This is the easiest Instant Pot Apple Butter recipe that doesn't need peeling and has no added sugar! Smooth Apple Butter is vegan, gluten-free and is made with simple ingredients. You can spread it on toast, pastries or use as a breakfast topping.
Apples are appearing on roadside trees and parks close to where I live. This is undoubtedly the best indication that autumn is on its way!
What is apple butter?
Apple butter is a sweet condiment thought to originate in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. It is soft and spreadable, similar to butter and is made from cooking down apples with sugar.
Apple butter is essentially thickened apple sauce that has been slowly reduced. The sugars in the apples caramelize during cooking, creating a rich, brown color.
Despite the name, apple butter does not actually contain actual butter! Instead, it is the deep velvety smoothness that gives it this name.
In the UK, we're more familiar with apple sauce rather than apple butter but I couldn't wait to give this recipe a try! It is full of autumn or fall flavors and you cannot beat delicious homemade apple butter spread across warm toast!
The difference between apple sauce and apple butter is in the cooking process and ingredients. Apple sauce is effectively caramelised and cooked down further to become thick apple butter.
This recipe is made only with naturally occurring sugars in the apples. Of course, the result will be a little tarter than adding sugar.
Despite the lack of sugar, you still get sweet apple butter!
Ingredients:
Full ingredients with measurements are available in the recipe card below at the end of this post
All ingredients are available with a very quick trip to your local grocery store.
Apples
The type of apple that you use for apple butter varies. For sugar-free apple butter, I recommend using sweet apples. Tart apples are great for butter that is made with sugar.
I used a mix of gala apples and granny smith apples. I used granny smith because I like my apple butter tart but you can use sweet varieties alone.
Other apple varieties you can use are:
Honey crisp
Fuji
Cox
Discovery
The best apples are
If you use 2 pounds of apples, you will get around 1 mason jar worth (300ml) of apple butter.
If you leave the peel on your apples, your apple butter will be richer, darker and contain more fibre.
Spices - I have used cinnamon and nutmeg powder. For ease, use pumpkin pie spice or chai masala powder.
Vanilla extract - vanilla extract or essence is a wonderful way to add warm depth of flavour
Lemon Juice - use fresh or bottled. Lemon juice has pectin
Salt - just a pinch
Optional:
For sweeter apple butter, you may want to add:
Brown sugar
Maple syrup
Honey
100% natural sweetener - a blend of stevia and erythritol
Some recipes call for apple cider vinegar. The reason it is not added in this recipe is because sugar is not added. The apple butter would be far too tart.
An alternative to apple cider would be to use pure apple juice which has plenty of its own natural sweetness.
Variations:
Here are some flavours to add to your butter as these go well with apples
Add a pinch of cardamom
Add a tiny piece of peeled ginger to the IP along with the apples
Zest of an orange for a citrusy flavours.
How to make pressure cooker apple butter in the instant pot
The process is simple, it just takes a little bit of time!
Firstly, core and slice up the apples using an apple corer and a sharp knife. This doesn't need to be an exact science but keep the chopped-up apples roughly the same size.
Add the apples to the instant pot along with vanilla, spices and water.
You need around ¼ cup of water.
Even if you add a greater quantity of apples, do not increase the amount of water directly. Stick to around ¼ cups of water.
Pressure cook on High Pressure. Select 10 minutes cooking time. Allow for natural release of pressure for 10 mins. After this, you can "vent" the valve to release the remaining pressure.
Using an immersion blender, blend up the mixture. If you have low quantity of apples, use a food processor or jug blender.
Select the sauté function and keep on Low heat. Now you want to reduce down the mixture.
Be careful as the apple mixture will spatter as it cooks. Use a clear lid or splatter guard that fits over the edges. You may need to stir every minute or so to ensure the mixture doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot.
Sauté until the mixture begins to thicken. This time varies depending on how much mixture you have.
To check if the apple butter is ready, using a spoon or a knife, draw a line through the butter.
If it immediately comes back together, it is too runny. If the line holds for a few seconds, then the apple butter is done.
Allow the delicious apple butter to cool to room temperature before storing or serving.
Decant into a mason jar and keep in the fridge.
Tips
Follow these tips for the best apple butter ever!
Use crisp apples, free from damage where possible.
I like to leave on the peel for extra flavour, colour and nutrition.
You can core the apples or simply slice and do not core. The core will soften in the IP.
Adding a pinch of salt helps bring out the sweetness.
Apple butter will thicken as it cools so you still need to have it just a little looser than your desired consistency
How to use apple butter
Think of apple butter as a jam, like this strawberry jam also made in the Instant pot - it goes great on toast, in oatmeal (porridge) or rice pudding. Essentially, it's a super flavorful spread and there are so many possibilities!
The first time I tried it, I spread it in the centre of a croissant. SO GOOD!
Top your Instant Pot Tapioca Pudding or Buckwheat Pancakes
It is also incredible delicious eaten with a spoon!
Add it to either shortcrust or puff pastry as an apple pie filling and enjoy Apple Hand Pies (air fryer) or in a peanut butter sandwich.
Stir some in chia pudding, smoothies or even in hot coffee, yes coffee!
Add in to make vegan oatmeal waffles if you want to make vegan waffles without banana.
The butter can also be enjoyed with cheese or a charcuterie board.
How to store apple butter
You can store apple butter in a mason jar or an airtight container.
it will keep well in the fridge for around 1 week. Sugar has preservative properties and as this apple butter has less sugar, it will not last as long.
You can also freeze apple butter in small portions in containers or freezer safe bags - perfect to last through to the holiday season.
Other Apple and Fall Recipes
Puff Pastry Apple Tart (easy, vegan)
Pumpkin Scones (Sweet and Savoury)
Sweet Potato and Black Beans Quesadilla
As always if you make this recipe, be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe and tag me on Instagram @jcookingodyssey or #jcookingodyssey. I love seeing all your photos of my recipe recreations!
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📖 Recipe
Easy Instant Pot Apple Butter (No added sugar)
Equipment
- 1 Instant pot
- 1 Immersion blender
Ingredients
- 2 pound apples
- ¼ cup water
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
- 1 pinch nutmeg powder
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- pinch salt
Instructions
- Thoroughly wash the apples.2 pound apples
- Core and slice your apples.
- Place sliced apples in the liner of the Instant Pot.
- Add cinnamon, nutmeg powder, vanilla, lemon and salt along with water.¼ cup water, 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder, 1 pinch nutmeg powder , ½ teaspoon vanilla, ½ teaspoon lemon juice , pinch salt
- Close the lid and keep the vent on sealing position.
- Select the HIGH PRESSURE button for 10 minutes.
- When pressure cooking cycle is done, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes.
- Now release the pressure manually if any left.
- Puree cooked apples using an immersion blender until it reaches a smooth consistency. If using a stand blender, let the apples cool before blending.
- Now we need to thicken the sauce. Turn the instant pot back on, this time select saute mode.
- Saute until the mixture is thick. Use a splatter guard and whisk/stir often. BE EXTRA CAREFUL, wear an oven mitt as butter will splatter and may cause burns.
- Once you are happy with the consistency turn off the instant pot.
- Let the butter cool, then transfer to clean and dry jars to store, freeze, or gift.
Notes
Nutrition
PLEASE NOTE: Nutritional values are estimated by a computer and may vary based on ingredients and portion sizes. For personalised dietary advice, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
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Katie Crenshaw says
Turned out delicious!