Sugar-Free Apple Butter

Homemade sugar-free apple butter is a healthy and delicious fall treat made right on the stovetop (no slow cooker needed).

There’s a moment at the beginning of each fall when giant heaps of multicolored apples seem to overshadow pretty much everything at the farmers market. It’s this punctuation in time when the sun is still strong yet the air is crisp, and those apples smell really good, that you realize you’re pretty ready to transition into the next season.

It’s at this time that I tend to buy way too many said apples. Which is an issue for one tiny reason: Rene and I don’t actually like eating them.

I mean, they’re fine dipped in peanut butter or tossed into a kale salad, but we’re not the kind of people who happily munch on apples during snacktime. Thus, this sugar-free apple butter is the solution to our fall apple conundrum.

(September 2025 Update: This recipe was originally published in 2020 and has since become a staple for me, so I’ve updated the article with more helpful tips and step-by-step photos.)

What is Apple Butter

First things first: there is no actual butter involved. “Apple butter” simply refers to apples that are cooked down into a sweet, concentrated paste that you can spread on toast and lots of other things – much like actual butter.

The Difference Between Apple Butter and Applesauce

Apple butter and applesauce are made in a similar fashion: both consist of apples that are cooked until soft, then puréed.

What sets apple butter apart is that you continue to cook the sauce after you have puréed it. This step cooks out excess moisture, which thickens the sauce, concentrates its flavor, and helps the apples’ sweetness shine.

Notes on Ingredients

• Apples: Since this recipe uses whole apples with skins on, you may want to go with organic. (Conventional apples are often coated with food-grade wax and/or have high levels of pesticide residue.) You can use any kind of apples you have, be they sweet, tart, mealy, crisp, etc.
• Spices: Cinnamon is pretty common in apple butter; I like to add a little nutmeg, too. You can also use dried ginger, pumpkin spice, or vanilla extract, or skip spices altogether.
• Water: Keeps the apples from burning during cooking.
• No sugar! Traditional apple butter can house a lot of sugar. This is partly to make it sweet and partly because sugar acts as a preservative. Since we are not canning this apple butter for the long term, it doesn’t actually need added sweetener. This technique coaxes out the apples’ natural sugar, resulting in spreadable, sweet-tart goodness.

No Need to Peel

One of my favorite attributes of this recipe is that the apples don’t need to be peeled, which is a big time-saver. This also means the apples hold on to all the fiber and micronutrients in the skin.

How to Make Sugar-Free Apple Butter (Step-by-Step Photos)

Find complete instructions with ingredient amounts in the recipe card below.

Step 1: Put Everything in a Pot

Put the cored and chopped apples, spices (if using), and water in a medium pot. Cover with a lid and bring to a boil.

Step 2: Simmer the Apples

Then turn the heat down to medium-low, and cook until the apples are soft and starting to break down, at least 20 minutes.

Step 3: Purée

Purée until the mixture is smooth. A food processor or Vitamix are best for this job, but an immersion blender will work too.

Step 4: Continue Cooking

Return the sauce to the pot and cook over very low heat, stirring the sauce frequently to prevent it from burning on the bottom, until it is thickened, darker in color, and tastes more concentrated, about 15 minutes.

Step 5: Cool and Store

Cool the apple butter, transfer to an airtight container, and keep in the fridge. Consume within about 2 weeks.

Serving Suggestions

Sugar-free apple butter is best enjoyed on delicious crusty bread, either by itself, with butter, or with nut butter. It’s also fabulous on cornmeal pancakes, whole wheat waffles, and oatmeal. You can also use it in desserts like linzer bars and thumbprint cookies.

More Sweet Treats to Try

• Sugar-Free Date Brownies
• Carrot Oatmeal Cookies
• Vegan Banana “Ice Cream”
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Date Bark

Let me know if you try this recipe! Give it a rating below and leave a comment, and don’t forget to tag your creation with @thenewbaguette on Instagram.

The Full Recipe