Apple Butter Recipe & Canning🍎

For anyone that is not canning this recipe but just wants to make it, do steps 3-8. Folks that are canning the recipe do all the steps.

For water bath canning. Wash and boil your jars and rings. Boil for 10 minutes prior to canning apple butter.

Wash, peel and core apples.

Dice the apples into smaller chunks to help them cook down faster. Place diced apples in a non-reactive stainless steel large pot on medium low heat. Cook on low-medium for about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Add the sugars to the pot to help bring out some of the apples natural juices.

Once apples start to cook down (about 25 minutes), mash them with a potato masher to help them break down. Continue cooking until apples are soft and can be easily blended with an emulsion blender.

With an emulsion blender, blend the apples to desired consistency.

Next add in cinnamon, nutmeg and salt, stirring until combined. Then add in extracts. I use maple but vanilla can also be used or a combination of both. Stir until everything is well combined and simmer on low for about 5 minutes.

For canning. Ladle hot apple butter into hot jars leaving 1/4-inch head space. Remove air bubbles.

Wipe the rims of the jars making sure they are free of anything that might prevent them from sealing.

Place lids and rings on and fingertip tighten.

Carefully lower jars into boiling water bath canner with water covering the jars 1-2 inches. Place lid on canner. The following is the processing times at elevations above sea level, using a boiling water bath canner for canning Apple Butter. Processing time for 0-1,000 ft. is 5 minutes for pints and half pints, 10 minutes for quarts. For 1,001-6,000 ft. is 10 minutes for pints and half pints and 15 minutes for quarts. Above 6,000 ft. is 15 minutes for pints and half pints and 20 minutes for quarts. When time is up, turn off heat, remove canner from heat source if possible and safely remove lid from canner. Let jars stand for 5 minutes then remove jars and place on a kitchen towel and allow to cool undisturbed for 12-24 hours. Store in a cool dry place for up to a year.

Enjoy!