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Instant Pot Apple Butter is perfectly spiced, rich, thick, and smooth! And it couldn't be easier to make with the help of the Instant Pot!
Whether spread on toasted cinnamon raisin bread, dolloped on homemade biscuits, or drizzled over sweet potato pancakes or homemade waffles, you will love this easy recipe for homemade apple butter.
The Easiest Way to Make Apple Butter
One of my very favorite things about fall is fresh apples. I look forward to visiting apple orchards every year. I mean, what is better than orchard fresh apples and a mug of spiced apple cider?
Maybe ONLY the all the delicious apple recipes. Like this recipe for Instant Pot Apple Butter!
Made with a handful of ingredients, the Instant Pot works to develop rich, deep apple flavors, which in turn results in the most flavorful apple butter.
And while apple butter takes longer to make than say Instant Pot Applesauce, using the Instant Pot is still the fastest way to enjoy homemade apple butter. And the results are beyond incredible!
Happy Cooking! xo Kristen
Kristen's Key Tips for Instant Pot Apple Butter
- Options for Apples. Any sweet, firm apple suitable for baking works well in apple butter. Think gala, Jonagold, Cortland, fuji, golden delicious, Mcintosh, pink lady, honey crisp, etc.
- No Need to Peel Apples--TRULY! The Instant Pot will soften the skins, ensuring they easily blend to create smooth apple butter.
- Pumpkin Pie Spice is the NOT SO Secret Ingredient. The nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and allspice work with cinnamon to create a richly seasoned apple butter.
- Apple Cider over Water. Enhance the flavor of the apples and warming spice by using apple cider (or apple juice) rather than using water.
- Save Money. Look for marked down apples at markets. They don't have to look perfect to make delicious apple butter.
How to Make Instant Pot Apple Butter
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the ingredient quantities and detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Prepare Apples. Wash your apples well, remove the core, and dice into 2-3 inch chunks. Remember there is no need to peel your apples unless desired.
- Combine Ingredients in Inner Pot. Combine apples, apple cider, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, brown sugar, and vanilla extract in the inner pot.
Note on Liquid Amount
You only need to use ½ cup of liquid for this recipe despite using a 6 or 8-quart Instant Pot. The apples will release just enough liquid as the Instant Pot comes to pressure to prevent a burn notice from happening.
- Pressure Cook. For the richest results, you want to pressure cook for 90 minutes on high pressure. After pressure cooking, let the pressure release naturally for at least 15 minutes.
- Blend Apples. The easiest way to blend the apples is to use an immersion blender. If you don't have one, simply transfer the apple mixture to a high-powered blender, vent the cap on the lid of the blender, and blend until smooth.
- Thicken Apple Butter. At this point, the apple butter is delicious, but rather thin in terms of apple butter. I recommend using the slow cook function on high heat with a lid placed slightly ajar on the pressure cooker. This will allow moisture to evaporate and the apple butter to thicken. Give it a stir every 5 minutes and cook for 15-60 minutes to thicken. How thick you like your apple butter is up to you! I typically slow cooker for 30 minutes.
Storage Instructions
- Refrigerate: Allow the apple butter to cool to room temperature, keeping in mind it will thicken as it cools. Transfer to clean jars or airtight containers and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- Freeze: Allow the apple butter to cool fully, transfer to freezer-safe containers in the freezer for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight before enjoying.
Recipe Modifications
- Make it Sweeter: Use anywhere between ⅓ cup to a full cup of brown sugar depending on how sweet you like your apple butter.
- Granny Smith Apples: You certainly can use granny smith apples to make apple butter, but I would recommend no more than 1 pound of granny smith apples, as they are rather tart.
- No Pumpkin Pie Spice? Add a pinch of ground cloves, ground nutmeg, and ground allspice to give the apple butter a rich, warming notes.
- Slow Cooker Instructions: Combine the ingredients in the base of a 6-8-quart slow cooker and cook on low heat for 8-10 hours. Transfer the mixture to a blender to blend well. Return to the slow cooker, leave the lid slightly askew, and continue to cook on low heat for an additional 30-45 minutes, to allow the apple butter to thicken.
Serving Suggestions
Anywhere you use jam, apple butter works. But it also is delicious served in various other ways.
- As a Spread: Delicious on toast, biscuits, rolls, waffles, etc. Don't miss trying it out on sweet potato biscuits and cranberry walnut bread.
- As a Topping: Drizzle apple butter over pancakes, ice cream, apple crisp, baked brie, Baked Apple Oatmeal, or Instant Pot Oatmeal.
- In Recipes: Replace applesauce with apple butter in applesauce muffins or breakfast cookies.
- As a Gift: Homemade Apple Butter makes a great holiday or hostess gift.
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Instant Pot Apple Butter
Video
Ingredients
- 5 pounds firm, sweet apples, see recipe notes on options
- ½ cup apple cider, or apple juice
- ⅓-½ cup brown sugar, see note
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice, or store-bought
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare Apples. Scrub or wash 5 pounds firm, sweet apples. If desired, peel the apples, but this is not necessary. Remove the core from the apples and dice the apples into about 2-inch chunks.
- Combine. Combine the apples, ½ cup apple cider, ⅓-½ cup brown sugar (use more/less based on personal preference) 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, ½ teaspoon Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice, and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract inside the inner pot.
- Pressure Cook. Place the lid on the pressure cooker, being sure the vent knob is sealed. Hit manual or pressure cook and adjust the cooking time to 90 minutes on high pressure. (Some models show this as 01:30) After the cooking time has elapsed, allow the pressure to release naturally for at least 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, release any remaining pressure if needed.
- Blend Apples. Remove the lid and use an immersion blender to blend the cooked apples until smooth. Alternatively, place the pressured cooked apples into a high-powered blender, place the lid on the blender, crack open the top to release steam, blend until smooth, and then transfer back the inner pot.
- Thicken. Turn the slow cook function on by hitting slow cook. If needed continue to hit slow cook (or adjust) until high is lit up. Place a lid slightly ajar on the inner pot to allow moisture to escape (any lid will do). Stir every 5-10 until desired consistency is reached, keeping in mind apple butter will thicken more as it cools.
- Store. Let cool to room temperature inside the inner pot and then transfer to airtight container and refrigerate or freeze.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
so easy and comes out thick and rich. I used the saute button at the end to reduce and assure there's no water around. VERY VERY YUMMY!
Awesome! Thank you so very much for sharing, Deedee!