This salted caramel apple butter is the easiest apple butter on the block. It's made with simple ingredients like ripe apples, sweet dates, and a fall-inspired spices. No stove or crockpot involved, this spread can be whipped up in a flash with only a food processor. With a thick consistency and hints of salted caramel, this apple butter is your new fall bff!
Salted Caramel Apple Butter
Say hello to the easiest apple butter you never knew you needed! This spread has a subtle salted caramel flavor, thick consistency, with a touch of tartness. It's like caramel sauce and apple butter had a beautiful baby!
It's simple to make, requiring only a food processor and a few ingredients. Don't get me wrong, I love a good slow-cooked apple butter. But these days I don't have the time or energy for any of that. I'm all about the quick and easy things which is exactly what we have here!
Easy Apple Butter Ingredients
All you need to make this apple butter are a few natural ingredients. If I'm were a betting woman, I'd bet you have them on hand already.
- Apples - this is the base of the apple butter. See the apple section below on which type is best.
- Dates - this is how we get little hints of caramel in the apple butter. The dates also ensure a thick consistency. Make sure you use pitted dates.
- Cashew Butter - any nut butter will work here. A little nut butter also helps keep the consistency nice and thick.
- Maple Syrup - for a little sweetness. If you prefer your apple butter not as sweet, feel free to reduce the amount of maple syrup.
- Vanilla - to elevate the caramel flavor.
- Pumpkin Spice - for a little fall flavoring.
Best Apples for Apple Butter
Ideally, green apples (granny smith) work best in apple butter as they provide a subtle tartness to the mix. However, other "tart-forward" apples would work too like honey crisp.
How to make apple butter in under 10 minutes
Making this caramel apple butter is so easy it should be illegal.
- First, dice the apple into small pieces. This makes it easier to mix in the food processor.
- Next, add the remaining ingredients to the food processor and pulse until you achieve a thick, peanut butter type consistency. You will have to stop the food processor to scrape down the sides a couple times. If the mixture looks like apple sauce, that's okay just keep the food processor on. In total, this step took be about 5 - 8 minutes to get to the consistency in the picture above.
- Finally, transfer the apple butter to a glass jar and sprinkle with a little sea salt. The caramel apple butter should keep for up to 10 days in the air-tight glass jar in the fridge.
Easy Apple Butter Recipe Tips
- Use a tart, ripe apple. Granny smith apples are best for this recipe as they provide the perfect amount of tartness. Other options would be honey crisp or pink lady.
- Make sure your dates are pitted. If your dates aren't pitted, you can easily remove the pit yourself by slicing them open like a hot dog and removing the pit.
- Any nut butter works in this recipe but make sure it's creamy-style. This will ensure a thick smooth texture.
- When in doubt, continue mixing. You may be surprised at how long the food processor needs to be on to get a thick consistency. At first, the mixture will look a little like apple sauce. After a couple more minutes of processing though, it will thicken up!
How to thicken Apple Butter
This is a “no cook” apple butter recipe. Usually, you would cook the apple butter for longer to thicken it up but in this case, we would let the mixture blend for longer in the food processor to thick it up even more.
Homemade Apple Butter Uses
- Spread the apple butter on toast for a fruity spread (my favorite).
- Use it as a filling for pop tarts.
- Spread the apple butter in cinnamon rolls.
- Drizzle it over an apple cake instead of icing.
- Swap the icing for apple butter in these baked apple fritters.
How long does apple butter last?
Apple butter will stay fresh for up to a month in the fridge when stored in an airtight container. It will keep for up to a year in the freezer when stored properly as well.
Does apple butter need to be refrigerated?
Yes, apple butter should be refrigerated.
Caramel Apple Butter Recipe FAQs
Applesauce is simply bended apples and sometimes has added sugars. Apple butter contains spices and is cooked down into a soft spreadable paste.
Both applesauce and apple butter are made from blended apples.
Check out these other fall favorite
Recipe
Homemade Caramel Apple Butter Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups diced granny smith apple - approx. 1 apple
- 1 cup pitted dates - 10 - 16 small dates
- 2 tablespoon cashew butter
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice
- sea salt flakes - optional
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a food processor. Process a few times to break up the apple pieces and dates.2 cups diced granny smith apple, 1 cup pitted dates, 2 tablespoon cashew butter, ⅓ cup maple syrup, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice, sea salt flakes
- Scrape down the sides of the food processor then turn on and let it run for a couple minutes until you reach a thick consistency. This can take 5 - 8 minutes. If needed, stop the food processor the scrape down the sides.
- Transfer the apple butter to an air-tight glass jar and sprinkle with sea salt flakes if desired. Store the apple butter in the fridge for up to 10 days.
This was my first time making apple butter and man it was delicious! I did have to really blend up the apples but after a couple minutes it started to look more like your pictures. thanks!
Hello! Thank you for the lovely recipe. I wonder if there is anyway I can store it for a longer time.
Thank you
Susan
Hi Susan! If it's in an air-tight container it should keep for about a month in the refrigerator. You can also portion some into a few smaller containers and store it in the freezer. It will keep for about up to 6 months in the freezer!