Slow Cooked Spicy Apple Pear Butter Recipes

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.

APPLE BUTTER FOR THE SLOW COOKER

Steps:

• Combine apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, salt, and cloves in a slow cooker.
• Cook on High until the apples are tender enough to easily mash with a fork, 4 to 6 hours.
• Puree apple mixture with an immersion blender until smooth.
• Sterilize the jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. 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 food 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 into the boiling water using a holder. Leave a 2-inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary to bring the water level to at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a rolling boil, cover the pot, and process for 10 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). Store in a cool, dark area.

SLOW COOKER SPICED APPLE AND PEAR BUTTER

Steps:

• Cut the fruit into large chunks. Process the apples and pears in a food processor, working in batches, until finely grated. Transfer the fruit to the slow cooker.
• Sprinkle in the brown sugar, apple juice, molasses, allspice, cloves and salt, and add the cinnamon sticks. Cover and cook 4 to 6 hours on high heat.
• Remove the lid and reserve the cinnamon sticks. Carefully return the fruit, in batches, to the food processor and process until smooth. Transfer the processed fruit back to the slow cooker along with the cinnamon sticks. Continue cooking on high until thick and spreadable, another 2 to 4 hours. Allow the mixture to cool before transferring to sealed airtight containers.
• Refrigerate up to 2 weeks or freeze up to 3 months.