Crockpot Apple Butter

Apple butter is one of the most comforting, delicious treats for the fall. It is a great quick breakfast on a biscuit, English muffin, or toast. This apple butter is too easy to make. All you have to do is throw the ingredients into your crock pot and let it cook all day. This recipe calls for sweet apples and a smaller amount of sugar than most recipes. The apple butter is spiced with allspice, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg. The warm spices will delight your senses. This recipe is the best home fragrance. The aroma will fill your home with delicious apple and spice smells that will comfort your soul. Be sure to make a big batch of this, so you can jar the leftovers for later. This also makes the perfect gift, in a crystal jelly jar, tied with a pretty bow. If you have never canned before, its very easy. You just have to make sure everything is very clean. I have included instructions below. For this recipe, I used 4 Gala apples and 4 Macintosh apples, and I got 3 pint sized jars. In retrospect, I should have used enough apples to fill the crock pot, because we finished off half a jar this morning. Measuring is not crucial in this recipe. You fill your crock pot with sweet apples, add cider about 2/3 way up the apples, about 1 tablespoon of brown sugar per apple, or to taste, and spices to taste. Finish with a touch of salt to help bring out the flavors.

Ingredients

•8 sweet apples, of any variety, peeled, cored, and chopped or sliced
•2 cups apple cider, or apple juice
•1 cup packed brown sugar
•1 teaspoon cinnamon
•1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
•1/4 teaspoon allspice
•1/4 teaspoon cloves
•1/4 teaspoon salt
Method

1.Peel and core apples. Add to crock pot. Add cider, sugar and spices. Turn crock pot to high and bring to a bubble. Turn on low and cook for 6-8 hours. Stir the apples about every hour or two. Apple butter is done when it has a deep color, apples are cooked to pieces, and it has thickened.
2.You can jar the apple butter by purchasing canning jars, sterilizing them, and running them in a water bath.
3.To sterilize, place a dish towel in a sauce pot, and fill halfway with water. Turn the jars upside down in the pot in the cold water, and bring to a boil. Boil over medium heat for 15 minutes. At the same time, boil the lids, rings and the ends of your kitchen tongs in another pot for 15 minutes.
4.Never ever touch the inside or top of the jar or lid with your bare hands. Use the tongs for the lids, and kitchen towels for the jars.
5.Fill the jars. Take another kitchen towel and dip an end in the boiling water and wipe the top of the jar very clean. Place the lid on with the tongs, being careful not to touch it. Then take the tongs and get a ring, you can place the ring with your hands.
6.When all jars are filled, place the filled jars in the saucepan with the kitchen towel and boil over medium heat for 15 minutes.
7.Remove and let cool on the counters overnight.

Recipe props go out to Southern Grace Gourmet
http://southerngracegourmet.com/crockpot-apple-butter/