There’s No Butter in Apple Butter

I always thought it was weird to put apples and butter together and put them together in a jar.  Whenever I saw it for sale at a country store I wondered how they kept the dairy from going bad.  Today I learned apple butter does not have any actual butter in it. (Cue Chicken of the Sea jokes).

Becky found a recipe in her Southern Plate cookbook and I picked up the ingredients with Mason.  While the kids played in the kitchen I busted out the best kitchen gadget ever invented, our apple peeler.  It attaches to the edge of the kitchen table and after placing an apple on the prong it simultaneously peels and slices the apple. In about 10 minutes 3 pounds of Granny Smith apples were in the crock pot.

After combining the rest of the ingredients and letter it cook on low for a few hours I lifted off the cover to give it a stir. The apples had mixed with the spices and it smelled like autumn.  It was a pretty dark brown and slowly bubbling.  It will thicken over night and tomorrow we will can it to give to Mason’s teachers, Ms. Cherrie and some of our friends.

Apple Butter* Ingredients:
- 3 lbs Granny Smith Apples
- 2 50 oz. jars no sugar added apple sauce
- 1 1/2 cups apple juice
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp all spice
- 1 tsp ground cloves

Instructions:
- Peel and slice apple and place in the bottom of a large crock pot. Cover with apple sauce and juice. Add spices and stir. Mix well.
- Allow to cook 8-10 hours on low. Remove cover and allow to cook for another 3-4 hours so some liquid can cook off. Occasionally stir. When it is ready it will be a beautiful dark brown color.
- Place in jars and refrigerate or can and store in a cool dark place.

*A dairy free food.