If you’re looking for a delicious, homemade apple butter that doesn’t take hours to prepare, this Quick and Flavorful Apple Butter recipe is for you. With a blend of warming spices like cinnamon and cardamom, this recipe brings out the natural sweetness of the apples without the need for a slow cooker. In just under an hour, you’ll have a smooth, rich apple butter that’s perfect for spreading on toast, filling pastries, or enhancing your favorite desserts. This easy recipe is great for when you want something cozy and spiced, but without all the time commitment!
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Ingredients You’ll Need:
- Apples
- Granulated sugar
- Cinnamon stick
- Ground cinnamon
- Coarsely ground cardamom
- A pinch of salt
- Optional: lemon or apple cider vinegar (for added acidity)
Equipment You’ll Need:
- Large pot
- Immersion blender or regular blender
- Sterilized jars with lids
- Tongs (for sterilizing jars)
- Trestle spoon
- Spoon
- Paring knife or vegetable peeler
Instructions:
- Prepare the apples: Peel, core, and dice the apples into small chunks.
- Cook the apples: Place the apples in a large pot along with the sugar, cinnamon stick, ground cinnamon, coarsely ground cardamom, and a pinch of salt. If desired, add lemon juice or apple cider vinegar for acidity. Add a small amount of water if necessary to prevent sticking.
- Simmer gently: Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat and cover the pot. Let it simmer on low heat for about 30-40 minutes, or until the apples are soft and tender.
- Blend: Remove the cinnamon stick and blend the apples using an immersion blender (or regular blender) until smooth.
- Reduce: Continue cooking the apple butter uncovered for another 20-30 minutes, stirring regularly, until it thickens to your desired consistency.
- Store: Once thickened, transfer the apple butter to sterilized jars. Let cool before storing in the fridge.
Flavor Variations:
- Vanilla-Infused: Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract at the blending stage for a sweet, aromatic flavor.
- Chili-Spiced: Add 1/4 teaspoon of chili flakes for a subtle heat that balances the sweetness.
- Whiskey or Rum: Stir in 1-2 tablespoons of whiskey or dark rum during the last 5 minutes of cooking for a boozy, warming twist.
- Cinnamon-Maple: Replace part of the sugar with maple syrup and increase the ground cinnamon for a deeper, richer flavor.
- Vanilla-Chai: Add a chai tea bag to the mixture during simmering for a spiced, fragrant apple butter. Remove before blending.
How to Use Quick and Flavorful Apple Butter:
- Pastry Filling: Perfect for filling croissants, Danish pastries, or turnovers.
- Spread on Bread: Simply spread on toast, scones, or English muffins for a quick, delicious snack.
- Baking: Use as a cake or cupcake filling, or swirl it into muffin batter for a spiced flavor boost.
- Breakfast Topping: Spoon it over oatmeal, yogurt, or pancakes for a fruity, spiced topping.
How to Sterilize Jars:
To ensure your Quick and Flavorful Apple Butter stays fresh, you’ll need to sterilize your jars before storing. Here’s a simple method:
- Wash jars and lids thoroughly with hot, soapy water.
- Boil the jars in a large pot of water for 10 minutes. In a separate pot, heat the lids (but do not boil) for 5 minutes.
- Use tongs to carefully remove the jars and let them air dry on a clean towel.
- Fill the jars with hot apple butter and seal immediately.
How to Store:
Once your apple butter has cooled, it can be stored in the fridge for up to 2-3 weeks. Make sure to keep the jars sealed and use clean utensils when scooping to prevent contamination.
Quick and Flavorful Apple Butter
Quick and Flavorful Apple Butter: A fast, spiced apple butter recipe made with cinnamon and cardamom. Ready in under an hour, it’s perfect for spreading on toast, filling pastries, or topping yogurt. No slow cooker needed!
Equipment
- Large pot
- Immersion blender or regular blender
- Sterilized jars with lids
- Tongs (for sterilizing jars)
- Trestle spoon (for stirring)
- Paring knife or vegetable peeler (for peeling and coring apples)
- Spoon (for scooping and filling jars)
Ingredients
- 1 kg apples
- 200 g granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 1 cinnamon stick
- 1/2 tsp 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1.5-2 tsp 1.5-2 teaspoons coarsely ground cardamom
- A pinch of salt
- Optional: 1-2 tablespoons of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar (for added acidity)
Instructions
- Prepare the apples: Peel, core, and dice the apples into small chunks.
- Cook the apples: Place the apples in a large pot along with the sugar, cinnamon stick, ground cinnamon, coarsely ground cardamom, and a pinch of salt. If desired, add lemon juice or apple cider vinegar for a hint of acidity. Add a small amount of water if necessary to prevent the apples from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Simmer gently: Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat and cover the pot. Let it simmer on low heat for about 30-40 minutes, or until the apples are soft and tender.
- Blend: Remove the cinnamon stick and blend the apples using an immersion blender or a regular blender until the mixture is smooth.
- Reduce: Continue cooking the apple butter uncovered for another 20-30 minutes, stirring regularly, until it thickens to your desired consistency.
- Store: Once the apple butter has thickened, transfer it to sterilized jars and let it cool. Store in the fridge.
