Instant Pot Apple Butter
The slow cooked flavor of apple butter, but in a fraction of the time, and with no added sugar!
When I was a kid, my mom would occasionally surprise me with apple butter… on toast or on a peanut butter sandwich. It was such a small thing, but it made me so happy! The thick, sweet spread was a true treat… something different than just jelly. The fact it was only available seasonally made it even more special.
I'd always preferred the natural flavor over the “spiced" variation, but as I've grown up, I also shied away from the “added sugar” blends as well. It wasn't until I really started experimenting with my Instant Pot that I realized how easy it was to make my own apple butter just how I liked it! Perfectly spiced, low in sugar, and any time of the year!
A mixture of apples, like Macintosh, Granny Smith & Gala, make for the best apple butter flavor.
Ingredients:
3-4 pounds (approximately 14 small to medium) mixed apples (I used Macintosh, Gala & Granny Smith), cored and chopped
1/2 cup fresh apple cider
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Directions :
Place all ingredients in the Instant Pot, lock the top valve on “pressure" and set to manual cook for 10 minutes. Let it naturally release. You can have some really wonderful applesauce at this point… just run an immersion blender through it if you like it smoother. The skins will practically melt into it! I suggest tasting it at this point. Depending on how sweet your apples are you might choose to add a we bit of brown sugar. I do not add it to mine, but if it's too tart, 1/4c should do the trick.
To make the apple butter, continue cooking the liquid out by pressing the sauté function and stirring frequently. It can get sticky at the bottom, and burn if it's forgotten about for too long, so stick with it. It will take only about 20 minutes to go from applesauce to thick, luxurious apple butter.
Spoon it into a pint sized container or jar, and let it cool before covering with an airtight lid. It can be kept in the refrigerator for a month, using as a spread on toast, muffins, scones, pancakes, etc. Or swirl it into yogurt, oatmeal, coffee cakes or bundt cakes. If your feeling really adventurous, slather it onto a sandwich like Grilled Brie & Apple Butter or as a pizza base with prosciutto, goat cheese & arugula. The possibilities are endless!
Yield: 1 pint
In an airtight container, this apple butter will last for about a month in the refrigerator.
