Skip to main content
Baking and Sweets

Slow-Cooker Apple Butter

By October 13, 2015October 15th, 201546 Comments

Since we became parents, we’ve kept a running list unofficially titled: Things That Sound Like Fun with Kids, But Are Actually Not at All.* Parades fall into this category. Street fairs. Any event with the words “Harvest Fest” in its name. Beach day-trips made a brief appearance on the list, when Phoebe was four months old and we decided it would be superfun to go to Long Island’s Robert Moses State Park and stroll her in the Snap-and-Go (you know, the thing with wheels) across miles of hot, soft sand. I think Andy is still scarred from that one.

Last weekend, we were tempted to add another one to the list: Apple Picking. I know, I know. It’s heresy to say that on a food blog in October so I will qualify the statement a little by saying: Apple Picking in an Un-vetted Orchard. That’s where we ended up last Sunday.

Earlier in the afternoon, a postcard-perfect fall day, we were sitting on the sidelines of — where else? — a soccer game in rural Connecticut when Andy decided he didn’t want to return home without a bushel of Macouns or Cortlands. So at the half, we started googling. We DM’d a friend or two for recommendations. We googled more. We landed on a place that was about half way between the field and our house, a place that shall remain nameless.

Curse you Google!

Once, when the girls were about 2 and 3, we went apple picking in Saratoga. There were orchards bursting with every variety imaginable. There was a charming little market store that sold apples, pumpkins, and most crucially, bags of warm cider doughnuts. It was probably crowded, but since the orchards were spread across so many acres, it was hard to even know.

Ohmygod, not the case on last weekend’s sojourn. We should’ve probably turned around as soon as we felt — not heard, felt — the DJ blasting Kanye from miles away. Pulling in, we were greeted by a neon jumpy castle and a staff of about eight million, most of whom were holding those batons used by air traffic controllers to direct runway traffic. It was difficult to find a spot, but not nearly as difficult as it was to find the actual apple trees. Were they next to the artisanal coffee truck that was all out of artisanal coffee? Were they next to the Hard Cider Bar populated by tipsy, black-clad city folks? Were they behind the hayride, which was manned by teenagers who wore overalls, straw hats, and dead-in-the-eyes expressions that said I would rather be anywhere than here.

I could relate to those teenagers!

We found the trees, most of which were plucked completely barren except for the very tippy tops. I was ready to short-circuit, but Andy was determined. He somehow found one of those picking poles and, with the help of the girls, filled our $30 sack to the brim.

“Mom, why are you so grumpy?” Abby asked.

“You don’t want me to answer that question.”

We were outta there about 20 minutes later.

I’m happy to report that the visit was redeemed pretty easily by an apple cobbler later that night. (Andy used our classic fruit cobbler recipe, with great results.) But the bag of Macouns sat in the corner of our kitchen and taunted me for days…weeks. Don’t let us go to waste! They said. It’s your final shot at closure! So yesterday, with about a day left on their clocks, I decided to toss every last one into the slow cooker, in the manner that a witch might if she’s crafting a potion to exorcise a demon or two. Eight hours later, the house smelled divine, and I had reduced the day to an eight-ounce jar of apple butter. Victory.

Slow Cooker Apple Butter
Makes enough to just about fill an 8-ounce jar. 

6 cups sliced, peeled apples (preferably baking apples, but all will work; I used about a dozen small macouns)
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cinnamon stick
1 slice lemon, any pits removed
1/2 cup water

Throw all the ingredients into a slow cooker on 8-hour low setting, lid slightly ajar. Stir every few hours or so. When the apples look soupy, rich, and brown, let cool. Remove cinnamon stick and lemon peel, then puree with an immersion blender or whirl in a food processor. Store in a jar and keep in the refrigerator for 7 to 10 days. Spread on popovers or croissants, stir into yogurt with walnuts, or serve with pork chops.

*Things That Sound Like Fun with Kids, But Are Actually Not at All, The Complete List
While I was writing this post, I emailed Andy “What else is on that list?” Floodgates: Open.

  • Swimming lessons
  • Wiggles concerts
  • Mommy and Me music classes
  • Any music class
  • Laser tag parties
  • Pottery classes
  • Ice skating
  • Sand art
  • Watching a Yankees game
  • Children’s museums
  • Art museums
  • Museums
  • High End Hot Chocolate Places
  • Reading “Magic Treehouse” books
  • Watching The Sound of Music

46 Comments

  • Avatar Haley says:

    Yes! I have a similar list – I’m mentally preparing myself for the inevitable Disney trip that is still years away..

  • Avatar pmm says:

    Apple butter question. I don’t have a slow cooker (I REALLY need to get one this year!!). Can I do this on my stove? I assume it would have to simmer for ages. Your advice please…

    • Jenny Jenny says:

      I’ve never tried it on the stovetop, but my guess is just keeping it at low heat for an hour or two, stirring every now and then, and then, once it reduces and concentrates to rich brown color, remove, cool, and puree. Let me know how it goes.

      • Avatar pmm says:

        We tried it on the stove top this weekend…we’ve already eaten it all! It was fantastic. I was a little nervous about how long it was on the stove, so it was not as deep brown as regular apple butter. But, we are doing another batch this weekend and will let it go longer.

        Had it on scones, toast, and grilled pork chops…

        THANK YOU!

  • Avatar pmm says:

    Oh and one more for the list: Elementary school Halloween parties. Kill me.

  • Avatar Veronica says:

    Yum! I am going apple picking this weekend so this is perfect.

    Any idea if this would still be good without all the sugar? I mean, I realize apple butter is supposed to be super sweet but I am just curious if it would still be sweet enough without it?

  • Avatar Jamie says:

    Taking a three year old from Cobble Hill to the Museum of Natural History by subway. With a stroller. Alone. That should be an Olympic sport.

  • Avatar Sasha says:

    I want to try this with apples picked from a friends tree this weekend, but I”m confused about them lemon. Is it once slice of lemon, or one lemon, sliced? Thanks!

  • Avatar Gina says:

    Love this. So true. Agree about fireworks. I love this because these are all the things that people joyously post that they did on Facebook and you think “how come we don’t do these fun things” and then you realize you don’t really want to but feel like you’re missing something.

  • Avatar Barb says:

    Chuck E Cheese, or really any child’s venue filled with children. An arcade might be worse (hosted 8 ten year old boys there– oh, the noise! that is a particular circle of hell, to be sure).

  • Avatar Alissa says:

    Love that! Love that you said what I had been thinking all these years. The beach used to be on my list but now my daughter is old enough where I can sit in a chair and watch from the sand sidelines!

  • Avatar Luisa says:

    DYING. I am just now discovering how little fun so many of these things are with children and was feeling like such a grinch, until now! Thank goodness, thank you for the hysterical validation. Can you make the next post about the unexpectedly fun things one CAN do with kids? Specifically 3.5 year olds? :)))

  • Avatar Aleisa says:

    Add to the list:

    Movie night (with a favorite movie from childhood) and popcorn
    Parades (all of them)
    Any kind of craft
    Making complicated cookies

    -A

  • Avatar Sharleen says:

    Thanks for the lovely explanation of your google adventure. Sorry you did not enjoy yourself.
    But at least you got a cobbler and some apple butter out of the bad visit.
    Your recipe sounds very yummy and I want to give it a try as soon as I can.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Hugs!

Leave a Reply

What is 6 + 15 ?
Please leave these two fields as-is:
IMPORTANT! To be able to proceed, you need to solve the following simple math (so we know that you are a human) :-)