• Feb. 28, 2009 - Apple Butter
When you're making applesauce, it's well worth the time to make some apple butter as well. It's super easy, if not quick, and tastes SO good on fresh bread. Begin by getting out your crock pot and filling it to about 1/2" of the top with applesauce.
Add in the spices. You'll use sugar, cinnamon and ground cloves. Begin with 3 cups of sugar, 1 1/2 tsp of cinnamon and 3/4 tsp cloves. The amounts you will use really depend on your tastes and how sweet the apples were. I used granny smith apples, so I used about 4 or 5 cups sugar total. I ended up using about a tablespoon of cinnamon and 1 1/2 tsp cloves. Some recipes will also call for apple cider, apple cider vinegar, or various other spices. There are many variations of apple butter. I am making a simple one.
Cook the sweetened, spiced applesauce until bedtime on high, uncovered. Stir it when you walk past, so it doesn't develop a crust on top which prevents steam from escaping. You are in the 'cooking it down' stage. At bedtime, set the lid on at an angle, or propped up with a couple of wooden spoons, so steam can continue escaping. Set it on low, since you aren't going to be stirring it . In the morning, there will be a crust you will need to remove.
You will find that it has cooked down quite a bit. Remove that thick layer that developed overnight. You can add more applesauce and spices at this point, if you want. Cook it again on high, stirring occasionally. You can cook it for as long as 40 hours, according to some recipes, but I think 24-30 hours is just right. Don't worry about timing it exactly, just taste it. You'll know when it's done. It should be thickened, smooth, deep and dark colored, and luscious!
Doesn't that look simply delicious? You might want to can your apple butter for longer storage, or transfer it to jars and store in the fridge for several weeks. Some people also freeze it. Make sure to leave some headspace so it can expand as it freezes without overflowing or bursting the container.
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• Feb. 28, 2009 - Untitled Comment