Homemade Apple Butter

According to Wikipedia, apple butter is popular in America, and dates to the colonial times. The idea of apple butter and the process of cooking down fruits has been around for even longer.  It is an especially southern dish, and some places even hold apple butter festivals. 

Angie and I had our own apple festival in her kitchen. We used apples she kept in her freezer (when they started going bad) and a few from her counter that were starting to whither.

First we peeled and chopped up the apples. We cut the bad spots off and added them to a trash bowl of cores and peels. Some of the apple peels were eaten instead of being trashed.  We also considered starting a compost pile.

 We boiled jars to sterilize them. I asked Angie why she had a wire basket in her pot. She told me it helps to get the jars out when they are done sterilizing.

We put the apples into a pot and added cups of apple juice. The apple juice is from Kroger. As I was buying the juice, a considerate man told me that the news recently exposed that 100% juice does not necessarily mean it is 100% juice. It may be 5-10 % less than what it says. I told him we were using it to make apple butter, so I didn't think it mattered. He agreed. Nonetheless, I thanked him for the information.

Measuring the questionable apple juice.

Giving the apples a juice bath.

 We heated them for a bit, and then strained the mix. We did some apple mashing into the strainer.

Pouring apples

The apples have soaked up some of the juice

Mashing the apples with a whisk.

 Then of course add sugar! We added two cups to a heating pot.

Sugar shower

Cover the apples!

 Then we added some delicious smelling spices! We cooked it for about an hour, stirring frequently. The smell filled the house as it cooked! Who needs home fragrances when you can make this delectable spread?

Mixing and smelling something heavenly

 We spooned the mix into the sterilized jars and secured the lids. The jars returned to the boiling water pot for further sealing.

Unfortunately, we only made two jars. Alex (hubby) and I have eaten it every morning on toast with our breakfast! This stuff tastes amazing! Next time we plan to buy apples on sale and make even more!

The recipe came from on of Angie's cookbooks. I'm not sure there is an online version for me to provide the link. That means if you want to know how to make it, you'll have to join us next time!

Another Wikipedia fact: Apple butter has no actual butter in it. The only reason why it is called "butter" is because of the texture and consistency of the spread.