Crock Pot Apple Butter

I made this recipe last year, after apple picking. It was wonderful, a little heavy on the cloves, but I'm not really a fan of cloves. This year I am making apple butter for Christmas goodie baskets. I will substitute all the spices for 3 tsps of pumpkin pie spice. I am also copying off this recipe for all the moms in our Girl Scout troop, since we are going apple picking again today. Really a great recipe, and I love how long it takes, because the smell lingers in my house for DAYS.

Bev, This is the first time I have made apple butter and it is just wonderful. I made two batches already this week! My apple tree is just loaded with the sweetest apples that I HAD to do something with them. My first batch turned out to sweet for me, (but it will get used), so the next batch I cut the sugar in half. PERFECT!! The spice amount is right on. Tastes just like apple butter right out of the jar, but the consistency was more like applesauce. It would have been more apple butter like if I had pureed it or maybe cooked it longer. I don't know, but I loved it just the way it was. I couldn't hardly wait for it to get done it smelled so good. Your directions were clear and easy to follow, thanks for posting this wonderful recipe.

This recipe is wonderful, as promised. One of my daughter's friends came over while I was cooking it and said, "Your kitchen smells so good!" I found the process can be shortened if you first cook the apples on the stovetop until they are soft and mashable. Then pour the pulp into the crockpot, add sugar and continue cooking for 9-12 hours, until it's as thick as you want it. If it doesn't thicken enough, you can remove the lid and turn it to high to cook off some of the liquid. Be sure to check and stir often if you do this last step.