Slow Cooker Apple Butter Recipe

Ingredients

• 8 pounds (3940 g) assorted apples, washed, quartered and cored
• 1 cup (250 ml) water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup (125 ml) maple syrup
• 2-3 tablespoons molasses
• grated lemon zest
• freshly squeezed juice of 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
• 1 tablespoon peeled and grated ginger

Instructions

Place apple quarters in an 8-quart (8 L) Dutch oven.

Pour 1 cup water over. Cover the pot and bring apples to a boil over high heat.

Reduce heat to medium and continue cooking for 40-45 minutes.

Using an immersion blender, purée cooked apples directly in the pot.

Place puréed apples in a slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients. Stir well.

Place a wooden spoon on the cooker (this will allow the apple butter to vent). Cover the pot and cook on low-heat setting, stirring occasionally, until the apple sauce reduced by half, for about 8-10 hours.