Make delicious apple butter with your Instant Pot! A quick and simple recipe that turns apples into a rich, spreadable treat. Perfect for toast!
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Instant Pot Apple Butter
Looking for a cozy and delicious way to kickstart your mornings or elevate your snack game?
Instant Pot Apple Butter might just be what you’ve been searching for! This mouth-watering, homemade apple butter offers a rich, velvety spread that’s both sweet and spiced, transforming your everyday bread and desserts into culinary masterpieces.
What’s fantastic about using an Instant Pot for this apple butter recipe is the ease and speed. No more standing in front of the stove, stirring for hours!
With the Instant Pot, you can achieve the same delectable results in a fraction of the time. Imagine the sweet aroma of apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg wafting through your home as the Instant Pot works its magic. It’s nothing short of olfactory bliss!
This apple butter recipe is a breeze, calling for simple ingredients like apples, brown and granulated sugar, water, and an ensemble of spices, including cinnamon, vanilla, and cloves. Lemon juice adds a touch of tanginess, balancing out the sweetness beautifully. And when it comes to the preparation, the Instant Pot makes it incredibly straightforward, doing most of the heavy lifting for you.
So, how to make apple butter that’s truly exceptional? The key lies in using high-quality apples and spices and allowing the mixture to thicken to your preferred consistency. You’ll know it’s done when it’s rich, creamy, and utterly irresistible.
And for those who are new to homemade spreads, trust us: once you try your hand at this Instant Pot apple butter, you won’t look back.
Whether you’re looking to spread it on toast, pair it with cheeses on a charcuterie board, or even dollop it over ice cream, Instant Pot Apple Butter offers endless possibilities. So, go ahead and give this delightful treat a try. You won’t regret it!
Homemade Apple Butter: Ingredients & Equipment
To make Instant Pot Apple Butter, you will need …
Ingredients
- apples – to make apple butter, you will need apples.
- light brown sugar and granulated sugar – the sweeteners.
- water and lemon juice – the liquids.
- ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, and salt – all the spices and seasonings you will need to make your own homemade apple butter!
Equipment
- Instant Pot – to cook your apple butter in.
- spatula or utensil – for stirring.
- immersion blender – to process your apples into a smooth and creamy puree.
How to make Apple Butter
Prepare the apples. Pare, core, and cut the apples into large pieces.
Add ingredients to the Instant Pot. Place the apples into the instant pot. Then add the rest of the ingredients and stir gently to coat the apples.
Cover. Cover the Instant Pot with the lid and make sure the pressure valve is set to sealed.
Cook. Cook on manual pressure for 10 minutes.
Naturally release, then quick release. Once the timer goes off, let the pressure naturally release for 15 minutes, and then flip the pressure valve to do a quick release to release the rest of the pressure.
Blend the apples. Using an immersion blender, blend the apples so that they make a smooth consistency.
Saute the mixture. Turn on the saute function of the instant pot (to the lower heat/“ – ” option) and saute for 20-30 minutes to thicken the apple butter. Make sure to stir constantly to make sure it does not burn.
Cool. Once it has thickened, allow the apple butter to cool. It will continue to thicken.
Serve. Serve on toast, ice cream, with charcuterie boards, etc.
Instant Pot Apple Butter: FAQs
For a well-rounded flavor, it’s best to use a mix of sweet and tart apple varieties. Fuji, Honeycrisp, and Granny Smith are excellent choices.
Yes, you can omit the sugar if you prefer a less sweet apple butter. The natural sugars in the apples will still provide some sweetness.
When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, it can last up to two weeks. For longer storage, you can freeze it for up to a year.
Peeling is optional. If you prefer a smoother texture, peel the apples. If you’re okay with a more rustic feel, keep the skins on.
The apple butter will thicken as you sauté it. If it’s still too runny, you can add a bit of cornstarch to achieve your preferred consistency.
Apple butter is incredibly versatile. Use it on toast, in oatmeal, as a topping for ice cream, or even as an ingredient in baked goods. It’s a great filling for pastries, a marinade for meats, and even as a mix-in for yogurt or smoothies.
Yes, but make sure you don’t exceed the maximum fill line on your Instant Pot. Adjust cooking times as needed.
While this post focuses on the convenience of using an Instant Pot, you can certainly adapt the apple butter recipe for stovetop or slow cooker methods. However, using an Instant Pot significantly reduces the cooking time.
Apart from refrigeration and freezing, you can also can the apple butter using sterilized jars for long-term storage. Make sure to follow safe canning practices.
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Instant Pot Apple Butter
Equipment
Ingredients
- 5 pounds apples
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Pare, core, and cut the apples into large pieces.
- Place the apples into the Instant Pot, and then add the rest of the ingredients and stir gently to coat the apples.
- Cover the Instant Pot with the lid and make sure the pressure valve is set to sealed.
- Cook on manual pressure for 10 minutes.
- Once the timer goes off, let the pressure naturally release for 15 minutes, and then flip the pressure valve to do a quick release to release the rest of the pressure.
- Using an immersion blender, blend the apples so that they make a smooth consistency.
- Turn on the saute function of the Instant Pot (to the lower heat/“ – ” option) and saute for 20-30 minutes to thicken the apple butter. Make sure to stir constantly to make sure it does not burn.
- Once it has thickened, allow the apple butter to cool. It will continue to thicken as it cools.
- Serve or store.
Notes
- The apple butter will thicken as you saute it. If it is still not to your preferred consistency, you can add 1/2 tablespoon of cornstarch to thicken it up. It will also thicken up in the refrigerator.
- For a well-rounded flavor, it's best to use a mix of sweet and tart apple varieties. Fuji, Honeycrisp, and Granny Smith are excellent choices.
- When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, it can last up to two weeks. For longer storage, you can freeze it for up to a year.
- Peeling is optional. If you prefer a smoother texture, peel the apples. If you're okay with a more rustic feel, keep the skins on.
- You can add a splash of apple cider for an extra kick.
Nutrition
Please note that the nutritional information listed on this page is an estimation based on the products I used. Ingredients and nutritional information can vary significantly between brands. Always be sure to read labels. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Likewise, recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them.
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