HOW TO MAKE APPLE BUTTER IN YOUR INSTANT POT

Autumn is the best time to make apple butter. Fortunately, making apple butter isn’t as difficult as you might think! With the help of your instant pot and this simple no-peel recipe, you will have many jars of homemade and from-scratch apple butter for you and your family to enjoy.

SELECTING AN INSTANT POT

You will want to use an six or eight- quart instant pot for this recipe. If you are doubling or tripling the recipe, consider using an eight or ten-quart instant pot. The recipe requires the pressure cook and saute function. You can use the lid that comes with your instant pot; however, having an instant pot tempered glass lid is also helpful and useful during the cooking process of the apple butter.

HOW TO MAKE APPLE BUTTER IN AN INSTANT POT

INGREDIENTS

• 10-20* of fresh apples (do not peel)
  
• 1 cinnamon stick
  
• 1/2 cup of water
  
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
  
• juice from one whole lemon
  
• 1 cup granulated sugar
  

*5-10lbs of apples before seeding and coring the apples.

MAKING THE APPLE BUTTER

After washing and drying the apples well, core and seed the apples. I like to use an apple slicer to make the process easier. There is no need to skin the apples.

Smaller apples do not require additional chopping. If your apples are bigger after slicing them, chop them into 1″-2″ cubes.

Place the metal inner pot inside the instant pot.

Add the apples, cinnamon stick, and water into the inner pot.

Place the pressure sealing lid onto the instant pot and make sure the exhaust valve is turned to “sealing.”
Press the “pressure cook” or the “manual” button, and set it to high pressure for 30 minutes.

Once the pressure cooking is done, allow the apples to release naturally for an additional 20 minutes. Then, turn the steam release valve to “venting” to remove any remaining steam.

BLEND THE APPLE BUTTER

Remove the cinnamon stick and scoop the cooked apples into a blender. You do not need to remove the apple skins.

Add the ground cinnamon, ground ginger, and salt.

Blend the apples until they are smooth. Pour the blended apples back into the instant pot.

You can also use an immersion blender.

Be careful during this process. The apples are hot!

HOW TO TELL YOUR APPLE BUTTER IS DONE

Add the sugar and lemon juice and stir to combine.

Set your instant pot to “saute” function and ensure it is set to “less” temperature setting.

When setting to saute, set the timer for 30 minutes.

At 30 minutes, stir the apple butter to keep it from sticking.

Reset the saute button after stirring for another 30 minutes.

Cook the apple butter for 2-3 hours and stir every 30 minutes.

In between stirs, if you have one, use the tempered glass instant pot lid.

You will know when your apple butter is done when the contents have reduced 1/3 in volume, and stick to the spoon after stirring. You will be able to make small peaks with the spoon while stirring.

Your apple butter will be a deep golden-brown color when it is done

The mixture will also stop creating simmering bubbles and make more subtle bubbles with a louder popping sound. The tempered glass instant pot lid will have splatter on it.

FINISHING YOUR APPLE BUTTER IN YOUR INSTANT POT

Turn off your instant pot by selecting the “cancel” button

Ladle the apple butter out of the instant pot and into airtight and clear glass containers. I like to use ball canning jars.

Allow the apple butter to cool on the countertop before storing it in the fridge or freezer.

Souper Cubes Are also a great way to store or freeze the apple butter for longer-term storage.

HOW TO STORE YOUR APPLE BUTTER

Once the apple butter has cooled, store it in the refrigerator for up to a month or freeze it to keep it for up to 3-4 months.

If freezing, make sure to leave room at the top of the container so your apple butter has room for expansion.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR MY APPLE BUTTER TO THICKEN IN THE INSTANT POT?

Your apple butter will thicken as it cooks. Once ladled into its storage containers, the apple butter will continue to thicken. After 24 hours your apple butter, chilled in the refrigerator, will have a thick and creamy texture.

.Apples contain a lot of natural pectin in their skin.

This recipe allows for that natural pectin to be put to good use since we did not peel the apples before cooking.

Enjoy your apple butter spread on toast, waffles, pancakes, or just by the spoonful (we won’t tell).

You may enjoy another autumn-inspired recipe.

How to Perfectly Roast Fresh Pumpkin Seeds Recipe