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Sweet, delicious, gently caramelized, and flavored with warming spices, this Instant Pot Apple Butter is the taste of Autumn in a jar!
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A Delicious Instant Pot Apple Butter Recipe
Traditional apple butter recipes often require a long, slow cooking process, similar to simmering a pot of applesauce and then further caramelizing it. However, with this recipe, we’re cutting down that extensive cooking time drastically, thanks to the magic of the Instant Pot! You can whip up this delectable, cinnamon-infused apple butter in under an hour. Plus, it’s freezer-friendly so that you can savor the sweetness for up to 6 months – now that’s a tasty investment!
What’s the Difference Between Applesauce and Apple Butter?
The main difference between applesauce and apple butter is caramelization, which is when an ingredient is cooked to bring out its natural sugars, which then brown and sweeten during the cooking process. Like caramel!
So apple butter begins as cooked-down apples which are pureed, and then cooked further to a deep caramel color and sweetness. Also, applesauce may or may not be spiced, but apple butter is almost always flavored with cinnamon and other warm spices.
Should You Leave the Apple Peel On?
You can definitely leave the peel on! This makes preparing the fresh apples very easy. You can leave the peels on if the apples are unwaxed; if using conventional waxed apples, peel them or trying a wax-removal method like this one. Either way, as with all produce, wash the apples well before using!
Recipe Ingredients
- Apples: You’ll need about 5 pounds of sweet apples cored and cut into wedges. I like to use Granny Smith, but sweet apples such as Pink Lady, Fuji, Golden Delicious, are also great!
- Lemon Juice: This adds a needed tangy note to the recipe.
- Brown Sugar: When measuring, be sure to pack the brown sugar down into the measuring cup for best results.
- Granulated Sugar: You may substitute raw or natural sugar for some or all of the granulated AND brown sugar in this recipe.
- Apple Cider: This adds the liquid necessary for pressure cooking in the Instant Pot (and it’s delicious).
- Cinnamon, Allspice, and Nutmeg
- Vanilla: Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
How to Make Apple Butter In The Instant Pot
- Pressure Cook the Apples: Place the prepared apples into the Instant Pot, and stir in the lemon juice, sugars, cider, spices, and vanilla. Pressure cook on HIGH for 8 minutes. When cooking time is up, let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes.
- Blend the Cooked Apples: Once the pressure has been released, remove the lid and use an immersion blender to puree the apple mixture until smooth, OR puree the apples in batches using a food processor or high-powered blender. (If you do this, return the apples to the Instant Pot.)
- Simmer the Puree: Turn the Instant Pot to saute and press the MINUS button to set it to LESS. Bring the apple puree to a simmer and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, until thickened into a spreadable consistency and dark golden brown. Cool, Serve, and Store!
What Is Apple Butter Used For?
- Breakfast time, Teatime, or Anytime: Like any fruit spread, apple butter is wonderful on toast, biscuits, scones, English Muffins, and more. I like spreading it on pancakes!
- Charcuterie: With its complex flavors and sweet, fruity mellowness, apple butter makes a wonderful addition to a cheese board or charcuterie spread. It pairs very well with crackers, goat cheese, cured meats, and more.
- Substitutions: You can try using apple butter where you might normally use apple sauce– in baked goods, barbeque sauces, marinades, and more.
Choosing Apples
Typically, the apples used for recipes (as opposed to snacking) are tart and firm, but many cooks prefer a sweeter, more mellow apple for making apple butter. This is because the sugars in the apple are more apparent and lend themselves to caramelization. Yum! Try your favorite sweet apple, such as the Delicious varieties, Gala and Fuji apples, Pink Lady apples, and more.
How to Store Apple Butter
- Leftovers can be refrigerated in airtight containers for up to 3 weeks.
- You can also fill airtight containers or freezer bags with apple butter and keep it, well-sealed, in the freezer for up to 6 months.
- If you would like to can apple butter, it works really well! Follow Ball’s Canning Guides for step-by-step directions.
ENJOY!
Instant Pot Apple Butter
Ingredients
- 5 pounds apples,, cored, and cut into wedges (peel is optional)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup apple cider,, (NOT apple cider vinegar, but you can use pure apple juice if you don't have apple cider)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Place the apples in the Instant Pot and stir in the lemon juice.
- To the apples, add sugars, apple cider, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and vanilla; stir around until well combined.
- Secure the lid. Set the valve to sealing. Set to Pressure Cook on HIGH for 8 minutes.
- When cooking time is up, allow Natural Pressure Release for 15 minutes. Remove the lid.
- Using an immersion blender, blend the apple mixture until smooth. You can also use a high-powered blender or a food processor to blend the apples, but do it in batches and return the blended apples back to the IP.
- Turn the Instant Pot to Saute and press the MINUS button to set it to LESS.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer and continue to cook for 12 to 15 minutes or until thickened to desired consistency.
- Turn OFF the IP, but let the apple butter completely cool inside the IP.
- Once cooled, spoon the apple butter into an airtight container and keep refrigerated for 3 weeks. You can also freeze it for up to 6 months.
- If you want to preserve the Apple Butter in jars, use Ball’s Canning Guides for step-by-step directions.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
I used to make apple butter with my grandma all the time – i’m really excited to try this in the instant pot!
That’s great! I hope you enjoy it! 🙂 Thank YOU! 🙂
Making this in the instant pot was a breeze and it turned out amazing!
That’s great to hear! I am very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
This is such an amazing recipe!! Thank you so much! So easy to make!
I am very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
My family and I love apples! This recipe is perfect for us! Can’t wait to make it!
That’s great! I hope you and your family enjoy it! 🙂 Thank YOU!
YUMM!!!! I love me some apple butter in fall!
Thank YOU! I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Enjoyed this on some toast for breakfast this morning and it was hands down delicious! A great way to start my day, indeed!
That’s great! I am very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
Thank you so much for this easy and delicious recipe. I’ve had the instant pot for awhile but this is only the second time I’ve used it. So quick! And really, amazingly easy.
Thank you so much! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Can I omit the sugar?
This is a terrific recipe I love to put the apple butter on my pumpernickel toast or my sourdough toast and have with coffee for my breakfast I just add a couple more different spices plus raisins it’s wonderful thank you five stars all the way! I’m on the last little bit of my last jar time to go back to the store and get more apples!
First time using the IP to make pear butter. Have always used a crock pot, which is quite time consuming. This was a snap! I make pear butter as I have a pear tree. Turns out exactly like apple butter, there’s no difference in taste or consistency.
Thank YOU! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! 🙂