Ina Garten Chunky Apple Butter

Ina Garten’s Chunky Apple Butter is made with unsalted butter, light brown sugar, Granny Smith apples, sweet red apples, fresh apple cider, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, ground allspice, and a vanilla bean. This easy chunky apple butter recipe creates a delicious spread that takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to prepare and can serve up to 6 people.

This Chunky Apple Butter Recipe Is From Modern Comfort Food Cookbook by Ina Garten

Ingredients Needed:

• 6 tablespoons (¾ stick) unsalted butter
• 1 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
• 1½ pounds Granny Smith apples (3 large)
• 1 pound crisp sweet red apples, such as Macoun or Empire (2 large)
• 1½ cups fresh apple cider
• 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
• ½ vanilla bean, split lengthwise

How To Make Chunky Apple Butter?

1. Melt butter and sugar: In a medium (9 to 10-inch) pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter and sugar together over low heat for 5 minutes.
2. Prepare apples: While the butter and sugar are melting, peel, core, and dice the apples into 1-inch chunks.
3. Cook apples: Add the diced apples to the pot, along with the apple cider, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and vanilla bean. Bring the mixture to a boil, lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until the apples are very tender.
4. Simmer uncovered: Uncover the pot and continue simmering for an additional 35 to 40 minutes, until the apples are completely soft and the liquid has reduced.
5. Process the mixture: Discard the vanilla bean and transfer the cooked apples, along with any liquid, into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse the processor 5 times to create a chunky purée.
6. Store: Transfer the apple butter to a container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
7. Serve: Heat in the microwave for 1 minute and serve warm or at room temperature to avoid congealing the butter.

Recipe Tips:

• Pick fresh, high-quality apples: The taste of your apple butter comes from the apples, so use fresh and firm apples for the best flavor.
• Cut apples into even pieces: Make sure all your apple chunks are the same size, about 1 inch, so they cook at the same speed.
• Let the liquid cook down: It’s important to let the apple mixture simmer and thicken. Don’t rush this part or the texture won’t be right.
• Don’t over-blend: When using the food processor, pulse just a few times to keep the apple butter chunky. Too much blending will make it smooth.
• Let it rest before serving: Apple butter tastes even better after a day. Store it in the fridge in an airtight container to allow the flavors to deepen.

How To Store Leftovers?

• Refrigerate: First, let the leftover chunky apple butter cool to room temperature. Once cooled, transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
• Freeze: After cooling the chunky apple butter, transfer it to a freezer-safe container, leaving a little space at the top for expansion. Freeze for up to 3 months. To thaw, move the container to the fridge overnight.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 of 6 servings

• Calories: 363
• Total Fat: 12g
• Saturated Fat: 7g
• Cholesterol: 31mg
• Sodium: 18mg
• Potassium: 228mg
• Total Carbohydrate: 65g
• Dietary Fiber: 5g
• Sugars: 57g
• Protein: 0.7g

Try More Ina Garten Recipe:

• Ina Garten Waffle Iron Hash Browns
• Ina Garten Fresh Raspberry Mini Corn Muffins
• Ina Garten Bacon Egg & Cheddar Sandwich
• Ina Garten Apple Cinnamon Dutch Baby