Homemade Apple Butter
Homemade apple butter has this timeless, cozy feel and it instantly makes a kitchen smell like fall. It’s essentially apples cooked low and slow until they concentrate, caramelize a bit, and turn into something silky, naturally sweet, and spreadable. And because the sweetness comes mostly from the fruit itself, it feels like such a wholesome, nostalgic upgrade to store-bought spreads. A spoonful on toast in the morning, stirred into yogurt, or swirled into oatmeal can bring that gentle warmth and seasonal coziness without feeling heavy or overly sugary.
Cinnamon, ginger and cloves have a long history in herbal tradition not just for their flavor, but for the comforting way they support a sense of warmth and balance in the body. Cinnamon is known for its naturally grounding aroma, and it pairs beautifully with autumn produce because it enhances the fruitiness without overpowering it. Cloves add a deep, spiced complexity that’s slightly sweet and almost floral; they've been used for centuries in warm tonics, spiced teas, and seasonal blends for their uplifting, aromatic qualities. Ginger has been thought of as grounding and balancing, helping to aid in digestion and support a healthy immune system.
And the beauty of making your own pantry staples is that you can keep the ingredient list simple and intentional, letting whole, recognizable foods be the main focus. You get to control sweetness, customize spices, and skip unnecessary fillers, gums, or artificial flavorings often found in jarred spreads. Plus, apple butter keeps beautifully in the fridge, and there’s this satisfying, slow-living feeling that comes from taking something classic and creating it at home, turning familiar, everyday ingredients into something special you can enjoy all week long.
Start this recipe by peeling and chopping your apples. I used a mixture of green and red apples, but any variety works!
Add the apples to a large pot with water and a splash of apple cider vinegar. Add in your spices. I used cinnamon sticks, ginger, cloves and allspice. Turn the heat on and allow this all to simmer together. This is going to cook low and slow for a while, allowing the apples to get soft and all the flavours to meld together.
The color is going to gradually get darker and the consistency smoother as the apples break down more and more. The whole process takes about 3 to 5 hours, so be patient but keep an eye on it, stirring occasionally to prevent anything from sticking to the bottom.
At about 2 hours in, run the apples through a potato ricer and add in a little bit of coconut sugar and stir it together to bring a bit more sweetness, and then allow it to continue to simmer on the stove for about another hour.
Once you have a thick, dark, spreadable butter it is ready to take off the stove and add to a glass jar. Store this in the refrigerator and spread on toast, in oatmeal or eat it by itself!
Recipe: Homemade Apple Butter
- 4-5 medium sized apples
- 4 Cinnamon sticks (or 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon)
- A few slices of fresh ginger
- 1 ½ Tsp cloves
- 1 Tsp allspice
- 2 Cups water
- ¼ Cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ Cup coconut sugar
Instructions:
Peel all your apples and chop them into cubes. Add apples to a big pot with water, apple cider vinegar and spices.
Turn that to medium-low heat until it starts to simmer. Allow this to cook low and slow for 2 hours, stirring occasionally to make sure nothing sticks to the bottom or the sides to prevent burning. At the 2-hour mark, run this through a potato ricer to create a smooth consistency.
Add the apples back to the pot and mix in the coconut sugar, and cook for another 1-2 hours. Once the mixture has reached a dark brown color, take it off the heat and add it to a glass jar. Enjoy!
*This article is intended for informational purposes. The statements above have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.