Here’s the deal. I needed some apple butter for an upcoming sandwich recipe, and I had grand plans to knock out the apple butter and sandwich recipes in one afternoon. And then I remembered the last time I made apple butter, it cooked in the slow cooker… all night.
Instead of throwing in the towel, I decided to defy the odds and make apple butter in under an hour on the stove. Take that slow cooker apple butter! Now, don’t get me wrong, I adore a rich and decadent apple butter that’s been simmering in the crock pot for hours. But if I can yield similar results in less time with a fraction of the calories and sugar, I am all in.
I’d call this recipe a cross between traditional apple butter and the loveliest applesauce you’ve ever tasted, which is a huge bonus in my book. Think of all the possibilities! Of course you can spread it on a piece of bread, but how about topping your yogurt with it or mixing it with cream cheese for a sweet surprise on your bagel. I even served it to my 2 year old for lunch as a side dish, and she loved it. But, really and truly, one of the best uses for this Quick and Easy Apple Butter is a sandwich spread for a sandwich I will be sharing with you very soon. Actually, I should call it a quesadilla. Anything slapped between 2 carbs is a sandwich in my book. Anyway, stay tuned. It’ll be a good one!
- 4 medium apples, peeled, cored, chopped
- juice of 1 lemon
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- Place all ingredients in a saucepan. Stir to combine.
- Bring mixture to a boil.
- Turn down to low and simmer for 45 minutes.
- Transfer the mixture to a food processor, blender, or Nutribullet. Blend until the mixture reaches a smooth consistency.
Nutrition Information (per serving) from Caloriecount.about.com
Calories: 62 Fat: .2g Carb: 16g Fiber: 2.3g Protein: .3g Sugar 12.6g Sodium: 4mg
Weight Watchers Points (calculated on member website)
WW: 1 Points Plus
Hi! I'm Krista, a self-proclaimed vegetable lover who likes to put a creative spin on healthy cooking. Here you'll find a variety of lightened up recipes using fresh and wholesome ingredients! 
Quick & easy apple butter – should I use lid or without to simmer? Can’t wait to try this out!
Hi Tracy! Let it simmer without the lid. Hope you love this recipe!
Giving it a try right now. Was the easiest recipe on the net and I needed quickly. So far smell delicious. I’ll follow up once I serve. Thank you for making it simple.
Thanks for the comment and for giving the recipe a try! I’d love to know if you have any feedback.
Should this be stored in the fridge or at room temperature?
It should be stored in the fridge.
Hello! I’m looking to make this as Christmas gifts. How long does it keep in the fridge? Thanks!
Hi Valerie! It can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Thanks!
Gonna make this is food science…let ya know how it turns out!
great Carrie! I hope it turned out for you.
Why do you put lemon juice in it? I cant really imagine its for flavor. Is it more like a preservative?
Hi Steven, I added the lemon juice because the acidity helps balance out the sweetness from the apples, and it gives the apple butter a tangy flavor.
Mine didn’t turn out as good..definitely not an apple butter, more like an applesauce, which is good too. I had to research few more websites and found few more spices to add and put it back into the pot after blending to simmer longer til it was thicker. For me it was a great base for applesauce. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the comment Tonja! It turned out more like an applesauce for me too, which worked for how I was going to use it. Will definitely be testing this one further to make it more buttery.