Vegan Apple Butter

Naturally sweetened, with a handful of pantry ingredients, this vegan apple butter made in the instant pot is a simple recipe to make when you have a lot of apples that need to be used! Package and give as gifts, or enjoy throughout the autumn and winter seasons.

Jump to:

• 💗 Why You’ll Love This Vegan Apple Butter
• 🥣 Ingredients and Notes
• 🛠 Tools and Equipment
• 👩🏻‍🍳 How to Make Vegan Apple Butter in the Instant Pot
• ♨ Making Apple Butter on the Stovetop
• ⏲ How to Make Apple Butter in a Slow Cooker
• ❓ FAQS
• 📝 Expert Tips
• 🍽 How to Serve
• 🫙 How to Store and Keep
• ⚖️ Serving Size
• 🍎 More Vegan Apple Recipes!
• Recipe

One of my favorite fall activities is taking the kids to the apple orchard to pick apples off the tree. We always end up with a bushel and sometimes two because the kids enjoy searching for the perfect apples!

With all those apples, it’s time for me to start cooking! I start by preparing my simple sugar-free applesauce and my vegan apple cake. Then I make this easy, homemade vegan apple butter. I pass some jars to my neighbors and friends, and they are always happy to take them off my hands.

You only need a handful of pantry ingredients and about 10 minutes of hands-on time! It’s easier than baking an apple pie and has fewer calories and fat! It’s delicately sweet and pairs nicely with warm toast, stirred in oatmeal, topped on pancakes, or as an oil substitute in baking!

🛠 Tools and Equipment

Instant Pot: I highly recommend using an instant pot for this recipe. However, you could also make this on the stovetop or in a slow cooker. See the directions in the recipe card for details.

👩🏻‍🍳 How to Make Vegan Apple Butter in the Instant Pot

1. Place apples in the Instant Pot and stir in the lemon juice.
2. Add coconut sugar, water, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and vanilla extract to the apples. Stir to combine.
3. Secure the lid. Set the valve to sealing. Set the pressure cooker on high for 8 minutes.
4. When cooking time is up, allow to naturally release the pressure for 15 minutes. Manually release any remaining pressure. Remove the lid.
5. Using an immersion blender, puree the apple mixture until smooth.
6. Turn the Instant Pot to Sauté. Bring the apple blend to a simmer. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes or until thickened to your desired consistency.
7. Turn the Instant Pot off. Allow the apple butter to cool completely inside the Instant Pot. Once cooled, spoon the apple butter into an airtight container. At this time, you can can the jars in a water bath, freeze them, or keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

♨ Making Apple Butter on the Stovetop

1. Place a large pot over medium heat and bring the apples, sugar, and spices mixture to a simmer. Once it’s simmering, reduce the heat to low, cover with a lid, and let it cook for about 1 to 1.5 hours, stirring occasionally. The apples will soften, and the mixture will darken and thicken.
2. Continue cooking until the apple butter reaches your desired consistency. It should be thick and spreadable.
3. Once the apple butter is done, please remove it from the heat and let it cool slightly.
4. Use an immersion blender to blend the mixture until it’s smooth and free of chunks.
5. Transfer the apple butter to an airtight container of jars.

⏲ How to Make Apple Butter in a Slow Cooker

1. Place the chopped apples in the slow cooker.
2. In a separate bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients.
3. Pour the spice mixture over the apples in the slow cooker. Stir well to coat the apples evenly.
4. Cover the slow cooker with its lid and set it to cook on the LOW heat setting. Let it cook for about 8-10 hours.
5. Stir the apple mixture occasionally during the cooking process to ensure even cooking and prevent sticking to the sides.
6. After 8-10 hours, the apples should be very soft and caramelized, and the mixture should have thickened significantly.
7. Use an immersion blender to blend the mixture until it’s smooth and free of chunks.
8. Continue cooking on the LOW setting, with the lid slightly ajar to allow steam to escape. This will help further thicken the apple butter for 1-2 more hours or until it reaches your desired consistency.
9. Once the apple butter is done, allow it to cool slightly.
10. Transfer the apple butter to an airtight container or jars.

❓ FAQS

📝 Expert Tips

• When sauteing the apple butter, you will know it is done and thick enough to cool when it coats the back of a wooden spoon. It should be thick enough that when you run your finger across the spoon it leaves a trail.
• Use apples that have a softer texture. This will reduce the cooking time needed.
• Don’t add too much water. The apples themselves contain quite a bit of water and will break down. Adding too much liquid will keep the apples from thickening.
• Don’t leave out the lemon juice. This adds needed acidity and helps the apples keep for longer.

🍽 How to Serve

Apple butter is a sweet spread enjoyable on biscuits, toasted bread, and sandwiches in place of jam. You can also add it to oatmeal, on top of pancakes or waffles, or add it to baked goods instead of oil. You can also use it for more savory recipes. For example, add some to your baked sweet potato or butternut squash or on top of your vegan potato pancakes. There are so many creative ways to use it!

🫙 How to Store and Keep

Refrigerator: This vegan apple butter recipe needs to be kept refrigerated if it is opened and you have not canned it in a water bath. It will keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks.

Canned: If you can it in a water bath, it can be kept at room temperature for up to one year.

Frozen: Place it in an airtight freezer-safe container. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

⚖️ Serving Size

This recipe will make about 3 cups of apple butter. Each serving size is two tablespoons. There are about 48 servings in total. If you place the apple butter in half cup jars, you will get 6 jars, with 8 servings in each jar.

Recipe