Crock Pot Caramel Apple Pear Butter Or Just Apple Recipes

SLOW COOKER CARAMEL APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Combine apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, salt, and cloves in a slow cooker.
• Cook on High until apples are tender enough to easily mash with a fork, 3 to 5 hours. Puree apple mixture with an immersion blender until smooth.
• Microwave unwrapped caramels in a microwave-safe dish until melted, about 30 seconds. Add to slow cooker and cook for 1 to 2 hours.
• Inspect ten 8-ounce jars for cracks and rings for rust, discarding any defective ones. Immerse in simmering water for at least 5 minutes. Wash new, unused lids and rings in warm soapy water.
• Pack apple butter into the hot, sterilized jars, filling the jars to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any residue. Top with lids, and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower jars 2 inches apart into the boiling water using a holder. Pour in more boiling water to cover jars by at least 1 inch. Bring to a rolling boil, cover, and process for 10 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and let rest, several inches apart, for 12 to 24 hours. Press the center of each lid with a finger to ensure the lid does not move up or down. Remove the rings for storage and store in a cool, dark area.

SLOW COOKED SPICY APPLE-PEAR BUTTER

Steps:

• 1. Peel, core and slice apples and pears thin.
• 2. In a medium bowl, combine sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt; whisk to combine.
• 3. Place about 1/4 of the apples and pears in the crock pot, sprinkle 1/4 of the sugar mixture over the fruit in slow cooker; toss to combine. Begin layering the rest of the fruit and sprinkle with remaining sugar mixture until cooker is full. NOTE: Fill the crock pot up plus some extra. The fruit will cook down.
• 4. Cook on low setting for 10 hours; stirring occassionally. Mixture will thicken and become dark as it cooks.
• 5. After 10 hours; stir in the vanilla. Use and immersion blender to puree the fruit until smooth. Continue cooking on low another 2 hours uncovered.
• 6. Ladle hot apple-pear butter into hot sterilized jars, leaving 1/4-inch headspace. Wipe rims of the jars clean with clean damp cloth, cover with hot sterilized lids, and screw bands on.
• 7. Allow jars to rest undisturbed on countertop for six hours or overnight.Check lids to ensure they sealed.
• 8. Apple butter will keep for up to one year in a cool, dark place.

CROCK-POT CARAMEL APPLE-PEAR BUTTER-OR JUST APPLE

Steps:

• Rinse fruit. Cut in fourths, cutting out any bad spots. Put half of the fruit in a pot with half of the apple juice, half of the lemon juice and half of vinegar. Simmer until fruit is easily pierced with fork. (If it's too mushy, that's ok).
• Let cool a bit, run through food mill. Repeat with other half of fruit and juices.
• Put into crockpot. Add spices and sugar. Cook on low overnight or until a spoonful put onto a cool plate mounds without a lot of liquid running out of the sides. Stir every once in a while -especially right before you go to bed and as soon as you get up! If you don't sleep well, give a stir during the night, too!
• NOTE: amount of fruit is approximate. Go easy on sugar, vinegar and spices if you don't have quite enough. My last batch was closer to 8 pounds before cooking.