This post is written by me on behalf of the sponsors for #AppleWeek. All opinions are my own.
Creamy, smooth, and buttery with no actual butter in the recipe! I have made this Slow Cooker Caramel Apple Butter for years now and it never fails to amaze me how buttery and delicious it tastes and feels!
To make this recipe you will need:
Years ago I found a recipe for making apple butter in the slow cooker. While it is delicious on it's own, one time I decided to up the ante a little and add some caramel pieces to a batch. It turned out so golden and beautiful and had just enough of that caramel flavor to it to make it a "special" treat for fall!
Adding good quality flavoring to your apple butter is important also. Rodelle, one of our sponsors for #AppleWeek is a great choice! I also love their almond extract. I am a HUGE almond fan too!
When I make this apple butter, I always start it on the stovetop to break the apples down first.
The caramel pieces are added about an hour before the end of cooking time.
After the apple butter has cooled down, I will refrigerate it for a day (overnight is fine too) and then, because butter is smooth my friends, I whiz it up in my magic bullet to give it that consistency. Even though it has cooked all day in the slow cooker, you have to give the apples a little help.
I love to eat apple butter on toast. That would be my favorite way and has been since I was a little girl. However, you can enjoy it in so many different ways! For instance, I have a recipe for Apple Butter Pecan Sticky Buns that is a perfect use of apple butter! I also have been known to dip sharp cheddar cheese slices into it. Yeah. That is SO good!
Thank you to the sponsors for AppleWeek!
I want to take this opportunity to thank the sponsors who sent me product for #AppleWeek. Rainier, Rodelle, Veggie Wash, and Pyrex. These are all phenomenal products!
This was my first experience with Rainier Fruit, and let me tell you, we were FAR from disappointed. Their apples were so incredible. Not a single one was wasted. As a matter of fact, they were fought over!
Rodelle's extracts smell amazing and add that "something" that is needed in many sweet recipes. I had never used the Veggie Wash before, and let me tell you, I will be using this product going forward. I absolutely love it and it is so easy to use! (Yeah, I just bought some more on Amazon yesterday!)
As for Pyrex, this is a longstanding product that has been used in my home and in my mother's home for years. The name speaks for itself and I love how they have added the beautiful designs to their collection! By the way, this dish works perfectly if you decide to make those Apple Butter Pecan Sticky Buns!!
📖 Recipe
Slow Cooker Caramel Apple Butter
Equipment
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Ingredients
- 3 pounds apples peeled, cored, and finely chopped
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoons ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup caramel bits
Instructions
- Place apples in large dutch oven over medium heat. Cook until apples start to break down, then simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Stir in remaining ingredients except for the caramel bits, then transfer to slow cooker. Cook on low setting for 8-10 hours.
- During the last hour, stir in the caramel bits. Do not replace cover slow cooker, rather let it cook the last hour with the lid off.
- Once the apple butter has cooled, place in refrigerator to cool. You can now eat it as is, or you can blend it to make the consistency more smooth and buttery.
Chey says
Wow! Soooooo delicious! Everything smells so amazing when cooking! 🙂 Can you tell me if this recipe and be canned for shelf stable caramel apple butter? Thank you for sharing! I feel so lucky to have found your site and recipes! 🙂
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Hi Chey, yes, you could can this. Just follow the process for sterilizing jars and lids and put the hot apple butter in the hot water bath canner and cover with hot water. Once it comes to a boil, allow it to boil for 15 minutes. So happy you enjoyed the recipe! Shelby
Chey says
Totally missed giving the 5 Star rating! Actually needs an additional couple of more stars, as is! I'm definitely going to can the next batch! Thanks for the canning info and again, for sharing your delicious recipes! 🙂
Beverly Hawley says
Can you use apple sauce to make this instead of cooking apples. By heating up the apple sauce then putting the carmels in?
Shelby Law Ruttan says
You need the low slow heat to melt the caramel without burning. I'm not going to say you couldn't try it, but I have never done it and can't say how it would work.
Amy says
This apple butter looks so good! I want to spread it all over biscuits for breakfast! And I bet it would be yummy on ice cream too!
Liz @ Books n' Cooks says
Slow cooker is def my favorite way to make apple butter. Never thought to add caramel thought. Love it! Going to stash this and your recipe for caramel apple butter sticky butter away for a rainy weekend. Both sound amazing!
Carlee says
Oh my goodness, it looks so luscious and wonderful. I already want to put it on everything! This is definitely happening asap!
Wendy Klik says
Love the addition of caramel to this apple butter. Great idea!!
Val - Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids says
I love that you add the caramel bits to give it a little something extra!
Ellen says
I love this is made in the slow cooker. This would be delicious on homemade biscuits.