• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Amish Heritage
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • About Me
  • About Amish
  • Recipes
    • Main Dish Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Amish Bread
    • Amish Desserts
      • Amish Pies
      • Amish Cookies and Bars
  • Privacy
  • Newsletter
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • About Me
    • About Amish
    • Recipes
      • Main Dish Recipes
      • Side Dishes
      • Amish Bread
      • Amish Desserts
        • Amish Pies
        • Amish Cookies and Bars
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Amish Recipes

    Amish Apple Butter Recipe

    04/30/2023 by Anna 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Amish Apple Butter

    Amish apple butter is a thick and smooth spread made from cooked apples, sugar, and spices. It is a traditional recipe that has been passed down for generations among the Amish community.

    To make Amish apple butter, apples are first peeled, cored, and chopped into small pieces. They are then cooked down until they are soft and tender. The cooked apples are then blended until they form a smooth puree, namely applesauce.

    homemade apple butter in two jars with a wooden board and red towel

    Sugar and spices are added to the puree, and the mixture is cooked or baked for several hours until it thickens and darkens in color. The cooking process allows the sugars in the apples to caramelize and deepen the flavor of the butter.

    This post contains affiliate links...

    Oven Apple Butter from Applesauce

    As previously mentioned in another post, my family consumed lots and lots of applesauce. Therefore, every autumn, the women in our family spent hours cutting and cooking numerous bushels of apples to transform them into applesauce. (We used a Victoria strainer to make applesauce.) It was a big job, and one we were relieved to have finished for another year.

    And during the applesauce-making process, my mom would set some aside to create apple butter. It was like getting two birds with one stone (as the saying goes), to also can apple butter while we were cutting apples anyway.

    I know that some families prefer the traditional method of cooking apples and making the butter in a large crock over an open flame. And others like to slow-cook their apple butter in a crock pot.

    But we always made apple butter from applesauce and baked it in the oven.

    So, there are numerous methods of making apple butter that works. And it doesn't really matter which method you use. The goal is to cook it for several hours to allow the moisture in the apples to evaporate, which thickens the mixture into a spreadable consistency. And it helps to intensify the flavors.

    In this post, I am sharing my Amish mom's apple butter recipe. And it's up to you if you want to use fresh apples and turn them into a sauce. Or if you want to take the easy route and open a couple of cans of applesauce to turn it into apple butter. Either way will work.

    ingredients: applesauce, brown sugar, cider vinegar, and cinnamon
    roaster full of Amish apple butter ready to bake

    Small Batch Apple Butter

    My mom's apple butter recipe was for 16 cups of applesauce. However, I divided it in half to make a smaller batch. And if it's still too much for you, you can easily divide the recipe in half again.

    Spices

    This recipe for homemade Amish apple butter uses only cinnamon for spices. And it is delicious! However, I also love it with a bit more spices.

    And this is where you can get creative and create a flavor profile that you will love. However, when adding more spices, it's important to be cautious and begin with smaller amounts as they can easily overpower the other flavors and ruin the taste. While cinnamon and cloves are typical additions, nutmeg and allspice are also popular choices.

    Personally, I added 1/4 tsp each of cloves and allspice. But I recommend starting with 1/8 tsp of the spices you prefer and gradually increasing until you achieve your desired flavor.

    jar full of homemade apple butter
    apple butter on a dinner roll

    Preserving

    Homemade apple butter doesn't have a very long shelf life, or should I say "refrigerator life". It will only be good in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks to a month.

    And if you're like me, you won't use a couple of quarts of apple butter in a month. So how can we preserve it to make it last longer?

    My mom always made a big batch and canned it. And if you choose to can it, you will need to water bath the jars of hot apple butter for about 15 - 20 minutes. (And if you're not familiar with water bath canning, you will need to educate yourself first.)

    But since this is a smaller batch, I just freeze mine in small airtight freezer containers. (You could also freeze it in cute little jars. And these jars of apple butter also make great gifts.)

    Just make sure to leave a bit of space at the top of the jars since it will expand as it freezes. And whenever you want some apple butter, thaw a container in the refrigerator overnight. It will taste as fresh as the day you made it.

    How Long Is Apple Butter Good For?

    As stated, I wouldn't plan on apple butter lasting for more than a month in the refrigerator after the seal has been broken.

    However, if you store it in airtight containers in the freezer, it can last for up to a year. Alternatively, if you can it in jars with a reliable seal, it should be good for at least two years.

    apple butter on toast, a dish of apple butter, cinnamon sticks and apple slices

    How to Use Apple Butter

    Apple butter is a versatile spread that can be used in many ways. Here are some ideas for how to use apple butter:

    1. Spread on toast: One of the most popular ways to enjoy apple butter is to spread it on toast or English muffins for breakfast or as a snack.
    2. Use as a topping: You can also use apple butter as a topping for oatmeal, yogurt, pancakes, waffles, or ice cream.
    3. Incorporate into baked goods: You can add apple butter to baked goods like muffins, cakes, and bread to add a rich apple flavor and moist texture.
    4. Use as a glaze: Apple butter makes a delicious glaze for roasted meats like ham or pork, adding a sweet and tangy flavor.
    5. Use in savory dishes: Apple butter can be used to add a unique flavor to savory dishes like barbecue sauce, salad dressings, or marinades.
    6. And here is where I let you in on my secret. My very favorite way to eat apple butter is with cottage cheese. Especially on top of a piece of toast. If you've never tried this, don't judge me. (lol) But I absolutely love a piece of toast with a thin layer of apple butter and a thick layer of cottage cheese on top. Yummy!! One of my favorite foods for breakfast.

    These are just a few ideas for how to use apple butter. With its sweet and tangy flavor, apple butter is a versatile ingredient that can be used in many different ways to enhance your meals and snacks.

    More Amish Apple Recipes

    Apple Bread

    Apple Fritters

    Caramel Apple Dumplings

    Apple Schnitz Pie

    Dutch Apple Pie with Crumb Topping

    If you try this Amish apple butter recipe, I would love it if you left a comment and star rating below. I love to hear from y'all.

    wooden board, two jars of apple butter, and a red towel

    Amish Apple Butter Recipe

    Amish apple butter is a traditional spread made from slowly cooked applesauce, sugar, and spices, resulting in a smooth, thick texture and sweet, tangy flavor that's perfect on toast or biscuits. An easy oven-baked recipe that's made with applesauce.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 3 hours hrs
    Total Time 3 hours hrs 15 minutes mins
    Course Bread Spread, Canning
    Cuisine American, Amish
    Servings 80 servings
    Calories 44 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 8 c. unsweetened applesauce (approx. 3 1/2 lb. cooked apples)
    • 3 - 3 1/2 c. brown sugar
    • 1/2 c. apple cider vinegar or apple cider
    • 1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon

    Instructions
     

    • Mix all the ingredients and pour it into a roaster or baking dish.
      8 c. unsweetened applesauce (approx. 3 1/2 lb. cooked apples), 3 - 3 1/2 c. brown sugar, 1/2 c. apple cider vinegar or apple cider, 1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
    • Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 3 hours, stirring occasionally.
    • Pour into jars and cold pack for 15 - 20 minutes.
    • Or cool and put into airtight containers or jars (leave some headspace) and freeze. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
    • Keep refrigerated for up to a couple of weeks.

    Notes

    Feel free to add more spices as desired. This was my Amish mom's recipe, but I added 1/4 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. cloves, and 1/4 tsp. allspice to mine for added depth of flavor.
    *Nutrition is approximate.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1servingCalories: 44kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 0.1gFat: 0.03gSaturated Fat: 0.003gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.003gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.001gSodium: 3mgPotassium: 31mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 7IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 10mgIron: 0.1mg
    Keyword Amish Apple Butter Recipe, Oven Apple Butter, PA Dutch Apple Butter, Small Batch Apple Butter
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Amish Recipes

    • slice of spice cake with cinnamon buttercream frosting
      Chai Cake (Amish Spice Cake Recipe)
    • Amish fruit salad in a bowl and a large bowl of fruit salad in the background
      Amish Fruit Salad Recipe
    • 9x13" pan of breakfast casserole and one slice on a plate, brown towel and two brown eggs on the side
      Amish Breakfast Casserole Recipe
    • Amish pancakes topped with Nutella, berries, whipped cream, and maple syrup
      Amish Pancakes Recipe (Buttermilk Pancakes)

    Feel free to share!

    17 shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Margaret Burrows

      May 07, 2023 at 9:07 pm

      Do you have a traditional Applesauce recipe?

      Reply
      • Anna

        May 08, 2023 at 7:48 am

        I don't. We just washed & cut up apples
        My mom used yellow delicious. Added a little water to the pot - just enough to keep them from scorching. Stir them occasionally. Cook till soft, then put them through a Victoria strainer. Added a bit of sugar to taste and canned it. Water bathed to seal the jars. (If you don't have a Victoria strainer, you can core and peel the apples. Cook them and put through blender.)

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I’m Anna. I grew up Amish in the Lancaster County, Pa. area (the heart of Amish country). I currently live in a small rural town in Missouri and am a homeschool mom to 4 great kids. Some of my favorite things to do are spending time in the kitchen, (baking and preparing meals from scratch), gardening, and spending time with my lovely family.

    More about me →

    Recent

    • New Order Amish Youth girls
      Amish Rumspringa (Amish Youth)
    • slice of shortcake piled with berries and whipped cream
      Amish Strawberry Shortcake Recipe
    • Amish one hour yeast rolls in a basket with towel
      Amish Dinner Rolls (Quick Yeast Rolls)
    • small quick bread loaf slices
      Amish Banana Bread Recipe

    Seasonal

    • strawberry-tapioca-pudding-with-whipped-cream
      Strawberry Tapioca Pudding (Amish Recipe)
    • creamy Amish potato salad
      Best Amish Potato Salad Recipe, Homemade
    • rhubarb-custard-pie
      Amish Rhubarb Custard Pie Recipe
    • Strawberry Danish
      Strawberry Danish Dessert (Amish Recipe)

    AMAZON DISCLOSURE: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. If you click on a link to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you. Please see my full disclosure for further information.

    Most Popular Posts

    Breakfast plate with biscuits and gravy

    Amish Sausage Gravy Recipe for Biscuits and Gravy

    Amish pumpkin pie

    Amish Pumpkin Custard Pie Recipe

    Pennsylvania Dutch chicken croquettes

    Pennsylvania Dutch Chicken Croquettes Recipe

    moist Amish cornbread

    Easy Moist Amish Cornbread Recipe

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Me

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Important

    • Privacy

    Copyright © 2022 Amish Heritage