Monday, August 20, 2012

Crockpot Apple Butter

Apples are on the top of the list for contamination of pesticides.  Therefore, organic is extremely important.  The best thing to do to find organic apples at a cost that is feasible, is to find someone that has their own apple trees. Now I don't mean an organic orchard.  I'm talking about a person, probably living out in the country, that just happens to have a couple, 3, 4, trees.  In my experience, those people are more than happy to see their apples go to good use and will GIVE them away if you'll just come pick them!  Some times they'll make a trade and give you the apples to use if you'll share some of your creation with them.

So, that's the first step.  Find a good source for organic apples.

Next, send monkey children to climb trees and pick apples!


You'll need about 8 pounds of apples.  There were actually around 13 pounds in this basket.


Peel, core, and chop to fill up your crock pot.


Sprinkle 1 cup of white sugar on top, put the lid on and cook on low for about 6 hours.

You CAN go ahead and add the other ingredients too if you want, but I like to wait and add them a little before the end.

After your apples have cooked til soft, use a potato masher and mash them up.



Then add the rest of the ingredients.

1 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp cloves
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt


Mix it all up and cook for another 4 or so hours.



Pour your end result into pre-sterilized jars and process in a hot water bath of boiling water for 10 minutes/pints, 15 minutes/quarts.


Makes approximately 4 pints.

This stuff is WAY better than anything you can get in the store!  It reminds me of the apple butter I used to eat as a kid that was made in big outdoor vats over an open fire.  So good on some toast!  I was thinking specifically of giving these as gifts so I didn't want to tinker too much with the recipe.  BUT, I want to try making some with honey and molasses in place of the sugar in the near future.

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