Apple Butter
Two years ago, when Peter and I moved into our new house, we lucked out and got some really great next-door neighbors--on either side of our house! We all closed on our houses and moved in around the same time, and we all hit it off instantly. Since then, Stephanie, Allie and I (as well as our respective husbands) have become fast friends. We've had each other over for dinners, birthday parties and holidays. We'll call each other or drop by each other's houses a few times a week to catch up and check in. When any of us travel, we collect each other's mail and keep an eye on our respective houses, always returning home with a small token of thanks to give to each other. And it's almost always a food gift since the three of us love cooking, baking and eating.
Last week, Peter and I traveled to Arizona on business. Stephanie offered to collect our mail for us and Allie offered to put out our recycling. We didn't have a rental car to drive around the area, so I had no way of going to shop for something uniquely Southwestern to bring back to the gals. Airport gift shops never have anything original and truly local, so I came home empty-handed and disappointed.
But a day or two later, I went to The Kitchen Sink Recipes to read Kristin's latest entry and saw that she made apple butter. I knew right then that it would make a perfect "thank you" gift for my friends. I went out and bought some pretty, French glass jars, frangrant cinnamon sticks and crisp, rosy-hued McIntosh apples and got to work in the kitchen. As the apples, cider and cinnamon started to simmer, my whole house took on a delicious spicy-sweet frangrance that no scented candle could ever rival. After a quick whirl through the food processor, I returned the apples back to the pot and added brown sugar, more cinnamon, cloves and a touch of salt, and continued to slowly simmer the mixture over gentle heat. Once the mixture had thickened and taken on a caramel color, I ladeled it into the jars and let it cool. The next day, I was happy to give Allie and Stephanie a "thank you" gift I knew they'd enjoy and I realized that I didn't need to travel far to give them something truly unique.
Apple Butter
Adapted from The Kitchen Sink Recipes8 apples, peeled, cored and cut into wedges (I used all McIntosh, but use any combination you like)
Juice of 1 lemon
1 cup apple cider (I used all natural apple juice and it worked very well)
1 cinnamon stick
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
Pinch of ground cloves
Pinch of saltIn a large, heavy pot, combine the apples, cider, lemon juice and cinnamon stick and set the pot over low heat, allowing the mixture to come to a gentle simmer. Adjust the heat as needed so the mixture does not start to boil. Simmer the apples for an hour, or until the apples are very soft. Remove and discard the cinnamon stick. Let the apple mixture cool for about 10 minutes.
Using a slotted spoon, transfer the apples to the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Discard any remaining liquid from the pot. Pulse the apples a few times until you get the consistency you want (I left mine with a few small chunks of apple). Return the apple mixture to the pot and re-heat over low heat. Stir in the brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground cloves and salt and simmer for about another hour, until the mixture has thickened.
Let the mixture cool slightly before transferring to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator. Can be served warm or at room temperature.
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I've been a fan of apple butter my whole life, but your homemade version is hands down the best ever!! It reminds me of my childhood when my mom would make biscuits and we'd have them with apple butter...thanks for the wonderful gift :)
-Steph
Flavia...this gift was truly unique and AMAZING. Little did I know, there's actually no butter at all in this recipe! Even better. :) I might have to pull-a-Steph and eat it by the spoonful straight out of the jar! Thank you, dear friend.
Allie