Apple Butter time!

Two years ago, we made a bunch of jars of our own apple butter from store-bought apples, but this year we went one step further and went and picked them first.

On our anniversary weekend, the weather was just so nice and in the pre-fall 70's...we had to be outside! We went to a local orchard for their opening weekend and picked 1/2 bushel (2 pecks) of Jonathan and Honey-Crisp apples...yum!

Here is our apple butter recipe

Step 1 - Pick the apples (either in an orchard, or from a store). Keep in mind you want apples that are good for baking and not apples that are good for only eating. Granny Smiths are good for baking but are not good for making butters. You want sweet and semi-tart, but not overly tart. There are plenty of websites you can see for recommendations. We chose to pick Jonathans (an old apple variety, sweet and semi-tart) and Honeycrisp - sweet and semi-tart, very juicy. When making apple butter, it's generally best to pick several different types of apples and combine them for best flavor.

Step 2 - Wash the apples. We filled our sink with a tiny amount of soap and warm water, and scrubbed and rinsed them. (We used about 2.5 dozen good-sized apples for our recipe)

Step 3- Peel and chop apples into about 1-inch segments.

Step 4-Put the apples in a large pot with about 3 cups or so of apple juice or water (we use apple juice - tastes much better). Set your stovetop to low-med heat (don't boil) to soften the apples. Stir them occationally in the juice. When they are able to be mashed with a potato masher, do just that. Mash them in the liquid and turn the heat off.

Step 5 - Use a stick blender (or a food processor or potato masher or handheld beaters) to make it into the consistency of applesauce. If you want applesauce, stop at this step. Depending on the apples you use, you don't need to add sugar, it should be sweet enough. If you want apple butter, continue...

Step 6-Transfer the applesauce to a crock pot set to low heat. We use the large crock pot (7 qt.).

Step 7-Add the spices. Add: 2 tbs. Cinnamon; 1 tsp ground cloves; 1/2 tsp allspice; 1/4 tsp nutmeg; and 3 cups of white sugar. Mix well and leave it be! (we stir occasionally)

Step 8-Cook apple butter on low for about 8-9 hours, until it darkens and is the consistency you want. If it is too thick, add apple juice, if it is too thin, take the lid off the crock pot and let more water evaporate. We leave the lid on crooked anyway so that it does not get too thin.

Step 9 - Get ready to can (if you are canning). Sanitize jars in your dishwasher under heated rinse and heated dry, make sure they are still hot when you fill them. Heat the crock pot to high so that the butter boils. Heat a large pot of boiling water (so that one inch of water will cover the jars when placed inside). Boil the lids and sealing rings from the Ball jars in a small pot of boiling water and use tongs or a magnetic lid-lifter to remove them.

Step 10. Fill the dry hot jars. Use a canning funnel to fill them to 1/4 from the top of the jar (this is important "headspace" for apple butter. Make sure it is 1/4 inch, no more no less. When the jar is filled, clean the top of the jar if any butter got on it, place a cleaned lid onto it and tighten the ring. Continue for remaining jars.

Step 11 - Put several jars into the boiling water using a jar tong and let then sit in there for 5 minutes (if below 1,000 ft. altitude). Remove them after 5 minutes with tongs, blot dry the lids and let them sit, not touching anything. Repeat with other jars. Let the jars sit overnight and then store them! You will hear a small "pop" noise as they cool, meaning that little thing on the lid that makes the clicking noise has sealed. If one of them does not seal, put it in the fridge and use it as you would if it were opened.

Finished and cooled 16 oz (Pint) Ball canning Mason Jars.

Our recipe made 8 of them, plus one half-full to put in the fridge

(jar funnel, lid-lifter magnet, spatula for bubbles, and silicone jar-lifter)

(we got our kit at Ace Hardware for 9.99)

Step 12-Enjoy. We dip our apple slices INTO apple butter, some people like to put it on biscuits or English muffins!

Step 13 - Oh yeah. Give an apple slice to your doggies if you have them. Ours were so patient smelling the apple butter all day and staying out of the kitchen!

-The Bogerts