Instant Pot Apple Butter

Making apple butter at home is so much easier and so much better than store-bought ones! This Instant Pot Apple Butter takes just a couple of hours to make.

It is sweet, flavorful, caramelized, and flavored with warming spices. You can enjoy it on toast, in oatmeal, or wrap it up for a holiday gift!

Let’s make Instant Pot Apple Butter recipe with the step-by-step process and video.

When I think of warm flavors, I immediately think of the rich apple cinnamon flavor!

So our today’s recipe is apple butter made in the instant pot.

Do you know apple butter does not contain any actual butter and it’s vegan and gluten-free?

It is just spiced applesauce that is cooked down to the point that all of the flavors caramelize into a perfectly sweet, flavorful spread.

The process to make apple butter is usually pretty time-consuming if you make it on the stove or in the slow cooker. I’ve cut down the time by cooking it into the Instant Pot!

Why you will make apple butter at home?

• This Instant pot butter is not just incredibly delicious, it is also ridiculously easy to make.
• You’ll know exactly what ingredients are in your apple butter.
• It’s easy to freeze and take a jar out when needed.
• Perfect for gift-giving this holiday season.
• It is perfect on pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, toast, bagels, or as a dip,
• It’s much cheaper than if you go and buy it at the store.

Ingredients required

• Apples – I like to use a mix of apples whenever I make apple butter. Since all apple varieties have different levels of sweetness and tartness, using a mix will get the best flavor. I have used an equal quantity of fuji, gala, granny smith, and honey crisp. 
• Spices – You will need cloves powder, cinnamon powder, salt, and nutmeg powder. Make sure to use fresh spices for the best flavors. The salt helps bring out all the flavors. Don’t skip the salt.
• Sugar – I have used dark brown sugar. Brown sugar adds a deeper flavor than granulated sugar and helps provide a richer color to the apple butter. You can use light brown sugar or white granulated sugar. You can even do half n half.
• Vanilla extract – Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
• Vinegar – I have used apple cider vinegar, white vinegar works great too.

Step by step process

• To start, all you have to do is core and slice your apples. There is no need to peel them if you don’t want to.
• Throw your apples and the rest of the ingredients (apple cider, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, salt, and vanilla) in the Instant Pot. Seal, and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes. (image 1 to 3)
• Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10-20 minutes, then release any remaining pressure.
• Next, using an immersion blender, blend the apple mixture until smooth. You can leave some chunks if you like, but I prefer smooth apple butter. (image 4 and 5)
• Now stir the butter very well. Turn on the sauté button, cover the instant pot with a glass lid and let it cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until you reach your desired consistency. Keep stirring the apple butter frequently. (image 6 and 7)
• Note and tip – Be careful with this step, as the mixture is HOT and splashes up. While stirring the butter, wear oven mittens and then stir.
• Use the spoon to draw a line through the apple butter on the bottom of the pot if the line holds for 5 seconds before the apple butter merges back together, it’s finished cooking. (image 8)
• After the apple butter reaches the desired consistency, turn off the instant pot.
• Strain the mixture through a mesh strainer. This step is optional. (image 9)

• Let the apple butter cool down completely.
• Now take Instant pot apple butter into a Mason jar and keep it in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also store it in the freezer for up to 6 months. Enjoy on bread toast, in oatmeal, use it to top the cheesecakes, or make desserts with this.

Notes, pro-tips, and quick FAQs

• I like leaving the peels on my apples because it is added nutrition and it helps deepen the color of the apple butter. If you don’t like it, you can peel them before making the butter.
• How much sugar you need to add will depend upon the sweetness of your apples. Adjust according to your apples and preferences.
• Apple butter does thicken a bit more as it cools and you’ll be left with a thick, velvety spread.
• I have not canned this recipe.
• You can store the finished apple butter in jars or other airtight containers in your fridge for up to a week, but I like to freeze it for longer-term storage.

More Instant pot recipes

• Butternut Squash Curry
• Instant pot pumpkin oatmeal
• Spinach Khichdi
• Boiled peanuts

Print

4.58 from 7 votes

Instant Pot Apple Butter

Making apple butter at home is so much easier and so much better than store-bought ones! This Instant Pot Apple Butter takes just a couple of hours to make.

Course Condiment

Cuisine American

Keyword Instant pot apple butter

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 50 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour

Servings 900 grams

Calories 2kcal

Author Dhwani

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• ▢ 3.5 lb Apples I used mixture of grant smith, fuji, gala and honey crisp
• ▢ 1.5 cups brown sugar
• ▢ ½ tablespoon cinnamon powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon Ground cloves
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon Ground nutmeg
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Pure vanilla extract
• ▢ ⅛ teaspoon salt
• ▢ ½ cup apple cider vinegar

Instructions

• To start, all you have to do is core and slice your apples. There is no need to peel them if you don’t want to.
• Throw your apples and the rest of the ingredients (apple cider, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, salt, and vanilla) in the Instant Pot. Seal, and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes.
• Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10-20 minutes, then release any remaining pressure.
• Next, using an immersion blender, blend the apple mixture until smooth. You can leave some chunks if you like, but I prefer smooth apple butter.
• Now stir the butter very well. Turn on the sauté button, cover the instant pot with a glass lid and let it cook for 15 to 20 minutes or until you reach your desired consistency. Keep stirring the apple butter frequently.

  Note and tip – Be careful with this step, as the mixture is HOT and splashes up. While stirring the butter, wear oven mittens and then stir.
• To check if it's done or not, Grab a spoonful of the butter and place it on a flat dish. Wait 30-60 seconds to give it a chance to slightly cool. If the butter runs a little around the edges, it’s not quite ready. If it holds together without running, it’s ready!
• After the apple butter reaches the desired consistency, turn off the instant pot.
• Strain the mixture through a mesh strainer. This step is optional.
• Let the apple butter cool down completely.
• Now take Instant pot apple butter into a Mason jar and keep it in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also store it in the freezer for up to 6 months.

  Enjoy on bread toast, in oatmeal, use it to top the cheesecakes, or make desserts with this.

Video

Notes

• I like leaving the peels on my apples because it is added nutrition and it helps deepen the color of the apple butter. If you don’t like it, you can peel them before making the butter.
• How much sugar you need to add will depend upon the sweetness of your apples. Adjust according to your apples and preferences.
• Apple butter does thicken a bit more as it cools and you’ll be left with a thick, velvety spread.
• I have not canned this recipe.
• You can store the finished apple butter in jars or other airtight containers in your fridge for up to a week, but I like to freeze it for longer-term storage.

 

Nutrition

Serving: 1gram | Calories: 2kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 3mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg

Tried this recipe?Share your feedback with pics @cookingcarnival or tag #cookingcarnival on Instagram or Facebook!

Warm regards,

Dhwani.