 minutes (pints) or 20 minutes (quarts).
- Remove jars and let sit undisturbed for 12–24 hours. Check seals (lids should be flat, sealed tight, and not pop when you press on them). Remove rings and store sealed jars in your pantry.
Notes
- Use store-bought or homemade applesauce. Find my easy no-peel Instant Pot applesauce recipe here. One batch of my applesauce makes one batch of my apple butter.
- You can adjust the amount of honey you'll add depending on how sweet the applesauce is and how sweet you want your apple butter.
- Properly canned apple butter can be stored in the pantry for up to 1 year.
- Once opened, keep jars in the refrigerator and enjoy within 7–10 days.
- Apple butter also freezes well—store in freezer-safe containers for up to 12 months.