Apple butter in a jar

Makes about 2 pints

Ingredients

  • 5 pounds apples, peeled, cored, and diced
  • 1 3/4 cups apple cider
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground mace
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions

  1. In a large pot, bring the apples and cider to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking or burning.
  2. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the apples are soft, 30 to 35 minutes. Use a potato masher, fork, or immersion blender to roughly mash the mixture.
  3. Return the apple mixture to the heat, and stir in the sugar, lemon juice, salt, cinnamon, mace, and nutmeg.
  4. Continue to simmer until the mixture has thickened and becomes a deep rich brown, about 1 1/2 hours. The mixture will be relatively smooth, but may have a few chunks. If you want a completely smooth butter, you may purée it lightly at this point.
  5. Store the apple butter in a covered container in the refrigerator, or pour the finished apple butter into prepared jars, leaving 1/4 inch of headspace. Seal the jars and process for 7 to 10 minutes in a boiling-water canner. Store the processed jars in a cool, dark place.

CIA FOODIES

Apple Butter

Apple butter in a jar
Makes about 2 pints

Ingredients

  • 5 pounds apples, peeled, cored, and diced
  • 1 3/4 cups apple cider
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground mace
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions

  1. In a large pot, bring the apples and cider to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking or burning.
  2. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the apples are soft, 30 to 35 minutes. Use a potato masher, fork, or immersion blender to roughly mash the mixture.
  3. Return the apple mixture to the heat, and stir in the sugar, lemon juice, salt, cinnamon, mace, and nutmeg.
  4. Continue to simmer until the mixture has thickened and becomes a deep rich brown, about 1 1/2 hours. The mixture will be relatively smooth, but may have a few chunks. If you want a completely smooth butter, you may purée it lightly at this point.
  5. Store the apple butter in a covered container in the refrigerator, or pour the finished apple butter into prepared jars, leaving 1/4 inch of headspace. Seal the jars and process for 7 to 10 minutes in a boiling-water canner. Store the processed jars in a cool, dark place.

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