This sugar free apple butter recipe is perfect for autumn and only requires a handful of ingredients. This healthy apple spread has no-added sugar and simmers on your stovetop making your home smell like it is officially fall. This apple butter recipe will make your mouth water, and with no added sugar you can feel good about eating it too!
This apple butter is a favorite during autumn when fresh apples can be picked and are sweet and delicious, but you can make it any time of year as a great compliment to toast, a tasty pork roast or even on its own!
It's no secret, I love figuring out ways to cook and bake with less sugar, this recipe is just one of my favorite low sugar recipes. For some other no- sugar- added recipes check out my sugar free fig jam recipe, or my slow roasted no-sugar added tomato sauce!
Ingredients
This simple apple butter recipe with no sugar added only requires three simple ingredients. The most important ingredient (the apples) is critical to this recipe turning out well. I recommend a fuji, gala, or even golden delicious apple. You can also mix apple varieties. Fresh apples work best, as in picked within the last few days preferably from a local orchard, or even better your very own apple tree is ideal. I do not recommend using green apples or apples with hight water content like a honey crisp. Although this recipe is incredibly simple, when you use delicious apples there is no need for any other sweetener in this recipe.
- Apples
- Water
- Cinnamon Powder
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
This apple butter without sugar recipe is pretty hands off after the initial prep work.
Core and cut apples into about ¼ of an inch slices. You may chose to peel your apples but I prefer to leave the skin on. You can use an apple cutter for this but your pieces may be a little larger and require a bit more cooking time.
place cut apples into a large dutch oven - You can also use a crock pot for a more hands off approach.
add water and cinnamon.
Turn heat to medium low.
For about the first thirty minutes I stir frequently, until the mixture comes to a low boil. Then turn your stove to the lowest temperature setting possible and I allow apples to cook low and slow.
Allow apples to cook for approximately six hours depending on the water content of your apples and the size of your apple slices.
Every hour check the water level to be sure your apples aren't burning or you don't need to add more water (if using a crock pot you do not need to check periodically, just let simmer). Your home will smell amazing while this cooks.
When the apples can be easily mashed and most of the water has reduced down you can use an emersion blender to blend the apples until the consistency is smooth and creamy.
If you don't have an emersion blender either take a large wooden spoon or a potato masher and start mashing the apples into a creamy consistency.
For either method you may need to remove a little bit of cooking liquid with a ladle until your preferred consistency is reached. I like my apple butter to be a little bit thicker than apple sauce.
Once blended allow to cool just a bit and then ladle mixture into jars. If canning I recommend warming the jars prior to adding the apple butter.
Hint: Remove excess cooking liquid with a ladle to get the perfect texture and consistency.
Substitutions
This sugar free apple butter recipe is so simple it's fairly easy to come up with all of the ingredients, however if you need to sub out the cinnamon powder, cinnamon sticks will work as well.
- Cinnamon - Instead of using cinnamon powder you can substitute four to five fresh cinnamon sticks
If you choose to use cinnamon sticks in your apple butter it is important to remove the sticks before blending.
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. I like to use an enamel coated cast iron dutch oven for this recipe, it distributes heat evenly and has less potential to burn during the long simmer time.
I use an emersion blender because I prefer apple butter with a smooth consistency, although this step isn't necessary if you prefer a chunkier cons
If you chose to can this recipe or if you simple want to package your apple butter to give out as gifts I really love small sized mason jars to package the apple butter.
Equipment Used in This Recipe
Storage
You can store this sugar free apple butter in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also freeze this apple butter for up to three months in freezer safe jars.
This recipe can be canned. If you chose to can this recipe I recommend this book.
Sugar Free Apple Butter
This sugar free apple butter will make your mouth water and while it's cooking your home will smell like it is officially autumn.
Ingredients
- 5 pounds of medium sized fresh apples
- 7 cups of filtered water
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon powder
Instructions
1. Core and cut apples into about ¼ of an inch slices. You may chose to peel your apples but I prefer to leave the skin on. You can use an apple cutter for this but your pieces may be a little larger and require a bit more cooking time.
2. place cut apples into a large dutch oven.
3. add water and cinnamon to the dutch oven, mix ingredients until cinnamon is distributed throughout.
4. Turn heat to medium low and allow the mixture to come to a soft boil.
5. Stir frequently for about the first thirty minutes.
6. Turn the stove to the lowest temperature setting possible and allow apples to cook low and slow.
7. Allow apples to cook for approximately six hours depending on the water content of your apples and the size of your apple slices.
8. Every hour check the water level to be sure your apples aren't burning or you don't need to add more water. Your home will smell amazing while this cooks.
9. When the apples can be easily mashed and most of the water has reduced down you can use an emersion blender to blend the apples until the consistency is smooth and creamy.
10. If you don't have an emersion blender either take a large wooden spoon or a potato masher and start mashing the apples into a creamy consistency.
For either method you may need to remove a little bit of cooking liquid with a ladle until your preferred consistency is reached. I like my apple butter to be a little bit thicker than apple sauce.
11. Once blended allow to cool just a bit and then ladle mixture into jars. If canning I recommend warming the jars prior to adding the apple butter.
Food safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
