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This easy homemade apple butter recipe is made in a slow cooker with fresh apples, warm spices, and just the right amount of sweetness. This small batch apple butter recipe delivers all the rich fall flavor of traditional apple butter in a perfectly portioned amount.
Featured Comment
“I made the apple butter over the weekend and it was so delicious! I had no idea it was this easy to make and it’s so much better than store bought.”
– Rose
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy Slow Cooker Recipe: Simply add the ingredients and let the mini slow cooker do the work.
- Homemade Fall Flavor: Warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice make this apple butter rich and comforting.
- Versatile Spread: Enjoy on toast, biscuits, or pancakes.
- Perfectly Portioned: This small batch recipe makes just enough apple butter without overwhelming you with leftovers.
Apple butter isn’t really butter at all. It’s apples cooked low and slow with cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice until they become thick, smooth, and full of flavor.
I love the way it turns into a silky spread that feels comforting and versatile. Whether I spread it on warm toast, swirl it into oatmeal, or sneak a spoonful straight from the jar, it always brings the taste of fall into my kitchen.
Looking for more single serving and small batch apple recipes? Try our small apple cake, mini dutch apple pie, apple crisp for one, and small batch apple fritters.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this mini crock pot apple butter recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Apples: Use about 1 ½ pounds of apples, which equals 2 large, 3 medium, or 4 small apples. Any variety works, and mixing sweet and tart apples gives great flavor. Extra apples? Use them to make a small batch of morning glory muffins or quick fried apples.
- Lemon Juice: Adds brightness and balances the natural sweetness of the apples.
- Sugar and Brown Sugar: Sweeten the apple butter. Adjust the amounts to your taste. If you don’t have brown sugar, use our homemade brown sugar recipe to make a small batch.
- Vanilla, Nutmeg and Allspice: These warm spices create a rich, autumn flavor. Adjust to your preference. These spices are also found in our small batch gingerbread granola and small batch apple granola recipes.
Recipe Variations
Try these easy variations to change up your homemade apple butter:
- Spiced Apple-Pear Butter: Swap half of the apples for pears and add a pinch of cardamom for a warm, aromatic flavor.
- Maple Bourbon Apple Butter: Use maple syrup in place of brown sugar and stir in a splash of bourbon at the end for rich, fall flavor.
- Pumpkin Apple Butter: Add 1/4 cup of pumpkin purée along with the apples for a rich fall flavor.
How To Make Apple Butter In A Mini Slow Cooker
See the recipe card below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
Prepare the Apples: Peel, core, and chop the apples.
- Prepare the Apples: Peel, core, and chop the apples. Place them in a 1.5-quart slow cooker. Stir in the remaining ingredients.
- Cook: Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Cook Down: Remove the lid, stir, and cook uncovered on low for 1 more hour to thicken.
- Purée: Blend with an immersion blender until smooth. If using a regular blender, vent the lid, cover with a towel, and blend slowly to avoid splatters.
- Cool and Store: Let the apple butter cool, then transfer to a clean glass container. Store in the refrigerator. This recipe makes about ¾ cup (96 grams, 3.38 oz.).
Expert Tips
- Use a Mix of Apples: Combine sweet and tart varieties for deeper flavor.
- Adjust Sweetness: Add more or less sugar depending on the apples and your taste.
- Chill Before Serving: The flavor develops even more after a day in the fridge.
Serving Suggestions
Apple butter is versatile and can be enjoyed in both sweet and savory ways. Here are a few favorite ideas:
- Spread on Toast or Homemade Biscuits: A classic way to enjoy apple butter.
- Swirl into Oatmeal or Yogurt: Adds natural sweetness and spice.
- Top Pancakes For One or a Single Serve Waffle: Use instead of syrup for a rich fall flavor.
- Serve with Pork Tenderloin or Ham Steak: Spoon apple butter on the side of roasted pork or ham steak for a flavorful pairing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Apple butter is made by slow cooking apples with sugar, spices, and lemon juice until thick and smooth.
Applesauce is lighter and thinner, while apple butter is cooked longer until it becomes darker, thicker, and more concentrated in flavor.
Yes, peeling helps create a smooth texture, though some recipes keep the skins on and strain later.
Stored in a sealed container, it will keep for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
Yes, double the ingredients and use a 3.5 or 4-quart slow cooker.
RELATED: How To Cook Small Meals In A Large Slow Cooker
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this easy apple butter recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see!
Mini Slow Cooker Apple Butter
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds apples
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- pinch ground allspice
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Peel, core, and chop the apples. Place them in a 1 ½-quart slow cooker and stir in the remaining ingredients.
- Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Remove the lid, stir, and cook uncovered on low for 1 more hour to thicken.
- Blend with an immersion blender until smooth. If using a regular blender, vent the lid, cover with a towel, and blend slowly to avoid splatters.
- Let the apple butter cool, then transfer to a clean glass container. Store in the refrigerator. This recipe makes about ¾ cup (96 grams, 3.38 oz.).
Notes
- Use a Mix of Apples: Combine sweet and tart varieties for deeper flavor.
- Adjust Sweetness: Add more or less sugar depending on the apples and your taste.
- Chill Before Serving: The flavor develops even more after a day in the fridge.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
I made this recipe two years ago using apples from my neighbors tree. No fruit last year but this year the tree if full of fruit so I plan to me apple butter again.
Can I make this without peeling the apples?
Yes, you can make it without peeling the apples, but I prefer to peel them first. Peeling gives the apple butter a smoother texture, while leaving the skins on means you’ll likely need to strain it afterward.
I also grated whole nutmeg instead of ground nutmeg (it was what I had to hand).
I used this recipie yesterday, cut the sugar down to 1 tablespoon each of the brown and granulated, used maple extract instead of the vanilla as I am allergic to vanilla, and I used braeburn apples, this was absolutely fantastic. I did as you suggested and allowed the flavors to meld overnight, it was perfect with waffles and bacon for breakfast. Will definitely keep a batch of this on hand, thank you for a taste of “Fall in a jar”
I’m so happy you enjoyed it, thank you so much for your feedback!
Could I freeze this in jars after cooling? I would assume so?
Absolutely, you can freeze apple butter! Just be sure to leave a little room in the jar since it will expand as it freezes. It can be frozen for up to 3 months—just thaw it in the fridge when you’re ready to enjoy it again!
Hi Joanie. Made this last night. It was good, but this morning after a night in the fridge, it was FABULOUS! My slow cooker runs hot so cooked 3 hours on high, 1 hour low, and 1 hour low without lid. Too lazy to get out blender. Don’t have immersion one. I like apple butter not perfectly smooth, so I used my heavy duty potato masher and was perfect texture.
Personal Preference:
I like a full apple taste. Started with only 2 tablespoons white sugar. I used Gala apples which turned out a little sweeter than I like. Next time, tart apples and probably just the brown sugar. I really like mine spicy so doubled nutmeg and added 1/4 teaspoon cloves. Another winner Joanie. ❤️ Especially since I had apples to use up. I also liked it this morning as a stir-in to my oatmeal. Appreciate you and your recipes Joanie. 🤗
I’m so happy you enjoyed the apple butter and thank you so much for your feedback.
My small crockpot only has 1 setting. I assume it is SLOW… would you by any chance know??
Also, is the 1 1/2# after coring and dicing?
Hi there! I can’t say for sure about your crockpot setting, but most single setting crockpots usually operate at a “low” setting. As for the apples, the 1 1/2 pounds is before coring and dicing.
Hope this helps! Enjoy making the apple butter!
In your opinion, is cooking it in the slow cooker on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours better? Want this to be as good as possible 🙂
You can really use either the high or low setting on your slow cooker. I personally like using the low setting because it gives the apples plenty of time to soften along with the spices.
I was wondering. Can l use pears instead?
Love your recipes.
Thank you, Sher! Yes, you can make pear butter with this recipe. I love adding a pinch of ground ginger and sometimes a pinch of ground cardamom to my pear butter, it’s absolutely delicious!
The banana muffins were excellent! I did as you suggested. I allowed the bananas to get really ripeI! It made all the difference. I’m liking breakfast again thanks to your egg recipes.
This is so delicious! I followed the recipe exactly as written. It was so good with homemade hot Buttermilk Biscuits! Thank you for this wonderful recipe❤