• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Southern Bytes
  • All Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Shop
  • Subscribe
  • Instant Pot Recipes
  • Dog Food & Treat Recipes
  • Recipe Stories
  • Cooking Method
    • 30 Minute Recipes
    • Crock-Pot Recipes
    • Deep Fryer Recipes
    • Dehydrator Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Oven Recipes
  • Recipe Courses
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Bread
    • Breakfast
    • Condiments
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Main Courses
    • Salads
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Soups, Chilis, & Stews
  • By Diet Type
    • Dairy-Free Recipes
    • Gluten-Free Recipes
    • Keto Recipes
    • Kid Friendly Recipes
    • Paleo Recipes
    • Whole30 Recipes
    • Vegan Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
  • By Cuisine Type
    • Asian Inspired Recipes
    • Cajun Recipes
    • Italian Recipes
    • Jamaican Inspired Recipes
    • Mexican Inspired Recipes
    • Southern Recipes
    • Spanish Recipes
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • facebook icon
    • pinterest icon
    • email icon
    • instagram icon
    • twitter icon
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • All Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Shop
  • Subscribe
  • Instant Pot Recipes
  • Dog Food & Treat Recipes
  • Recipe Stories
  • Cooking Method
    • 30 Minute Recipes
    • Crock-Pot Recipes
    • Deep Fryer Recipes
    • Dehydrator Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Oven Recipes
  • Recipe Courses
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Bread
    • Breakfast
    • Condiments
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Main Courses
    • Salads
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Soups, Chilis, & Stews
  • By Diet Type
    • Dairy-Free Recipes
    • Gluten-Free Recipes
    • Keto Recipes
    • Kid Friendly Recipes
    • Paleo Recipes
    • Whole30 Recipes
    • Vegan Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
  • By Cuisine Type
    • Asian Inspired Recipes
    • Cajun Recipes
    • Italian Recipes
    • Jamaican Inspired Recipes
    • Mexican Inspired Recipes
    • Southern Recipes
    • Spanish Recipes
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Courses » Condiments

    Maple and Bourbon Apple Butter

    Published: August 31, 2020 by Kari · Leave a Comment · This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you.

    RECIPE ↓
    a pin image of a jar of bourbon apple butter with a spoon resting on top and two cinnamon sticks.
    a pin image of a jar of apple butter with a spoon resting on top.
    a pin image of a jar of bourbon apple butter with a spoon resting on top.
    a pin image of a jar of apple butter with a spoon on top and two cinnamon sticks.
    a pin image of a jar of bourbon apple butter with a spoon resting on top and two cinnamon sticks.

    Slow Cooker Maple & Bourbon Apple Butter is such a wonderful - and easy - way to enjoy apples. Just prep the apples and let your slow cooker do all the work. While it cooks, your house will fill up with all of the beautiful aromas of Fall - apples, cinnamon, maple, and bourbon.

    a jar of apple butter with a dish towel, a spoon, cinnamon sticks, and some apples.

    We love any chance to have apple pie, apple crisp, or applesauce and this apple butter tastes just like a flavorful bite of the delicious filling of a pie. Spread it on your favorite biscuits and have a nibble of apple pie for breakfast.

    PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER!

    🥘 Ingredient Notes

    the ingredients in maple apple butter in small bowls, labeled.
    • Sweet Apples - Gala, Honeycrisp, and Macintosh are best.
    • Cinnamon (Optional cinnamon sticks as well.)
    • Vanilla Extract
    • Bourbon - I like to use Bulleit Bourbon and have also used Woodford Reserve, but you can use your favorite bourbon - whatever you have in the house. You can also use apple juice or apple cider if you do not consume alcohol.
    • Maple Syrup
    • Nutmeg
    • Ground Cloves
    • Kosher Salt

    * Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredient amounts & instructions!

    🍽 Equipment Needed

    • A Slow Cooker or Large Pot
    • A KitchenAid Spiralizer or Paring Knife/Cutting Board
    • A Rubber Spatula
    • An Immersion Blender, Regular Blender, or Food Processor
    • Measuring Cups and Measuring Spoons
    • Mason Jars for Storing

    🥣 How to Make It

    Apple butter is really easy to make - the time-consuming part is peeling and cutting up all of your apples. I like to use the spiralizer attachment for my KitchenAid Mixer - it makes little piles of apple rings, and then I just roughly slice the piles into quarters. It takes a LOT less time.

    If you do not have the mixer attachment, use a sharp paring knife to remove the skin from the apples - if you leave a little on, it's okay. Next, cut the apples into quarters around the core, then roughly cut the meat of the apples into thin slices.

    an apple slicer slicing an apple.

    Once apples are peeled and cut up, just add all of your ingredients to your slow cooker and mix it all together. Top with a cinnamon stick if you want. (Pictures 1 - 5)

    a collage of images showing how to make apple butter, steps 1 - 5.

    Cover and cook on low for 8 - 10 hours or on High for 4 - 5 hours, stirring halfway through the cooking process. (Picture 7) The apples will get a little softer and they will smell like boozy cider. (Picture 8)

    When 8 hours (on low) or 4 hours (on high) has elapsed the apples should be really soft. (Picture 8) Use an immersion blender to puree the apples. (Picture 9) (If you do not have an immersion blender, transfer the apples to a blender or a food processor and carefully blend them up. Blending hot ingredients is dangerous, so be careful that you don't burn yourself.)

    Return the blended apples to the hot crockpot. At this point, you will basically have thick applesauce (you can stop here if you want applesauce - it is REALLY yummy!) (Picture 10)

    a collage of images showing how to make apple butter, steps 6 - 10.

    The last step is to turn the heat off but leave the lid on the crockpot and let it sit for one more hour. The residual heat will thicken the butter up and make it so good.

    a crock pot with apple butter in it.

    After an hour has passed, stir the butter and transfer to jars. Let the butter cool and store it in the refrigerator. It will keep for about three weeks or you can freeze it for 3 to 4 months (just make sure to leave room in your jars for expansion.)

    a jar of apple butter with a spoon in it next to a dish towel, cinnamon sticks, and some apples.

    🙋‍♀️ Frequently Asked Questions

    I don't drink alcohol - can I use something else in place of bourbon?

    Of course. If you don't want to use bourbon, replace it with apple juice or apple cider - just reduce the amount of maple that you use as the juice will add sugar and the apple butter will get very sweet.

    Can this apple butter be canned?

    Unfortunately, no. This recipe has not been tested for canning.

    What kind of apples are best for making apple butter?

    Contrary to what you might think, you want to use sweet apples for making apple butter unlike baking, where you use more tart apples like Granny Smith. For apple butter, I like to use Gala, Honey Crisp (favorite), Macintosh, or Fuji. Red or Golden Delicious apples are sweet and flavorful as well - almost like honey, but I have noticed that they are a little juicier, so if you use these varieties, you might need to cook your apples longer to get them to fully thicken up into butter.

    🍳 Serving Suggestions & Uses

    I love apple butter spread onto homemade drop biscuits, banana bread, or even pancakes. I even like mixing apple butter INTO pancake batter or cookies - sometimes I even eat it off a spoon or use it to make apple butter pop-tarts.

    Button linking to the Pinterest page for Southern Bytes.

    🥫 Storage/Shelf Life/Reheating

    Apple butter will keep in the fridge for 3 weeks or in the freezer for 3 to 4 months. If freezing, remember to leave a little bit of space in the jar. Also, remember that it is not shelf-stable, so if you give this apple butter as a gift, you must be sure that it is kept cold.

    ✏️ Helpful Tips

    • Make apple butter early in the day so that it has plenty of time to cool before you need to put it away.
    • You can prepare this apple butter long in advance of needing to use it and store it in the freezer, allowing 24 hours in the refrigerator to defrost. (Stir before serving as it might separate while defrosting.)
    • If you taste the apples before blending them up - they are SO good. You can eat them as stewed apples, puree some as maple bourbon applesauce, or as the recipe suggests - continue cooking to make apple butter!
    a jar of apple butter with a dish towel, a spoon, cinnamon sticks, and some apples.

    Other Great Fall Recipes

    • Pup-kin Spice Dog Treats
    • Apple Cinnamon Scones
    • Bourbon Spiced Pumpkin Butter
    • Sweet and Spicy Candied Bourbon Pecans

    Have You Tried This Recipe?
    Please rate it and leave a comment below. I would love to hear what you think!

    a jar of apple butter with a dish towel, a spoon, and an apple.

    Maple and Bourbon Apple Butter - Slow Cooker

    4.5 from 2 votes
    Slow Cooker Maple & Bourbon Apple Butter is such a wonderful - and easy - way to enjoy apples. Just prep the apples and let your slow cooker do all the work. While it cooks, your house will fill up with all of the beautiful aromas of Fall - apples, cinnamon, maple, and bourbon.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Saved!
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 8 hrs
    Resting Time 1 hr
    Total Time 9 hrs 15 mins
    Course Breakfast, Condiments, Snack
    Cuisine American, Southern
    Servings 32
    Calories 46

    Equipment

    • a crockpot or slow cooker
    • a rubber spatula or spoon for stirring
    • measuring spoons
    • measuring cups
    • a wide mouth mason jar
    • spiralizer attachment for KitchenAid Mixer
    • paring knife

    Ingredients
      

    • 3 pounds apples, sliced Sweet Apples - Gala, Honeycrisp, or Macintosh - NOT Granny Smith
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ cup bourbon or substitute apple cider/juice
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon nutmeg
    • ½ cup maple syrup
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves

    Optional

    • 1 - 2 cinnamon sticks

    Instructions
     

    Peel and Dice Your Apples

    • Begin by peeling and cutting up all of the apples. I like to use the attachment for my KitchenAid Mixer - it makes little piles of apple rings, and then I just slice the piles into quarters. It takes a LOT less time.
      an apple slicer slicing an apple.
    • If you do not have the mixer attachment, use a sharp paring knife to remove the skin from the apples - if you leave a little on, it's okay.
    • Next, cut the apples into quarters around the core, then roughly cut the meat of the apples into thin slices.
      a bowl of sliced apples being dumped in a crock pot.

    In a Slow Cooker

    • Once apples are peeled and cut up, just add all of your ingredients to your slow cooker.
      a crockpot with sliced apples in it.
    • Mix it all together and top with a cinnamon stick if you want.
      a crockpot with apples coated in cinnamon and maple in it.
    • Cover and cook on low for 8 - 10 hours or on High for 4 - 5 hours, stirring halfway through the cooking process. The apples will get a little softer and they will smell like boozy cider.
      a crockpot with cooked apples coated in cinnamon in it.
    • When 8 hours (on low) or 4 hours (on high) has elapsed the apples should be really soft.
      a crockpot with cooked apples in it.
    • Use an immersion blender to puree the apples. (If you do not have an immersion blender, transfer the apples to a blender or a food processor and carefully blend them up. Blending hot ingredients is dangerous, so be careful that you don't burn yourself.)
      a crockpot with cooked apples in it and an immersion blender.
    • Return the blended apples to the hot crockpot. At this point, you will basically have thick applesauce (you can stop here if you want applesauce - it is REALLY yummy!)
      a crockpot with apple butter, an immersion blender, and a red spatula in it.
    • The last step is to turn the heat off but leave the lid on the crockpot and let it sit for one more hour. The residual heat will thicken the butter up and make it so good.
      a crock pot with apple butter in it.
    • After an hour has passed, stir the butter and transfer to jars. Let the butter cool and store it in the refrigerator. It will keep for about three weeks or you can freeze it for 3 to 4 months (just make sure to leave room in your jars for expansion.)

    On the Stove

    • Add all ingredients to a large pot or dutch oven and bring the heat to medium/medium-low. Once the liquids start to boil/bubble, stir and reduce heat to low.
    • Let apples cook for 45 minutes - 1 hour, stirring every 15 - 20 minutes.
    • After 1 hour, the apples should be really soft. If they are not, cook for another 30 minutes.
    • Next, use an immersion blender to puree the apples. (If you do not have an immersion blender, transfer the apples to a blender or a food processor and carefully blend them up. Blending hot ingredients is dangerous, so be careful that you don't burn yourself.)
    • Return the blended apples to the warm pot. At this point, you will basically have thick applesauce (you can stop here if you want applesauce - it is REALLY yummy!)
    • Turn the heat off but leave the lid on the pot and let it sit on the burner for one more hour. The residual heat will thicken the butter up and make it so good.
    • After an hour has passed, stir the butter and transfer to jars. Let the butter cool and store it in the refrigerator. It will keep for about three weeks or you can freeze it for 3 to 4 months (just make sure to leave room in your jars for expansion.)

    Notes

    Maple Bourbon Apple Butter will keep in the fridge for 3 weeks or in the freezer for 3 to 4 months. Remember that it is not shelf-stable, so if you give it as a gift, make sure it is kept cold.
    Tips
    • Make apple butter early in the day so that it has plenty of time to cool before you need to put it away.
    • You can prepare this apple butter long in advance of needing to use it and store it in the freezer, allowing 24 hours in the refrigerator to defrost. (Stir before serving as it might separate while defrosting.)
    • If you taste the apples before blending them up - they are SO good. You can eat them as stewed apples, puree some as maple bourbon applesauce, or as the recipe suggests - continue cooking to make apple butter!
     
    Frequently Asked Questions
    I don't drink alcohol - can I use something else in place of bourbon?
    Of course. If you don't want to use bourbon, replace it with apple juice or apple cider - just reduce the amount of maple that you use as the juice will add sugar and the apple butter will get very sweet.
    Can this apple butter be canned?
    Unfortunately, no. This recipe has not been tested for canning.
    What kind of apples are best for making apple butter?
    Contrary to what you might think, you want to use sweet apples for making apple butter unlike baking, where you use more tart apples like Granny Smith. For apple butter, I like to use Gala, Honey Crisp (favorite), Macintosh, or Fuji. Red or Golden Delicious apples are sweet and flavorful as well - almost like honey, but I have noticed that they are a little juicier, so if you use these varieties, you might need to cook your apples longer to get them to fully thicken up into butter.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2tbspCalories: 46kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 19mgPotassium: 58mgFiber: 1gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 23IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 12mgIron: 1mg

    Nutrition information is approximate and is automatically calculated, so should only be used as a guide.

    Keyword apple butter, maple bourbon apple butter, slow cooker apple butter
    Tried this recipe?Mention @southernbytes or tag #southernbytes!
    « Sweet and Spicy Bourbon Candied Pecans
    Quick & Easy, Cherry Tomato Salsa »

    About Kari

    I am a WordPress Developer, Food Blogger, and Health Coach. I love to cook and experiment with fun new recipes. I hope you enjoy!

    Reader Interactions

    Please let me know what you think about the recipe :) Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Kari!

    I am a WordPress developer, food blogger, and health coach. I love to cook and experiment with fun new recipes. I hope you enjoy!

    Want to cook like Southern Bytes? Check out our shop!

    Recent Posts

    A white dish with crispy fried chicken tenders on it.

    Buttermilk Fried Chicken Tenders

    A bowl of creamy southern potato salad with a mustard based dressing.

    Easy Southern Potato Salad

    Cornmeal crusted fried okra draining on a paper towel.

    Crispy Fried Okra

    A collage of 8 leftover ham recipes.

    25+ Leftover Ham Recipes

    A fancy spoon with dried honeysuckle blossoms on it.

    How to Dehydrate Honeysuckle Blossoms

    A small bowl of honeysuckle simple syrup on a white tea towel with flowers scattered around and half an orange

    Honeysuckle Simple Syrup

    Browse Recipes

    • Kari's Favorite Southern Bytes Recipes
    • Paleo Recipes
    • Courses
    • Dog Food & Treat Recipes

    Spring Recipes

    A bowl of creamy southern potato salad with a mustard based dressing.

    Easy Southern Potato Salad

    A small bowl of honeysuckle simple syrup on a white tea towel with flowers scattered around and half an orange

    Honeysuckle Simple Syrup

    A hand holding a glass of honeysuckle sweet tea.

    Honeysuckle Tea

    A hand holding a buttermilk muffin.

    Buttermilk Muffins

    A large pyrex measuring cup with pickles and onions in a brine in it.

    How to Make Dill Pickles

    A bowl of pasta salad and a wooden spoon, zoomed in.

    Easy Pasta Salad (Mom's Recipe)

    More Spring Favs >>

    Summer Recipes

    A white dish with crispy fried chicken tenders on it.

    Buttermilk Fried Chicken Tenders

    A bowl of creamy southern potato salad with a mustard based dressing.

    Easy Southern Potato Salad

    Cornmeal crusted fried okra draining on a paper towel.

    Crispy Fried Okra

    A small bowl of honeysuckle simple syrup on a white tea towel with flowers scattered around and half an orange

    Honeysuckle Simple Syrup

    A hand holding a glass of honeysuckle sweet tea.

    Honeysuckle Tea

    A hand holding a buttermilk muffin.

    Buttermilk Muffins

    More Summer Favs >>

    Southern Bytes has been Featured By:

    Footer


    Southern Bytes has been Featured By:

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Shop
    • Reader Opinions

    Newsletter

    • Subscribe to Get Recipes

    Contact

    • Contact
    • About

    Copyright © 2020 - Southern Bytes

    • 93
    515 shares