apple butter recipe

apple butter recipe.Apple butter is a delicious spread made by cooking down apples with sugar and spices until it becomes thick and caramelized. Here's a simple recipe you can try: ### Ingredients: - 5 pounds apples (a mix of sweet and tart varieties), peeled, cored, and chopped - 2 cups sugar - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon - 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves - 1/4 teaspoon salt - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg - 1 tablespoon lemon juice - Optional: 1/4 cup apple cider or water (if needed) ### Instructions: 1. **Cook the apples**: Place the chopped apples in a large pot or slow cooker. Cook on low heat for about 6 hours, stirring occasionally, until the apples are very soft and mushy. 2. **Puree the apples**: Use an immersion blender or transfer the cooked apples to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. 3. **Add sugar and spices**: Return the pureed apples to the pot. Add sugar, cinnamon, cloves, salt, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Stir well to combine.