Grandma Horner's Dutch Apple Butter

Submitted by FoodDramaGirl

"Rich and delicious! As a child I didn't realize how good this apple butter was. When a friend ruined a batch of apple butter, she asked me if I had a good recipe and I gave her this recipe. She made it and raved over it. So did everyone that received jars from her as gifts, including me! This year, I made it myself. I got apple seconds for a great price at a local orchard and had a great time making it and thinking of my grandmother. Tips: I used a variety of baking apples (Don't use eating apples, some can be grainy)."

 

• Ready In: 2hrs 15mins
• Ingredients: 7
• Yields: 3 quart jars
• Serves: 60

ingredients

• 4 quarts baking apples (sliced with skins on, cored)
• 1 quart water
• 1 quart cider
• 2 lbs brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves

directions

1. Wash apples thoroughly. Use apple slicer to slice apples. Discard core.
2. In large pot, boil apples (with skins on) in water until soft (approx. 15 min.).
3. Drain apples. Discard water.
4. Run apples through food mill to remove skins and turn apples to pulp.
5. In large pot, bring cider to a boil and add apple pulp and brown sugar.
6. Lower temp to simmer. Stir frequently in a figure 8 to prevent burning. You will need to check on it often and be prepared -- it takes time for it to reduce.
7. When it reduces/thickens, add cinnamon, allspice and cloves.
8. Let it thicken to desired spreading consistency.
9. Follow canning procedures to jar apple butter. (Note: When jarring, I allow 1" head space to prevent apple butter from darkening at top). I can't remember exactly how many jars it makes, but I think it is around 3-4 quart jars or 7-8 pints.
10. Serve on bread, toast, muffins, or on cottage cheese.