Apple Butter

We have one apple tree that produces very tart apples, the apples are great for cooking and for making apple butter.

2012  Apple Harvest

And we love our apple butter.  I love the smell while it's cooking telling us that Fall has arrived. There are various ways of making apple butter but we go for the easiest way and it turns out great.  Just follow these steps.

Makes 20 half pint jars

10 pounds apples or 30 cups of apples, cut in quarters
1 cup apple cider vinegar
8 cups sugar
2 cups apple cider
5 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. cloves
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. allspice

1.  Wash apples, cut in quarters and put in a large pan.  Do not skin or core apples.

2.  Add 4 cups of water and 1 cup of apple cider vinegar.  (apples need that little bit of acid for successful preserving but don't worry, you won't taste the vinegar)

3.  Cook in a large heavy kettle

 4.  Cook until  soft. 

5.  Let cool and then put through a food mill.

We use a food strainer called Back to Basics  that works great by separating all the skins and seeds leaving all the delicious apple sauce.  

We also use this strainer when we make grape jelly by using a different attachment for the grapes which works great for separating the skins for the tiny grapes.  Bruce loves putting together all the pieces and I gladly let him.

6.  Add the sauce to a pan and the sugar, apple cider, lemon juice and the spices.

7.  Cook in a large heavy kettle on low heat stirring frequently. 

before

8.  Cook until dark and thick, about 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

after

9.  Pour into sterile jars and screw on sterile caps and lids.

10.  Process in boiling water bath for 10 minutes.

11.  Let jars cool on a towel and listen for the lids to pop which means they're sealed.

Now you have lots of holiday gifts!