Homemade Apple Butter Recipe (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
Rich, creamy and silky smooth, this easy homemade apple butter is made in the slow cooker in just 5 hours. Slow cooked until caramelized, this gluten-free apple butter has a beautiful fall flavor from the spices used. Naturally dairy-free and vegan too.
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What is Apple Butter? (Apple Butter vs. Applesauce)
Fall is almost here… which means it’s time to make all things apple, and especially a batch of homemade gluten-free apple butter!
Applesauce and apple butter both start as cooked, mashed apples, but that’s where the similarity ends.
Applesauce cooks for just 20-30 minutes, staying pale and mild.
Apple butter, on the other hand, is basically a very concentrated form of applesauce, and keeps cooking for hours longer, until the water evaporates and the natural sugars caramelize into a deep amber, ultra-smooth spread with a rich, almost toffee-like flavor.
Despite the name, there’s no real butter in apple butter (which means there’s no dairy involved). The term “butter” just refers to its thick, spreadable texture, concentrated enough to spread on toast rather than spoon over a meal, and can be considered a spread or a preserve.
Best Apples for Apple Butter
I find that the best apple butter comes from a mix of sweet and tart apples rather than just one variety.
Red apples such as Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Fuji or Gala apples brings natural sweetness and a great texture as it breaks down, while green apples such as Granny Smith adds tartness and a brighter flavor that keeps the finished spread from tasting one-note.
Combining both red and green varieties (roughly half and half works well) gives you a balanced apple butter that’s rich but not cloying. If you only have one variety on hand, either will still work — just adjust the sugar in the recipe to taste.
Why This Recipe Works:
- Simple Ingredients: The main ingredients you’ll need for this homemade apple butter are easily accessible at the local grocery store (nothing fancy required!).
- Super Easy to Make: With the help of a slow cooker and an electric blender, there is very little hands-on time involved in this recipe. And if you don’t own a slow cooker, there are also instructions for making this on your stovetop!
- Totally Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free & Vegan: The best part is that this apple butter recipe is 100% gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan, which means that even those with Celiac disease or gluten or lactose intolerances can also enjoy it without issues!
Ingredients You’ll Need:
Here’s a visual overview of the ingredients required for making this homemade apple butter recipe.
(For exact measurements, please scroll down to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.)
Recipe Notes + Substitutions:
- Apples:Â Feel free to use the type of apples you like (Granny Smith apples, Gala apples, Pink Lady apples, Golden Delicious, Honey Crisp apples, Fuji apples, etc.) I recommend a mix of both red and green apples for a combination of tart and sweet flavor.
- Brown Sugar: I used brown sugar to give it a deeper flavor. If you are diabetic or insulin-resistant, I highly recommend using brown granulated monkfruit sweetener (a 1:1 brown sugar substitute that is zero glycemic index and will not raise your blood sugar).
- White Sugar: I used white sugar, but cane sugar will work too. If you are diabetic or insulin-resistant, I highly recommend using granulated monkfruit sweetener (a 1:1 white sugar substitute that is zero glycemic index and will not raise your blood sugar).
- Spices: I used a mix of ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg to give this apple butter fall flavors. Alternatively, you may also replace them with 2/3 teaspoon of apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice instead.
- Vanilla Extract: I like adding a bit of vanilla extract for flavor, and highly recommend that you add it too.
How to Make Homemade Apple Butter (Step by Step):
Peel, Core and Cube Apples:Â Peel and core the apples, before cutting them into into small cubes.
Place Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Place apples in the slow cooker, add sugar, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, and vanilla, stir to combine.
Cook Until Tender:Â Cook the apples and the other ingredients on the high setting for 4 hours (or on the low setting for 8 hours). Make sure to stir the ingredients a couple times during this time.
Puree Until Smooth:Â Once the apples are done cooking, puree the apples in a blender until smooth.
Return to Slow Cooker:Â Return the apple butter to the slow cooker and cook on high for another 1 hour.Â
Enjoy or Store:Â You can either enjoy the apple butter or cool it before transferring it to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Dish by Dish Tips/Tricks:
- No Slow Cooker? (Stovetop Method): If you don’t own a slow cooker, you can make the apple butter on the stovetop by cooking the ingredients in a large saucepan at medium-high heat for 2 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent burning at the bottom, until the apples are tender. Process the apples using an electric blender or immersion blender until silky smooth before returning it to the saucepan (partially cover the saucepan to allow steam to escape) and simmering for another 15 to 20 minutes until the apple butter is a deep brown color.
- Storing/Freezing: You can either enjoy the apple butter or cool it before transferring it to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.If you don’t plan on using the apple butter within a week, freeze whatever amount you are not using in freezer-safe jars (leaving 1 inch of space empty as the apple butter will expand once frozen). Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw the frozen apple butter completely overnight in the refrigerator before enjoying.
What to Eat Apple Butter With?
- Bread / Toast: Toast your favorite gluten-free bread, then slather apple butter generously over!
- Scones: Bake a fresh batch of gluten-free scones, then slice the warm scones into half lengthwise before spreading with apple butter.
- Pancakes / Waffles: Enjoy a luxury breakfast or brunch – make a tall stack of fluffy gluten-free pancakes or crispy gluten-free waffles, then eat it with smooth apple butter.
- Oatmeal: Nothing beats starting a crisp fall morning with a warm cozy bowl of oatmeal topped with apple butter!
- Ice Cream / Yogurt: Spoon some over a bowl of ice cream of yogurt for a decadent treat!
- Pork: A side of this sweet apple butter makes a delicious contrast to savory pork chops or tenderloin!
Sugar-Free Apple Butter (Monkfruit Variation)
If you’re watching your sugar intake, you don’t have to skip apple butter altogether. Since apples are naturally sweet, this recipe works beautifully with a sugar substitute (we’ll be using brown granulated monkfruit sweetener here). You just need to adjust for how the substitute behaves during the long cook.
Swap in 1/2 cup brown granulated monkfruit sweetener (a 1:1 sugar substitute for sugar that is zero glycemic index) in place of the sugar called for in the main recipe.
A few things to Note for Apple Butter without Refined Sugar:
- If your monkfruit blend includes erythritol, add it about halfway through cooking rather than at the start as erythritol can crystallize with very long, low heat, and adding it later helps keep the texture smooth.
- Monkfruit doesn’t caramelize the way sugar does, so your apple butter will taste slightly less “deep” and more purely apple-forward. A pinch of extra cinnamon or a splash of vanilla extract helps round it back out.
- Taste and adjust near the end of cooking. Monkfruit sweetness can taste different depending on the brand and blend, so start with a bit less than you think you need and add more to taste.
How to Store/Freeze Homemade Apple Butter
Storing Apple Butter in Refrigerator:
Homemade apple butter keeps well in an airtight container (a mason jar works great) in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Because there’s no added preservatives, give it a quick smell and look before using it if it’s been sitting a while — it should still smell fresh and sweet, not sharp or fermented.
Freezing Apple Butter:
Apple butter freezes beautifully, which makes it worth doubling the batch. Spoon it into freezer-safe jars or containers, leaving about an inch of headspace for expansion, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before using. (Quick Tip: You can also freeze it in ice cube trays for easy single-serving portions to stir into oatmeal or yogurt.)
Other Gluten-Free Apple Recipes You’ll Love:
- Homemade Applesauce (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
- Easy Apple Crumble (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
- Crispy Apple Chips (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
- Moist Apple Muffins (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
- Tender Apple Bread (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
- Apple Tart (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
- Delicious Apple Crisp (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
Gluten-Free Fall Recipes to Make This Season:
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Easy Homemade Apple Butter (Gluten-Free, Vegan)
- Total Time: 5 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 16 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Rich, creamy and silky smooth, this easy homemade apple butter is made in the slow cooker in just 5 hours. Slow cooked until caramelized, this gluten-free apple butter has a beautiful fall flavor from the spices used. Naturally dairy-free and vegan too.
Ingredients
- 4 pounds apples
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/3 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/3 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Peel, Core and Cube Apples: Peel and core the apples, before cutting them into into small cubes.
- Place Ingredients in Slow Cooker: Place apples in the slow cooker, add sugar, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, and vanilla, stir to combine.
- Cook Until Tender: Cook the apples and the other ingredients on the high setting for 4 hours (or on the low setting for 8 hours). Make sure to stir the ingredients a couple times during this time.
- Puree Until Smooth: Once the apples are done cooking, puree the apples in a blender until smooth.
- Return to Slow Cooker: Return the apple butter to the slow cooker and cook on high for another 1 hour.Â
- Enjoy or Store: You can either enjoy the apple butter or cool it before transferring it to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
Apples: I recommend a mix of both red and green apples for a combination of tart and sweet flavor. Feel free to use the type of apples you like (Granny Smith apples, Gala apples, Pink Lady apples, Golden Delicious, Honey Crisp apples, Fuji apples, etc.).
Brown Sugar: I used brown sugar to give it a deeper flavor. If you are diabetic or insulin-resistant, I highly recommend using brown granulated monkfruit sweetener (a 1:1 brown sugar substitute that is zero glycemic index and will not raise your blood sugar).
White Sugar: I used white sugar, but cane sugar will work too. If you are diabetic or insulin-resistant, I highly recommend using granulated monkfruit sweetener (a 1:1 white sugar substitute that is zero glycemic index and will not raise your blood sugar).
Spices: I used a mix of ground cinnamon and ground nutmeg to give this apple butter fall flavors. Alternatively, you may also replace them with 2/3 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice instead.
Vanilla Extract: I like adding a bit of vanilla extract for flavor, and highly recommend that you add it too.
Storing/Freezing: You can either enjoy the apple butter or cool it before transferring it to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.If you don’t plan on using the apple butter within a week, freeze whatever amount you are not using in freezer-safe jars (leaving 1 inch of space empty as the apple butter will expand once frozen). Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw the frozen apple butter completely overnight in the refrigerator before enjoying.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 5 hours
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
