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!
Easy 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!
What you need to make homemade salted caramel apple butter
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. Ideally, green apples (granny smith) work best as they provide a subtle tartness to the mix. However, other "tart-forward" apples would work too like honey crisp.
- 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.
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.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- 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!
Check out these other fall favorite
Print
Easy Salted Caramel Apple Butter
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 Jar 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 2 cups diced granny smith apple (approx. 1 apple)
- 1 cup pitted dates (10 - 16 small dates)
- 2 Tbsp cashew butter
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp 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.
- 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.
- Prep Time: 10
- Category: Spreads
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: caramel apple butter, easy apple butter, no cook apple butter
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!