• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Resources
  • About
  • Contact

Wee Little Vegans

Kid Friendly Vegan Recipes

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Resources
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Resources
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
×

Home » Recipes » Fruit Spreads and Nut Butters

Slow Cooker Apple Butter - No Added Sugar

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Warm spices and plenty of apple flavor without any refined sugar, my Slow Cooker Apple Butter is a healthier way to enjoy this delicious fruit spread. 

We're sticking with the apple theme today with this Slow Cooker Apple Butter with no added sugar. This is another one of those older recipes from the first blog that needed updated photos so I made up a fresh batch over the weekend. I also made a few changes to make the process even simpler and the results even tastier. 

Apple butter is one of those foods that gives me warm fuzzy feelings. When I was little my grandma lived in North Carolina on some land and grew several fruits and veggies, which she would can for us. When we made the drive up to visit her she would always have a box of freshly canned goodies like tomatoes, green beans, pickles, and apple butter waiting for us. I absolutely loved her apple butter and couldn't wait to get into the jars.

Slow Cooker Apple Butter - No Added Sugar

I really had no idea what was in apple butter besides apples or how it was made at the time, but I knew I loved it especially on toast.

This one time in particular, I asked her for a slice of toast with a smear of apple butter, thinking she would get out the toaster and pop a slice of bread in it. But no, she got out a cast iron skillet, buttered up a slice of thick Texas style bread and toasted it up right there on the stove! I was so confused and when I asked her why she was doing it that way instead of in a toaster, she just laughed a little. She said that is how she has always done it. Well, that toast was the best toast ever!

Slow Cooker Apple Butter - No Added Sugar

Now a days things are a little different and as much as I love apple butter, I don't love all the white sugar that is typically in it. So, naturally I had to come up with a refined sugar free version I can feel good about sharing with my family.

While this slow cooker version is not made the way grandma used to make it, it tastes every bit as delicious and has absolutely no added sugar. Dates take the place of sugar and provide extra fiber, calcium, potassium, and vitamin A. Healthy ingredients and it taste AMAZING, what could be better?

Slow Cooker Apple Butter - No Added Sugar

Now, you might be thinking 11 hours is just too long and too much work, but it's mostly a hands off recipe. Just core and roughly chop your apples, no peeling necessary, and everything goes into the slow cooker. You don't need to do anything else for the next 9 hours. I like to set mine up before I go to bed and then finish it up in the morning just in time for breakfast.

Slow Cooker Apple Butter - No Added Sugar

After 9 hours your apples should be soft and easily broken up when you stir like above. It's basically a chunky applesauce at this point and indeed you could stop there if you like and it would be very tasty. But, it really is worth it to do those extra steps to make apple butter. So, so good!

Slow Cooker Apple Butter - No Added Sugar

Try it smeared on toast, swirled in oatmeal or nice cream and enjoy! I also have another plan in the works for this apple butter that I'll share soon.

The best part of this apple butter for me, is getting to share those wonderful memories from my childhood with my own little ones, while creating new ones with them. Really, isn't that one of the best part about good food?!

Slow Cooker Apple Butter - No Added Sugar

Question of the day: 

Are there any foods that make you nostalgic?

If you try this recipe, let me know how it turns out! Leave a comment below or snap a pic and tag it @weelittlevegans on Instagram so I’ll be sure to see it!

Print
Slow Cooker Apple Butter - No Added Sugar
Author: Melissa
Ingredients
  • 1 ½ lb apples about 4-6 small to medium
  • ½ cup dates, pits removed about 6
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon allspice
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ¼ cup water
Instructions
  1. Peel, core and chop apples into large chunks.

  2. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker and set to low. 

  3. Continue to cook over low heat for 9 hours. 

  4. After 9 hours stir mixture. The apples should be very soft and mostly broken down.

  5. Transfer apple mixture to a blender. Blend until smooth.

  6. Return mixture to slow cooker and continue to cook on low heat for 2 hours to thicken. Stir every 30-40 minutes to ensure apple butter does not burn. 

  7. Allow to cool and transfer to storage container. Store in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks. 

Recipe Notes

Recipe can be doubled or tripled if you have a large slow cooker. 

Slow Cooker Apple Butter - No Added Sugar

More Fruit Spreads and Nut Butters

  • 5 Minute Spiced Pumpkin Butter
  • Side view of a jar of Simple Cranberry Orange Jam with a knife lifting jam out of it. In the background are two orange halves and a bowl of fresh cranberries.
    Simple Cranberry Orange Jam
  • A small jar of coconut butter with a spoon sticking out of the jar on a black background.
    How to Make Coconut Butter
  • Mango Turmeric Ginger Fruit Spread
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I'm Melissa! Longtime vegan and mom of four little vegans. I share simple recipes our family loves and my tips for raising healthy, happy vegan kids.

More about me →

Popular

  • Sun-dried Tomato and Spinach Spaghetti Feature Image
    Sun-dried Tomato Spinach Spaghetti
  • Close up of a spoon of granola resting on a baking sheet of more granola.
    Oat Free Granola
  • Strawberry Cream Cheese Puff Pastry Feature Image
    Strawberry Cream Cheese Breakfast Pastry
  • Close up of Cashew Cream Cheese in a small bowl on a wooden board.
    Cashew Cream Cheese

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Newsletter

Sign Up! for emails and updates + receive a 7 day weekly meal plan with complete shopping list.

Contact

  • Contact
  • About
  • Work with me

Copyright © 2022 Wee Little Vegans

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT