Homemade Apple Butter
The following recipe and photography was provided by recipe developer and food photographer, Ashley Durand of Plate & Pen.
It’s finally Fall, also known as the best season of the year!
Okay, maybe it’s not everyone’s favorite season, but coming from Louisiana, it was humid and muggy year round. After living in Ohio for seven years, I’m thankful for any season that offers cool temperatures and beautiful scenery with no snow!
Another reason I am thankful for Fall is because of the Midwest-grown produce that’s available at my local Heinen’s, like apples! Grown in an incredible assortment of varieties across farms in Ohio, Heinen’s selection of locally grown apples is top notch. As soon as they arrive to the Produce Department, I am filling my basket with as many apples as I can sink my teeth into.
There’s no better way to kick off the Fall season than by making this delicious cinnamon-spiced apple butter. Sure, you could buy apple butter from the store or a farmer’s market, but with as easy and as fresh as this recipe is, you’ll want to make it at home!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It features Heinen’s Fresh Local Produce. Heinen’s Produce Department has an amazing selection of Midwest-grown fruits and vegetables from the summer through the fall, and their apples are no exception. Whichever local apples are in stock at your store, grab the sweetest ones! For this recipe, I used Honeycrisp.
- It is Extremely Versatile. You can pair this homemade apple butter with so many things! Add it to a charcuterie board for dipping, spread it on Heinen’s harvest bread from the Bakery, or use it as a topping for pancakes.
- It is a Surprisingly Delicious Pork Marinade. Fun fact! This apple butter is also a really delicious sweet brine for pork! Simply marinate Heinen’s thick cut Heritage Breed Duroc pork chops or tenderloins in this apple butter and you’ll get the juiciest results. Grilling the meat also adds unreal flavor.
Homemade Apple Butter
Servings: 3 pints
Ingredients
- 5 lbs. sweet locally grown apples
- 1 cup Heinen's light brown sugar, packed
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 Tbsp. Heinen's honey
- 1 Tbsp. Heinen's ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp. Heinen's ground cloves
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. maple extract
Instructions
- Slice the apples into small 1/4-inch pieces and dispose of the cores. You do not need to peel the apples.
- Place the apples in the basin of a large slow cooker and drizzle the honey over top.
- In a medium-size bowl, stir together the sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and cloves until well-combined.
- Pour the sugar mixture over the apple pieces and stir until well combined.
- Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 10 hours.
- Once 10 hours has elapsed, use an immersion blender to puree the apples until smooth.
- Add the vanilla and maple extract.
- Turn slow cooker to low heat and cook for another 2 hours, uncovered. Stir occasionally.
- Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container. This apple butter will keep for about 2 weeks.
