Thanksgiving is upon us, my friends, and I am thrilled. By far, it is my favorite holiday. Thanksgiving possesses all the characteristics of the perfect day. Tons of spectacular home-cooked food that brings back childhood memories. (Some food memories are better left in the past: Mincemeat cookies, I’m talking to you…) A big gathering of friends and family. No obligatory gift-giving, last minute shopping or added stress. Just one beautiful, delicious day that takes some planning and organization, but at the end of the day as long as the house doesn’t burn down you’re probably in pretty good shape. Most of all, it’s a time to reflect on all of the blessings we have been able to enjoy over the past year. I think that this year Thanksgiving means more to me than ever. We have had a whirlwind of a year, and I am so looking forward to spending the day with our family.
If you’re anything like me, you love being involved in the planning and hosting aspect of Thanksgiving. For our family, we started the tradition 4 years ago to spend Thanksgiving together up north at our cabin. It’s laid back, nobody has to clean their house or worry about having guests over. We just all head up north and enjoy the day in the woods, with a few random activities thrown in: target practice, walks through the woods, board games, whatever the group feels like. Most of all...we enjoy the company and of course, the food.
If you happen to be someone who is a guest in someone’s home this Thanksgiving and you would like to give a little something as a token of gratefulness for their hospitality, you should consider making a batch of this Apple Butter for them. Pick up a nice glass jar and a cute spreader, and you have an inexpensive yet thoughtful hostess gift.
Making homemade apple butter is not difficult. It's nothing more than making applesauce, then reducing it slowly in the oven until you've got a perfect, thick, caramel-colored spread that brings the perfect Fall apple flavor to your favorite bread, rolls, toast, waffles, you name it. Spread the Joy.
PrintApple Butter
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: About 3 cups 1x
Ingredients
- 3 pounds assorted apples, peeled and chopped (about 10 apples)
- 2 cups apple cider
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- pinch of allspice
Instructions
- Place apples, cider, sugar, and salt in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and cook until apples are soft, about 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
- Remove pot from heat and stir in lemon juice, cinnamon, vanilla, cloves, and nutmeg.
- Puree apple mixture in batches in a blender or food processor, or using an immersion blender. Spread in a 9x13-inch baking dish and bake in preheated oven for 3 hours, stirring every 30 minutes.
- Let cool completely before sealing in glass jars. Store in refrigerator for up to 7 days.
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