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Instant Pot Apple Butter is a homemade recipe that’s ready in just 45 minutes and captures all the warm flavours of fall. Spread it over toast, stir it into sauces, or enjoy it by the spoonful.
For more apple recipes, try my Apple Pie Overnight Oats, Apple Sangria, and Smoked Cheddar and Bacon Grilled Cheese with Caramelized Apples & Onion.
Apple Butter in Instant Pot
With my recipe, you’ll learn how to make apple butter in an Instant Pot in less than 1 hour. It’s a total game-changer if you’re like me and always come home from apple picking with way too many apples.
Instead of stirring on the stove for hours, the Instant Pot cooks everything down perfectly with hardly any effort. There’s no need to peel the apples, so it’s faster while keeping that rich apple flavour. I love using it as a spread on toast, a dip for cookies or crackers, or stirred into a savoury sauce.
What is Apple Butter?
Apple butter isn’t actually butter at all. It’s a thicker, richer version of applesauce that’s cooked longer with warm spices until the apples caramelize and turn dark, smooth, and spreadable. The result is a deeply spiced spread with concentrated apple flavour that tastes like fall in every bite.
Ingredients
- Apples: The star of the recipe, providing natural sweetness, rich apple flavour, and a smooth texture once blended. Any variety works, so you can mix tart and sweet apples for a balanced taste.
- Water: Helps the apples cook evenly in the Instant Pot without burning on the bottom.
- Lemon Juice: Brightens the flavour and keeps the apple butter from tasting overly sweet, while also helping preserve its colour.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: Adds a warm, aromatic note that rounds out the spice and fruitiness.
- Brown Sugar: Deepens the sweetness and adds a subtle caramel-like flavour that complements the apples.
- Apple Pie Spice: A cozy blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice that makes the apple butter taste like fall in a jar.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavours, making them pop.
How to Make Instant Pot Apple Butter
Prepare the Apples
I start by washing, coring, and cutting the apples into medium-sized wedges. There’s no need to peel them since the skins blend right in and add extra flavour. Once they’re ready, I transfer the apples to the Instant Pot along with the water, lemon juice, vanilla, brown sugar, apple pie spice, and a pinch of salt.
Pressure Cook
After giving everything a quick stir, I secure the lid, making sure the sealing ring is in place and the vent dial is set to sealing. Using the Pressure Cook setting, I set the timer for 10 minutes. Once the cooking cycle ends, I let the pressure release naturally for another 10 minutes before carefully switching the dial to venting.
Blend Until Smooth
When it’s safe to open, I use an immersion blender right in the pot to blend the apples until smooth and silky. A regular blender or food processor works too, but I’m extra cautious since the hot mixture can splash.
Cool and Store
Once blended, I let the apple butter cool before transferring it to airtight containers. It keeps well in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. I can also freeze it for up to six months to enjoy later.
Apple Butter Recipe Tip
Don’t skip letting the Instant Pot release pressure naturally for 10 minutes — it keeps the apple butter smooth and prevents splattering when you blend.
What is apple butter good for?
- Toast or biscuits: Spread it over warm toast, biscuits, or even pancakes for a cozy breakfast.
- Sauce base: It’s the star ingredient in my Apple Butter BBQ Sauce, which is amazing on chicken, pork, beef, or crispy tofu.
- Yogurt and smoothies: Stir a spoonful into yogurt, smoothies, or breakfast bowls for extra apple flavour.
- Cheese board: Add a dollop to a cheese board or grazing table for a sweet and spiced pairing.
- Baking substitute: Use it as a jam substitute in baked goods or as a filling for pastries.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Applesauce is cooked for a shorter time, leaving it lighter in colour and texture, while apple butter is cooked longer with spices until it caramelizes and becomes thick, smooth, and spreadable. Apple butter has a richer flavour and a deeper colour compared to applesauce.
Apple butter can be a healthier option than jelly since it’s made mostly from apples with just a small amount of added sugar. Jelly, on the other hand, is usually made with fruit juice and higher amounts of sugar, so it doesn’t offer the same fibre and nutrients.
No, you don’t need to peel them. The skins soften while cooking and blend right in, adding flavour, colour, and extra nutrients.
Any variety will work, but I like mixing sweet and tart apples for the best balance. Honeycrisp, Gala, or Granny Smith are all great choices.
More Fall Recipes
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Instant Pot Apple Butter Recipe
Equipment
- Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 6 – 7 Apples, any variety
- 1/4 cup Water
- 2 tbsp Lemon Juice
- 1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1/4 cup Brown Sugar
- 2 tsp Apple Pie Spice
- 1/4 tsp Salt
Instructions
- Wash, core and carefully cut apples into medium sized wedges. Discard the core.
- Transfer the apples into the instant pot, adding water, lemon juice, vanilla extract, brown sugar, apple pie spice, and salt, mix to combine all ingredients.
- Close and secure the lid to the locked position (ensuring the rubber seal is in place on the lid, and the vent dial is turned to SEALING).
- Using the PRESSURE COOK setting, set timer to 10 minutes ensure the vent dial in turned to SEALING) see notes section for more information
- When the timer is finished, allow the pot to release the pressure naturally for another 10 minutes. Then, turn the vent dial to VENTING and allow the remaining steam to release, if necessary.
- Using a immersion blender, food processor, or regular blender, blend until mixture becomes smooth. Be careful, as the warm/hot mixture has a tendency to splash, and blow the lid off (if using blender, or food processor.)
- Allow to cool, transfer and store in an airtight container. Keep refrigerated or freeze up to 6 months.
your recipes are wonderful. thanks for sharing this with us.
This means so much Michelle! Thank you!! So happy you enjoy!