Chef notes
Fall is the perfect time to enjoy sweet, spreadable apple butter. I love adding pears and warm spices to give it an even more autumnal flavor.
Ingredients
- 6 McIntosh apples, peeled and cored
- 6 Bartlett pears, peeled and cored
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup apple juice or cider
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 3-inch cinnamon sticks
Preparation
1.Cut the fruit into large chunks. Process the apples and pears in a food processor, working in batches, until finely grated. Transfer the fruit to the slow cooker.
2.Sprinkle in the brown sugar, apple juice, molasses, allspice, cloves and salt, and add the cinnamon sticks. Cover and cook 4 to 6 hours on high heat.
3.Lift the lid and remove the cinnamon sticks and set them aside. Working in batches, carefully return the fruit to the food processor and process until smooth. Transfer the processed fruit back to the slow cooker along with the cinnamon sticks. Continue cooking on high until thick and spreadable, another 2 to 4 hours.
4.Allow the mixture to cool before transferring to sealed airtight containers. Refrigerate up to 2 weeks or freeze up to 3 months.
