Apple Butter- homemade GIFTS

Apple Butter.......mmm-hhmmm yummy. You have no idea how delicious Apple Butter makes your house smell while it's cooking. Even the next day it smells like you are baking a pie. This Apple Butter recipe is fabulous. You will need to set aside a chunk of time, but basically it's super easy. It just needs to cook in the oven forever....well 3-5 hours anyway.

So here's the deal. My mom came to town a couple weeks ago, she was raving about this Apple Butter a friend gave her. I asked her to get the recipe so we could make it together, I wanted to be able to share the whole experience with you, and you could then in turn, make it, and give it, and so on and so forth.

I had some amazing pictures....some of the best I have possibly ever taken. Award winning. The lighting was fantastic, the colors of the apples and spices were amazing. Oh my heart is aching....BECAUSE all the pictures I took that day are corrupted! AAAAAhhhhG. I can look at them on my computer, but when I try to do anything with them it's just a black hole with an exclamation mark in the middle of it. I even called my pastor....he's good at this sort of stuff...computer stuff. And settling down one of his flock when they're having a mental breakdown over some pictures that are pretty much lost. Who knows I may get the problem solved. I'm praying...you can too. I will add the pictures later if I figure it out, but for now this is all I got people.

I trust you will be able to recreate this smooth delicious spread with out pictures, because I know you are all superstars in the kitchen and it really is so easy you will just need a few tools.

Large pan 6- 8quart and a roasting pan.

8 pint sized jars and lids

or 12 4 ounce jars and lids

food mill

Can you smell it? I filled 4 ounce and 1 pint jars for giving.

This was my second batch, I didn't bother taking many pictures because I HAD so many beautiful ones already.

Don'tcha just wanna stick your finger in there and have a lick! It's perfect on a slice of warm beer bread. Give your brother-n-law the Beer Bread and your sister-n-law Apple Butter. They will hug you and kiss you and thank you profusely. Then they will excuse themselves to go have a little "bread and butter" party. WooHOO.

One more picture.....now that you saw all the pictures. I will share the recipe with you. Again I am sick about not having the pictures. Tomorrow is a new day. Thankfully.

This recipe makes approximately 9-10 pint sized jars of Apple Butter. You could easily cut the recipe down or in half and get the same results. Don't cut it down too far though because you will want to keep some for yourselves!

Apple Butter

16 cups apple pulp (I used a variety of apples, Jonagold, Spy, Macintosh, and Ida Reds)

1 cup apple cider vinegar

8 cups sugar

5 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1. Core and slice apples(do not peel) because of the difference in size of apples it's hard to say how many apples you will need. I piled the apples high in my 8 quart dutch oven. Add just a little bit of water or apple cider, cook on medium heat until apples have cooked down.

2. Remove from heat and put cooked apples through a food mill into a large bowl. Transfer apple pulp into roaster or large dutch oven, making sure that the processed apple pulp measures out to 16 cups.

3. Now add the remaining ingredients, sugar, vinegar, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. Combine all ingredients.

4. Place in a 325 degree oven for 3-5 hours stirring every 30 minutes or so. Cook with lid on for the first two hours and the last hour or two take the lid off. I actually was naughty and went grocery shopping while my last batch baked....it was totally fine left alone for 1 1/2 hours. The apples should reduce almost in half, and become thick and a dark mahogany color.

5. I spooned mine right into my cleaned canning jars and followed the directions that came with the jars for canning in a water bath. The recipe said that the Apple Butter could also be frozen....if you so desired. Here's a site with some good canning info if you have jars without directions.

IDEA: One great way to use Apple Butter other than on bread is to season and brown a pork roast, then slather it with Apple Butter, stick it in your crock pot with a cup of chicken stock or water for the afternoon 3-4 hours on the high setting...Voila tender juicy pork!

So there you have it. Tie a pretty bow around your jar with a cute little hand written tag...hey have your kiddos make the tags even better...enlist the troupes! If anything is unclear please leave your questions in the comments and I will answer them as soon as possible.

Hoping you find it easy.

HAPPY GIVING!