Instant Pot Apple Butter
Apple Butter is one of my favorite fall staples, and this Instant Pot Apple Butter recipe is the perfect way to ensure that you will have plenty of it for all of your fall baking needs!
Instant Pot Apple Butter Recipe
I was 25 years old the first time I tried apple butter and I still lament all of the years that this sticky, sweet deliciousness was missing from my life.
Apple butter is like a thick, caramelized applesauce that is perfect for spreading on toast, waffles, pancakes or baked goods, or even adding into your favorite fall recipes. My daughter loves swirling it into a bowl of yogurt or adding to smoothies.
Where I live apple butter can be super expensive – often $8 a jar for the good stuff – and sometimes hard to find during warmer months.
Since I go through it like crazy and don’t want my apple butter cravings to be limited to just the cooler months of the calendar, I wanted to make a giant batch in my Instant Pot and can it for use all year long. You don’t have to can this recipe – you can freeze it or just use immediately in a bunch of recipes instead, but I like the convenience of canning and would prefer to save my freezer space for other things.
I followed the canning instructions in the Bible of Canning: Basics Basics Jams, Preserves and Chutneys Handbook by Marguerite Patten. This is my all-time favorite canning cookbook – everything I know about canning, I learned from one afternoon of canning with a friend and this book. If you buy it, be sure to try the apple cheese!
You can also follow the directions for canning on the National Center for Home Food Preservation’s website.
What are the best apples to use for homemade apple butter? This really comes down to personal preference. I don’t use a lot of added sugar in my recipe, so I prefer a sweeter apple – but if you’ll be adding it to already-sweet treats, you may want yours more tart. Generally, McIntosh, Jonagold, Fuji and Cortland are all recommended for apple butter.
Does this Apple Butter recipe work in the crockpot? Yes, you can make this apple butter recipe in the crockpot by increasing the cook time to 6 to 8 hours on low. You can also cook it on the stovetop, if desired.
Can you freeze apple butter? Yes, you can freeze or can this apple butter recipe. If freezing, you can keep in airtight freezer containers or freezer bags for up to six months. If canning, you can store for up to two years. (These freezer containers are the perfect size for freezing a jar of apple butter.)
Looking for more Instant Pot Recipes? Check out our full collection here!
Looking for a delicious recipe using apple butter?
- Apple Butter Scones
- Apple Butter Cornbread from Cupcakes and Kale Chips
- Cherry Apple Butter Bars from Lemon Tree Dwelling
- Apple Butter Cheesecake Blondies from Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt
Apple Butter Ingredients
- Apples, cored and chopped <– leave the peels on as this aids with thickening the apple butter
- Water <– can use apple cider
- Ground Cinnamon <– can use apple spice or add additional spices
- Brown Sugar
- Salt
- Lemon Juice
- Molasses, optional <– I’ve tried this recipe both with and without molasses and while I liked it best with the molasses, the flavor change is subtle and you’re not missing much if you leave it out
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.
Tip: you can customize the seasonings in this recipe to your personal preferences and even add your favorite flavor extracts.
Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful
- Instant Pot <– I’m so excited to upgrade to this one with air fryer capacities soon! (You can also just buy the lid which adds the air fryer capacity to your standard IP.)
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Apple Corer <– highly recommend this apple cutter for making quick use of those apples!
- Immersion Blender or High-speed Blender
- Sharp Kitchen Knife
How to Make Apple Butter in the Instant Pot
Core and chop your apples, leaving the peels on.
Place the apples and all ingredients in the Instant Pot.
Select the manual setting for 20 minutes.
Natural release for 15 minutes.
Use an immersion blender (or standard blender) to puree the apples.
If you desire a thicker apple butter, you can continue to cook on the sauté setting for up to 15 additional minutes, stirring occasionally. (You will want to put the lid back on the Instant Pot as it will splatter a bit.)
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Instant Pot Apple Butter
A scrumptious recipe for homemade apple butter - can be made in the Instant Pot or Stovetop.
Ingredients
- 4lb Apples, cored and chopped (approximately 8 apples)
- 1/2 cup Water or Apple Cider
- 2 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
- 1/4 cup Brown Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
Instructions
- Core and chop your apples, leaving the peels on.
- Place the apples and all ingredients in the Instant Pot.
- Select the manual setting for 20 minutes.
- Natural release for 15 minutes.
- Use an immersion blender (or standard blender) to puree the apples.
- If you desire a thicker apple butter, you can continue to cook on the sauté setting for up to 15 additional minutes, stirring occasionally. (You will want to put the lid back on the Instant Pot as it will splatter a bit.)
Notes
Can swap out the cinnamon for pumpkin pie spice or apple spice.
Can add 1 Tablespoon of molasses for added depth of flavor.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Realemon 100% Lemon Juice, 32 oz
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McCormick Ground Cinnamon, 7.12 oz
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Knudsen Juice, Cider & Spice, 1 Quart
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Utopia Kitchen Apple Slicer - Corer - Divider - Cutter - Wedger Tool - 430 Grade Stainless Steel - 100% Rust Resistant
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Fresh Brand – Gala Apples, 3 lb
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Instant Pot Duo 60 321 Electric Pressure Cooker, 6-QT, Stainless Steel/Black
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
96Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 13Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 23mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 0gSugar: 3gProtein: 0g
Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.
This Instant Pot Apple Butter is a quick and easy way to make enough apple butter to last you all season long. You can double or triple the recipe as needed and freeze or can excess.
For delicious recipes you can use your apple butter in, check out our Apple Butter Scones or our Apple Butter Snickerdoodles.