This easy recipe turns unsweetened applesauce into a delicious flavorful apple butter with very little effort. All you have to do is give it an occasional stir. That's really it! So whip some up today and put it on everything from toast and English muffins to pancakes and more. Or use it to bake more tasty apple treats!
Spread the applesauce in the bottom of a thick bottomed skillet. The more surface area there is for evaporation – the quicker your apple butter will be ready to enjoy, so pick a bigger one if you can.
Turn your burner to the lowest setting. Stir in the cinnamon, syrup and honey. If you like it sweeter you may add more syrup and or honey as you choose. Also add the lemon juice if you are using it. I think it gives a fresher flavor to your apple butter.
Continue to cook over low heat stirring every half hour until it is thick and the consistency that you like. I use homemade applesauce and it takes about 2 1/2 hours for it to cook down the way we like it. There is a lot of flexibility in this recipe. You can cook it at a higher temperature but it will need to be stirred more often and it will splatter. If you like it spicy, feel free to add more spices. I would suggest waiting until it cooks down before adding extra sweetener or spices so you have a chance to taste the actual product and adjust accordingly.
Enjoy immediately on a piece of your favorite toast. Store the rest in a glass jar in the refrigerator or freezer in the freezer for longer storage.