Homemade Apple Butter

I’ve learned I need to have a few hostess gifts on hand at all times. Not because we’re the constant party-hopping kind of people, but because parties seem to pop up when we’re at our busiest.

I love giving canned goods as hostess gifts as I can whip up a batch of something delicious, like applesauce or jam, on a day off and it lasts for ages tucked away on a shelf so we can still be prepared for those last minute fetes. For me, a good hostess gift makes a small, thoughtful gesture.  I’m a firm believer that they shouldn’t cost a ton of money!

This homemade apple butter is just the ticket. I got a massive box of apple “seconds” at our local farmer’s market for cheap and whipped up a huge crockpot worth of apple butter – almost a triple batch of what you’ll find below! It’s so easy – all you really need to do is peel and chop your apples, then kick back, relax and let your crockpot do the work. Things get even easier if you have a countertop apple corer and peeler.

To make the gifts even more personal, I wrapped them with twine and topped them with these cute labels I made. It’s the perfect touch to make sure your gift is special.

Just in case you whip up a batch of apple butter and want some labels, I’ve attached some printables at the bottom of this post! I made them to fit a 2.5″ circle label which fit perfectly on the lid of these pretty Quattro Stagioni canning jars.

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Homemade Apple Butter Recipe

Homemade apple butter is the perfect hostess gift! Plus, it’s super easy because it’s made in your slowcooker!

• Author: Kelly Egan
• Yield: 4 1x
• Category: Snack

Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup apple cider
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 12 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced into chunks (about 21/2 pounds)
• Optional equipment: countertop apple peeler
• Quattro Stagioni Canning Jars

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 10 hours or until apples are tender and falling apart.
2. Blend apples until smooth in a blender or with an immersion blender. Return to slow cooker and cook on high for 1-2 hours, until thick. Stir occasionally.
3. Canning instructions (optional): Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Pour apple butter into sterilized jars, making sure to wipe away any splatters from the jar rims. Leave 1/4″ of head space. Seal and boil for 15 minutes. If not canned, apple butter lasts about 1 week in the fridge.

Download the free printable homemade apple butter labels:

(.PSD) // (.PDF)