Hi friends! As the leaves change and the air turns crisp, nothing beats the aroma of this easy, naturally vegan apple butter recipe bubbling away in the slow cooker.
But what is apple butter, exactly? It’s a rich, spiced apple spread made by cooking apples low and slow with sugar and spices until they turn thick, dark, and luscious. It’s smoother and more concentrated than applesauce, with a deeper caramelized flavor that’s perfect for fall.
Whether you spread it on toast, drizzle it over pancakes, or even bake it into muffins, this vegan + gluten-free easy apple butter recipe is the perfect cozy treat for the season.
Why you’ll love it
Easy slow cooker method: Set it and forget it! This apple butter recipe uses a slow cooker for hands-off, low-maintenance cooking.
Deep, spiced flavor: Loaded with cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice, this apple butter has the perfect fall flavor. It’s essentially fall in a jar.
Versatile: Use it as a spread on bread (gluten-free if needed), a topping for oatmeal, or an addition to your favorite fall baked goods. It’s also delicious paired with vegan Violife feta cheese and Mary’s gluten-free crackers.
What is apple butter
Apple butter is a thick, rich apple spread that’s made by cooking apples with sugar and spices over a long period of time. Despite the name, apple butter contains no actual butter—it’s a thick, caramelized spread of cooked apples. It’s smooth and packed with the flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, making it a perfect autumn condiment. The slow cooker helps achieve a caramel-like depth without needing to stand by the stove.
3 secrets to make the coziest batch of apple butter
I have 3 secrets to share with you to make the very best apple butter:
1. Use a variety of apples. By using different types of apples, your apple butter will have a beautiful blend of sweet, tart, juicy, crisp apples all coming together for the most complex, yet pure, creamy flavor. These are some of my favorite apples.
2. Time (but in a crockpot!). Apple butter takes 12 hours to cook. I know, it sounds like a long time, but the great news is that you can make it in a crockpot. I recommend making it overnight. For example, place all the ingredients in the crockpot at 8pm, and by 8am your apple butter will be ready to blend (and your home will smell incredible).
3. An immersion blender. For years, I was using a regular blender to make this apple butter because that’s what I had. That is totally doable, but it means you have to pour the very hot and heavy apples from the crockpot into a standing blender, which can be a challenge. An immersion blender makes it all SO easy! If you don’t have one, this is the one I use.
What else you’ll need
Here’s a quick rundown of the key ingredients and tools that help make this apple butter so wonderful:
- Crockpot: Essential for this recipe. Dump everything in the crockpot and let it work its slow-cooking magic.
- Immersion blender: To blend the caramely cooked apples and spices into a velvety smooth spread.
- Cinnamon: The spice that adds warmth and depth to every spoonful.
- Kitchen scale: I recommend baking by weight for the most precious, consistent results (and the fewest dishes).
- Mason jars: To store the apple butter. You can also use smaller mason jars, wrap a ribbon around them, and give them as little apple butter jar gifts.
Note: Some links in this post are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you, and helps support my small business.
Ways to enjoy apple butter
Spread on toast: Use apple butter as a spread on gluten-free bread or bagels for a delicious breakfast or snack.
Stir into oatmeal: Mix a spoonful of apple butter into your warm bowl of oatmeal or overnight oats for extra sweetness and spice.
As a pancake or waffle topping: Replace traditional syrup with apple butter for a fall twist on gluten-free pancakes or waffles.
Swirled into dairy-free yogurt: Add a dollop of apple butter to coconut or almond-based yogurt for a naturally sweet and spiced boost.
In smoothies: Blend a spoonful of apple butter into your favorite smoothie for extra flavor and a touch of sweetness.
On gluten-free crackers: Pair apple butter with vegan cheese on gluten-free crackers for a perfect sweet-and-savory snack.
Apple butter “nice cream”: Swirl apple butter into homemade banana-based vegan “nice cream” or Oatly vanilla for a fall-inspired treat.
As a muffin filling: Add apple butter as a filling or swirl into the batter of gluten-free vegan muffins for extra moisture and flavor.
In energy bites: Mix apple butter with oats, nut butter, and chia seeds to create flavorful, gluten-free vegan energy bites.
In baked goods: Use apple butter as a substitute for oil or butter in gluten-free vegan cakes, breads, or cookies to add moisture and a hint of sweetness.
On gluten-free scones: Spread it on top of freshly baked, gluten-free vegan scones for a perfect autumn afternoon snack.
Layered in parfaits: Layer apple butter between granola, dairy-free yogurt, and fresh fruit for a delicious and quick vegan parfait.
As a dip: Use apple butter as a dip for gluten-free vegan cinnamon pita chips or apple slices for a double apple treat!
More bakes
Already thinking about what you’ll make next? Below are a few faves:
Recipe time—How to make easy vegan apple butter
Easy Apple Butter Recipe | Slow Cooker | Dairy-Free Fall Spread
Description
This vegan and gluten-free apple butter is luscious with a sweet caramel-y flavor that's perfect for fall! Learn how to make it and discover delicious ways to enjoy this cozy fall spread.
Ingredients
Instructions
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Prepare the spice mixture: In a medium bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, light brown sugar, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt until well combined. Set aside.
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Peel, core, and slice the apples into medium-sized chunks. Don't worry about the exact size and shape, they'll cook down while cooking. Once sliced, place them in the slow cooker.
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Sprinkle the spice mixture evenly over the apples in the slow cooker. Stir everything together to ensure the apples are fully coated with the sugar and spice mix.
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Slow cook: Set your slow cooker to low and cook for about 10 hours, stirring occasionally, if possible. I typically do this overnight. The apples will break down and darken, forming a thick, rich mixture.
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Add vanilla and thicken: After 10 hours, once the apple butter has thickened and darkened, stir in the vanilla extract. Cook uncovered on low for an additional 1-2 hours to let the mixture thicken even more.
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Once the apple butter reaches your desired consistency, use an immersion blender to puree it until smooth. If you don’t have an immersion blender, carefully transfer the apple mixture to a standing blender and blend in batches.
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Spoon the smooth apple butter into jars or airtight containers. I like to use mason jars. Let it cool, then cover and refrigerate for up to two weeks or freeze for longer storage, up to 6 months.
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Enjoy as is, in oatmeal or yogurt, as part of a charcuterie board, or however you'd like!
Note
This recipe includes both volume and weight measurements. For best results, I recommend baking by weight for greater accuracy and fewer dishes!
This is the immersion blender I have and love. It’s usually around $50. If you want one that costs a bit less, I’ve heard great things about this one.
If you’re looking for a crockpot, this is a classic one. Crockpots are not super expensive (usually around $40) and are so useful for soups, chili, easy meals, and of course, apple butter.
These are my go-to wide-mouth mason jars and these are the leakproof no-rust lids I use.
Storage: Keeps in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or freeze up to 6 months.
