By Becky Hardin
Updated Jul 21, 2025
I get so excited when apple season rolls around in the fall, and a fresh batch of apple butter is always the first thing on my mind! I prepare this homemade apple butter recipe on the stovetop with just a few basic ingredients, like fresh apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon. It cooks up perfectly warm and buttery, ready to spread on toast, pancakes, and whatever else my heart desires!
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5-Star Review
“Thank you so much for this recipe! I live in Florida so we don’t have any apple cider, apple butter, or anything apple season. This recipe was so easy and TASTY!” – Zayteck
Easy Apple Butter Recipe
I’ve seen apple butter in just about every country gift shop I’ve ever wandered into, but honestly, I’ve never bought a jar that tastes better than this homemade version. It’s rich, perfectly spiced, and totally irresistible. And the best part? While it simmers on the stove, my whole kitchen fills with the cozy scent of fall—it’s like autumn in a pot!
If you’ve never made apple butter from scratch before, don’t worry—it’s easier than you think, and I’ll walk you through every step.
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 3 lbs. apples 1,361 grams, peeled and chopped, use a mix of sweet and tart
- ▢ ¾ cup apple cider vinegar 170 grams
- ▢ 1 cup water 227 grams
- ▢ ½ cup brown sugar 107 grams
- ▢ ½ cup granulated sugar 100 grams
- ▢ 2 tsp ground cinnamon 6 grams, or pie spice
- ▢ 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 4 grams
Video
Instructions
- Add the apples, apple cider vinegar, and water to a large pot. Cover and simmer until the apples are very tender, about 20 minutes. 3 lbs. apples, ¾ cup apple cider vinegar, 1 cup water
- Transfer the mixture to the food processor and process until they are broken down and mostly smooth. Return to the pot.
- Add in the brown sugar, sugar, and cinnamon. Cook over medium heat until the butter thickens to a spreadable consistency, about 15 minutes. ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup granulated sugar, 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla and enjoy. 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Food Processor
Becky’s Tips
- This recipe yields about 3 cups of apple butter.
- If using tart apples, swap the apple cider vinegar for sweet apple cider.
- To thicken apple butter , continue to cook until it reaches your desired consistency. Apples contain pectin, which is a great natural thickener, so an extra thickening agent isn’t necessary. Be sure to keep it on low heat , though, or it could scorch. Keep in mind that it will continue to thicken slightly as it cools.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Apple Butter Step by Step
Cut the apples: Peel and chop 3 lbs. of apples into small chunks. They don’t need to be cut perfectly, but they will cook down best if they are cut into relatively-even sized pieces.
Cook the apples: Add the chopped apples, ¾ cup of apple cider vinegar, and 1 cup of water to a large pot. Cover and simmer until the apples are very tender, about 20 minutes.
Process the apples: Transfer the apples to the food processor, and process until they are broken down into a mostly smooth puree. Then return it to the pot.
Finish cooking: To the pot of apples, add ½ cup of brown sugar, ½ cup of granulated sugar, and 2 tsp of ground cinnamon. Cook over medium heat until the apple butter thickens to a spreadable consistency, about 15 minutes. Then remove it from heat, stir in 1 tsp of pure vanilla extract, and enjoy!
How to Store
Store leftover apple butter in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 months. Enjoy cold or at room temperature.
To freeze, store it in an airtight container, with headspace at the top for expansion. It will keep in the freezer for up to 1 year. Let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using.
Serving Suggestions
This apple butter recipe is the perfect spread for your weekday toast, or weekend waffles and pancakes . Forgo the smoked salmon and serve with bagels, or offer as a side to smear on homemade muffins or apple bread . It’s also a good dipper for fresh apple slices or apple chips (yes, double the apples!). I’ve even used it to make an apple butter old fashioned and apple butter pork chops .
more apple recipes
Homemade Apple Pie Recipe
Caramel Apple Sangria (Apple Pie Sangria)
Apple Pie Bars
Crockpot Caramel Apple Cider
Apple Butter Recipe
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Food Processor
Ingredients
- 3 lbs. apples 1,361 grams, peeled and chopped, use a mix of sweet and tart
- ¾ cup apple cider vinegar 170 grams
- 1 cup water 227 grams
- ½ cup brown sugar 107 grams
- ½ cup granulated sugar 100 grams
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon 6 grams, or pie spice
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 4 grams
Instructions
- Add the apples, apple cider vinegar, and water to a large pot. Cover and simmer until the apples are very tender, about 20 minutes. 3 lbs. apples, ¾ cup apple cider vinegar, 1 cup water
- Transfer the mixture to the food processor and process until they are broken down and mostly smooth. Return to the pot.
- Add in the brown sugar, sugar, and cinnamon. Cook over medium heat until the butter thickens to a spreadable consistency, about 15 minutes. ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup granulated sugar, 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- Remove from heat, stir in the vanilla and enjoy. 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Video
Notes
- This recipe yields about 3 cups of apple butter.
- If using tart apples, swap the apple cider vinegar for sweet apple cider.
- To thicken apple butter , continue to cook until it reaches your desired consistency. Apples contain pectin, which is a great natural thickener, so an extra thickening agent isn’t necessary. Be sure to keep it on low heat , though, or it could scorch. Keep in mind that it will continue to thicken slightly as it cools.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
