Fall is in the air when the house is filled with the aroma of baking apples and cinnamon, allspice, and cloves. Envision being huddled around a blazing fire, drinking warm apple cider, and spreading delicious apple butter on homemade crackers or white fluffy bread, muffins, or biscuits.

The following is a simple, scrumptious recipe with a recommendation to serve atop freshly baked scones, on a cheese board, or atop roast pork or chicken. And remember, if you’re going to be someone’s guest at Thanksgiving, spread the joy with a jar of this creamy fall spread!

Ingredients

5 1/2 lb soft, sweet apples (cored and chopped into small pieces)

1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

1 Tbsp ground cinnamon

¼ tsp salt

1/8 tsp ground cloves

1 vanilla bean (may substitute 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract)

 

Recommended Equipment

6-quart slow cooker

Immersion blender

Instructions

1. Slice apples into small pieces and dispose of cores. Place apples in the basin of a large slow cooker.

2. In a medium-sized bowl, stir together the brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and cloves until well combined. Pour the sugar mixture over apple pieces and stir until well combined.

3. Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 10 hours.

4. After 10 hours, use an immersion blender to puree apples until smooth and no chunks remain. Scrape the inside of the vanilla bean into the apple puree (or add vanilla extract).

5. With the slow cooker still on low, cook for another two hours uncovered, stirring occasionally.

6. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container, where it will keep for about two weeks.

After your apple butter has cooked, you can either leave it slightly chunky or put it through the blender to puree it. You can also freeze the butter; just spoon it into one-cup freezer containers and pull them out as you need them.

You can find Fuji, McIntosh, Red or Golden Delicious, or Gala—the preferred apple varieties because they are generally sweeter than others- at most local farmers’ markets. Local apple orchards, such as Moore's Orchards in Pomfret, and Poverty Lane Orchards in Lebanon, offer a variety of apples as well.

Glass jars can be purchased at most hardware stores, and at The Co-op and King Arthur Baking Company.