This stovetop apple butter recipe is simple, healthy (contains no added sugar except ½ Tbsp of molasses), and is full of warm cinnamon and apple flavors!
Old Fashioned Apple Butter Recipe
There are many ways to make apple butter from the stovetop to Instant Pot. I love this stovetop apple butter recipe because it's a classic and so easy to make!
Simply slice your favorite apples and place into a sauce pan with a little water, a splash of apple cider vinegar, a tiny bit of molasses, and traditional apple butter spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
Cook until the apples have softened, transfer to a blender or food processor and blend on high, then return to the sauce pan and cook until the mixture reaches your desired consistency!
Boom. An old fashioned apple butter recipe!
Apple Butter vs. Applesauce
The main difference between apple butter vs applesauce is the length of time they're cooked. Apple butter is cooked long enough to let the apples caramelize, giving it that deep brown color.
Although applesauce can be sweetened and have spices added to it, I feel like traditional apple butter is a lot sweeter and has a strong spice flavor!
Ingredient Highlights
- Apples - since I use very little added sugar, I recommend using sweeter apples like gala or honeycrisp to give this apple butter a little extra sweetness. Apples are naturally a good source of fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants!
- Apple cider vinegar - this ingredient isn't absolutely necessary but adds a *slight* tangy flavor to the apple butter
- Water - water is added to help cook the apples in the first step
- Molasses - molasses is slightly sweet but also adds to the traditional apple butter flavor. It actually contains some iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and vitamin B6!
- Spices - different spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamom give this apple butter a warm, classic flavor! Plus a few extra antioxidants 🙂
Stovetop Apple Butter Recipe FAQ
Simple: cook it longer! You want to be careful not to burn the apple butter, but it can cook for hours until the thickness is where you want it. Just be careful not to burn it! I recommend cooking on a low heat.
The biggest difference is the cooking time! Apple butter is cooked a lot longer than applesauce is, resulting in a deeper flavor and thicker consistency. It also can have more sugar and spices added to it.
The color will turn to a deep brown and the consistency will thicken. Continue to cook as long as you want until it reaches your desired consistency! However, be careful not to burn it.
Other Recipes You May Like
- Pear (or apple) Crisp with Oats
- Fresh Cranberry Sauce Recipe (low sugar!)
- Greek Yogurt Pumpkin Dip
- Creamy Date Caramel Dip
Rate & Review
If you made my stovetop apple butter recipe, please rate and review my recipe below! I would love to hear your feedback. Also snap a photo and tag me on insta @theperfectpearr so I can see your creation!
PrintStovetop Apple Butter Recipe
This stovetop apple butter recipe is simple, healthy (contains no added sugar except ½ Tbsp of molasses), and is full of warm cinnamon and apple flavors!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 3 ½ cups 1x
- Category: Spreads, Sauces
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 6 large apples (I recommend gala, fuji, or honeycrisp!)
- 2 Tbsp water
- 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ½ Tbsp molasses
- ½ Tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- ½ tsp ground cardamom
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Slice apples and core apples, and place into a large saucepan on the stove.
- Add water, vinegar, molasses, vanilla, spices, and salt and cook on medium heat until apples soften, ~1 hour.
- Transfer apple mixture into the blender and blend on high until desired texture is reached.
- Pour apple mixture back into saucepan and cook on low heat until desired consistency is reached, ~1-2 hours.
- Let cool and enjoy!
Notes
- Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- You can use any apple but I prefer sweeter kinds like gala or honeycrisp!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 Tbsp
- Calories: 22
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 21
- Fat: 0
- Saturated Fat: 0
- Unsaturated Fat: 0
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 6
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 0
- Cholesterol: 0
Keywords: stovetop apple butter recipe, apple butter recipe, how to make apple butter, how to make apple butter on the stove, easy apple butter recipe, healthy apple butter recipe, low sugar apple butter, fall recipes, apple recipes
Jerry says
Full of cinnamon and apple flavor. I love that it's lower in sugar than most apple butters!
Lauren says
Absolutely! It's delicious and perfect for fall, or any time of year really!