Description
Homemade sugar-free apple butter is a healthy and delicious fall treat made right on the stovetop (no slow cooker needed). Enjoy on toast, pancakes, waffles, or oatmeal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds (5 to 6 small) organic apples, cored and cut into 1-inch chunks* (see note below)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon*
- About 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (optional)
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a medium pot. Cover with a lid and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer with the lid ajar until the apples are softened and beginning to break down, stirring occasionally, 20 to 25 minutes*.
- Transfer to a food processor or Vitamix (reserve the pot), and purée until smooth.
- Transfer the purée back to the pot and place over low heat. Cook uncovered, stirring about every 2 minutes to prevent the bottom from burning, until the mixture thickens, takes on a slightly darker color, and has a more concentrated apple flavor, 12 to 15 minutes.
- Cool to room temperature, transfer to an airtight container, store in the fridge, and consume within 2 weeks.
Notes
- 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.
- You can sub these spices with pumpkin spice, use dried ginger or vanilla extract, or skip spices altogether.
- Note that cook time may vary as all apples have varying sugar and moisture contents.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of the recipe
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 0 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15.9 g
- Fiber: 2.3 g
- Protein: 0.5 g
