The quickest way to make a delicious Apple Butter. Perfect for spreading on toast or bagels!
What do you see when you look outside your window right now? Is fall in full swing where you are?
It certainly is here in Kansas. Last year the weather shifted so quickly that many trees skipped vibrant color and went straight to brown. This year, though, warm days and timely rain let the leaves develop into a beautiful mix of red, orange, gold and purple. A large tree outside my office window glows when the sun hits it, filling the rooms with warm light — a scene I always look forward to each autumn.
Apples are another fall highlight. I enjoy arranging them in a big bowl on the dining table to admire their colors, and of course I love to cook with them when I can. When I get a chance to save a few from snack time, I turn them into fillings for crepes or pancakes, make crumb bars, bake easy puddings, or create a fall spread like this Apple Butter.
This apple butter is quick — no long simmering required. You simply steam or cook the apples until tender, then blend them with a few pantry ingredients for an ultra-smooth, spreadable butter. I adapted this recipe from the Blendtec cookbook and used a high-speed blender for a perfectly smooth texture. It works beautifully on toast, bagels, or as a component in baking. If you prefer a deeper, darker flavor, substitute molasses for the maple syrup.
Blender apple butter
Ingredients
- ½ c warm water
- 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 Granny Smith apples , peeled, sliced and steamed (see tip)
- ¼ c raisins
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
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Place the steamed or cooked apple slices, warm water, lemon juice, maple syrup, raisins and cinnamon in a blender. Blend until completely smooth.
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Pour the apple butter into a jar and seal with a lid.
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Store in the refrigerator for up to one week.
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Tip for preparing apples:
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If you prefer not to steam, simmer apple slices with ¼ cup water in a medium saucepan until soft. Drain excess liquid, cool slightly, then blend.
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Allow very hot apple slices to cool before blending to avoid overheating the blender.
Nutrition
By the way, the bread pictured with the apple butter is one of the easiest and most delicious apple breads I’ve made — also blended. I’ll share that recipe soon.