Homemade Apple Butter

Place the apples and apple cider in a large slow cooker.

Cover and cook on low heat for about 10 hours, until the apples are very tender.

Puree the mixture using an immersion blender or transfer to a blender in batches and blend until smooth.

Add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves to the slow cooker. Stir well to combine.

Continue cooking on low heat, uncovered, for an additional 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the mixture has thickened and darkened in color.

Transfer the apple butter to sterile jars and let it cool to room temperature before refrigerating.

If you prefer a less sweet apple butter, feel free to reduce the amount of sugar to your taste. You can also experiment with different spices like allspice or cardamom to create your unique flavor profile. For a chunky version, skip the puree step and simply mash the apples with a potato masher for a more rustic texture. If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can make this on the stove; just simmer the ingredients on low heat and keep a close eye on it, stirring frequently to prevent burning.