It's Autumn and Apple Butter

This weekend my family visited a local apple orchard. I’m going to plug them here because they are family-owned, have fantastic apples and boast an amazing, possibly first-in-the-nation apple tree maze – yes, you heard that right.

We’ve been enjoying a fantastic autumn here in the Midwest – it is the kind of autumn that requires sweaters in the morning and evening, but tank tops in the afternoon when the sun shines its brightest.  (Why can’t this weather stay FORVER?)

OK, so I am going to do this post because it always irks me when I read fantastic ideas for upcoming holidays or seasons, but the event happens the next day and you can’t possibly have all the materials ready that night. So, here it goes:

Apple butter is simply amazing. There really is no better condiment in the fall. Once the scent temps your nose, you must have it. And, despite what some might think, it is incredibly easy.

This (and apple pies, of course) has become an annual tradition. It is fun, relaxing, tasty and begs you to share!

I can my apple butter, but you also can freeze it. I also use a pretty generic recipe ~ I am sure you can find one completely similar on the Internet, but this is what I use, and I have refined it over the years.

 

1.     Peel, core and slice (or have your little ones peel, core and slice) 5 lbs. of apples – I use all different varieties. This year, I used Cortland and Jonafree.  (I used a scale, because once you core that apple, it takes a remarkable amount to tip the scale at 5 lbs.!)

2.     In a separate bowl, measure out 4 cups of sugar, 3 tsp. of cinnamon, ¼ tsp. ground cloves, ¼ tsp. salt and 1 Tbsp. (or more, if you are like me) vanilla extract. Mix.

3.     Pour the apples in your crockpot.

4.     Top with the dry mixture.

5.     Turn the crockpot on high for an hour.

6.     Stir and turn down to low for approx. 10 hours.

7.     Mix and use an immersion blender to create a smooth mixture.

8.     Turn on high for another hour.

9.     Can or freeze.

10.  Enjoy, save or gift your friends.

I hope you have an opportunity to try this out. If you do, let me know how it turned out.

I’ll leave you with this ~ If you have some fantastic fall weather wherever you are, head outside and enjoy it! If you live near an orchard and are able to pick your own apples, do it – it makes a great date, it is lovely to do as a couple, it makes a great learning experience for children, and it can be a relaxing experience when your children have grown and left the house.

Enjoy your autumn!

If you want to know what to do with miles of apple peels, visit this blogpost to make apple chips!