Apple Butter I
This recipe was featured in our article about cooking with apples. You can
read Autumn Apples Aplenty
for this and other apple recipes.
Ingredients:
- 15 apples
- 1 quart apple cider
- 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 2 whole cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
Preparation:
- Without peeling or coring the apples, cut them into thick slices and transfer to a large, non-aluminum pan. Add the apple cider, vinegar, cinnamon sticks, whole and ground cloves and allspice. Bring the mixture to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until pulpy.
- Work the apples through a food mill and into another saucepan. Set the saucepan over medium-high heat and continue cooking the mixture until all the liquid has evaporated (this takes between 30 and 50 minutes).
- Test it: Set a plate in the freezer for a few minutes to chill, then add a drop of the apple butter to the plate. If any liquid seeps out around the edge of the drop, the butter isn't ready. Cook for a few minutes longer until apple butter tests okay.
- Ladle the apple butter into 4 hot, sterilized pint jars and attach sterilized tops and screw rims. Allow jars to cool for several hours. Then refrigerate for up to 1 week. OR, process jars for 10 minutes in a hot water bath.
- Makes 4 pints.
Ready in: 3 Hr