Spiced Apple Butter Recipe

I love this stuff. If you’ve got loads of apples then this is the thing to make. It’s great on toast or in tarts or pies.

Ingredients

1.5 kg of apples or crab apples
500ml water
500ml dry cider
Sugar (I usually use demerara or raw cane sugar)
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 heaped teaspoon ground cloves
1 heaped teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon of ground cardamom
2 star anise pods (optional)
Zest of 2 or 3 or 4 lemons (I like it zesty)

Method

1. Peel the apples and cut into pieces.
2. Place in a stainless steel or enameled pan with the water and cider.
3. Bring to the boil then simmer until the apples are very soft.
4. Use a sieve to strain off excess liquid and then purée the mush with a hand blender.
5. Allow ¾ lb (340 g)of sugar to each l lb (450 g) of pulp.
6. Return the pulp to the pan and simmer.
7. Add the sugar, cinnamon, cloves, allspice and lemon zest.
8. Simmer, stirring frequently, until no liquid remains.
9. Spoon into clean, dry, warm, sterilized jars.