Spiced Maple Apple Butter
Spiced Maple Apple Butter
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 3 ½ - 4 hours
Servings: 16 oz (~2 cups)
Ingredients
2 ½ lbs apples, your choice of variety (~ 6 medium apples)
⅔ cup maple syrup
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
1 tsp kosher salt
1 cinnamon stick (sub ¾ tsp ground cinnamon)
¼ tsp cardamom seeds (sub ¼ - ⅓ tsp ground cardamom)
3 whole cloves (sub ¼ tsp ground cloves)
¼ tsp grated nutmeg (sub ¼ tsp ground nutmeg)
Directions
Peel the apples and cut them in half. Remove the seeds and core of the apple. Cut the apples into large, 1 inch chunks.
Add the apples to a bottom-heavy pot or dutch oven along with the maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and kosher salt.
Add the cinnamon stick, cardamom seeds, and cloves to a small sachet (or tie them up in a cheesecloth). Place the sachet in the apple mixture as well. If you are subbing ground spices, you can add them directly to the apple mixture.
Place the pot over high heat until it starts to simmer, then reduce the heat to medium and continue simmering for 25-30 minutes, until the apples are softened and fork tender.
Turn the heat to low and place a lid on the pot and continue to cook for 2-2 ½ hours, stirring every 20-30 minutes. You’ll notice the apple mixture will start to develop a darker color and will become thicker in texture.
Remove the lid and discard the sachet of spices (if using). Add the freshly grated nutmeg.
Using an immersion blender, blend the apple mixture directly in the pot until smooth. Alternatively, you can carefully transfer the apple mixture to a blender and blend until smooth, or forgo this blending process completely if you want a chunky apple butter.
Cook the apple butter for another 30 - 40 minutes on low with the lid off, or until the apple butter is dark brown and concentrated in flavor and sweetness to your liking.
Spoon the apple butter into a jar or airtight container, and allow to cool before storing in the fridge. The apple butter will last in the fridge for up to 3 months or in the freezer for up to a year.
Recommended pairing (as pictured): Salted Vanilla Bean Pecan Butter