Apple Butter
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Martha Stewart Living, October 1996
- Yield Makes 2 cups
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Ingredients
- 20 (about 6 1/2 pounds) apples, such as Empire or Golden Delicious, peeled, cored, and quartered
- 1 cup apple cider
- 2 tablespoons Calvados, a French apple brandy (regular brandy can be substituted)
- 1 large cinnamon stick
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground mace
- 1 small pinch of ground cloves
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Directions
- Combine apples, apple cider, Calvados, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, mace, cloves, sugar, and lemon juice in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan. Place mixture over medium-high heat, and cook, stirring often with a large wooden spoon to prevent scorching, until apples are broken down and saucy, about 1 hour. Mash any large pieces of apple with large wooden spoon to help them break down.
- Reduce heat to medium. Using a rubber spatula, scrape out apple mixture from pan, and transfer to a small saucepan. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until apples are completely broken down and butter is very thick and dark, about 2 1/2 hours. Remove from the heat, and let stand to cool.
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I thought in reading the recipe that it would be very adaptable. I used both apples and pears for my fruit butter. Towards the last hour I felt it needed a boost. I added about 1/4 cup of dark brown sugar. It didn't make the recipe too sweet. This will definitely be my go-to recipe. It's easy and delicious. But you do want to have time to tend to it.
I use a crock pot to simmer all my "butters" this recipe has too many ingredients for apple butter. guess its the "high dollar apple butter" I just cut out the things i wouldnt use anymore with any other recipes..cardomon and mace. whatever you have for spices is fine. i also use "al spice" in place of one. do your own tasting and see what you like.
There is another Recipe listed for apple butter and that is the one that they used on the show with Chevy Chase. It doesn't require sugar. When you type Apple Butter into the search and the options come up its the first recipe for apple butter.
on the show it said to bake the butter - this recipe says to cook on the stovetop - which one is correct?