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Apple Butter Recipe

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Apple butter is like a thicker and spicier version of applesauce. It is great on toast, crackers, cornbread, pancakes etc., or over ice cream. Make it as plain or as spiced-up as you like. This recipe is a good starting place. If you don't want to bother with canning, just freeze whatever apple butter you won't be using within a week.

Apple Butter Recipe (+)

Directions

If you will be canning the apple butter, get suitable jars, lids and rings ready. In a large pot or water bath canner, cover jars with water and boil 10 minutes. Turn off heat and drop lids in.
Peel, core and cut up the apples. Combine with the cider or water and cook until the apples are soft.
Add sugar, salt, spices and, if using, the juice and zest from a lemon. Continue to cook over low heat, stirring frequently to prevent sticking, until the mixture is very thick. (Test by scooping up a heaping spoonful. The mixture should keep its rounded shape and not flatten out.)
To process: with tongs, remove a jar from the hot water, fill it to 1/2 inch from the top with apple butter, wipe the rim clean and retrieve a lid from the hot water. Put the lid on, snug down a ring and return the filled jar to the pan of hot water. Continue until all jars are filled and/or the butter is gone.
Return the pan of filled jars to the stove. Add more hot water if necessary to completely cover jars, then cover the pot and bring to a boil. Boil for 10 minutes. Allow to cool somewhat (or completely); carefully remove jars to a dry surface. Cool completely before removing sealing rings. Check for seals following lid manufacturer's instructions. Freeze any that don't seal or refrigerate and use soon.

Container: large pans, half-pint jars with lids suitable for canning

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

-		4 pounds apples -mix several varieties, if possible
-		2 cups sugar
-		1 cup apple cider or water
-		pinch salt
-		1 teaspoon cinnamon
-		1/2 teaspoon cloves
-		1/2 teaspoon allspice
-		1 lemon (optional)

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Glossary Terms

Apple Butter

A condiment made basically from pureed apples combined with sugar, cinnamon, and vinegar. It is used as a spread for muffins, bagels, toast, crackers, and cheese sandwiches, as a ...

Butt Ham

A processed cut taken from the top half of the leg. The butt end is meatier but contains more fat than the shank end of the whole ham and is harder to carve because it contains ...

Butter Knife

A small knife with a blunt edge blade that is used to apply spreads, such as butter, peanut butter, and cream cheese, on bread or dinner rolls. Butter knives will generally be the ...

Apple Wedger

A kitchen utensil that is used to cut whole apples into individual sliced wedges, while also cutting around the core so that the seeds and core can be easily discarded. This tool ...

Butter Substitute

Any of a variety of alternate ingredients that can be used instead of oil or butter in the preparation of foods. Substitute products exist with reduced fat and no fat and in ...