By Chef Nancy Berkoff, RD, EdD
Apples are in abundance this time of year! To spread apple joy throughout the year, consider having an apple butter prep session. Apple butter is a wonderful mealtime condiment and both a cooking and baking ingredient.
Vegan apple butter can be made by slow-cooking apples with organic granulated sugar and autumn spices. The “butter” is the thick, velvety, caramelized apple blend… no dairy in sight!
Before you start, keep two preparation tips in mind: try not to add too much water, as the object is to reduce the mixture down until almost no moisture is left, and do remember the lemon juice, to help to create a smooth texture.
If you have a large pot, start with five pounds of apples. You do not need to peel the apples, as the peel adds color, flavor, fiber, and thickness (and it saves time!). You’ll halve or quarter the apples (leave out core and stems), and place in the pot with about 1 cup water (the water is there just to prevent burning), 1 cup organic granulated sweetener (more can always be added), 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons each ginger and nutmeg, and 2 Tablespoons lemon juice. Stir to distribute the spices and lemon juice, cover, and simmer until the apples soften, usually at least 1½ to 2 hours. Take a few pieces out and test the texture with the back of a spoon; the apples should be thick and spreadable. You can do a taste test at the same time, to see if you would like to add more spices or sugar. Allow to cook until soft enough to spread. To create a smooth texture, you can use an immersion blender (a wand blender that goes right into the pot), a food processor (doing in batches), or push, by hand, through a sieve. Allow to cool, place in clean, airtight containers and refrigerate until ready to use.
Some people like to add a bit of vanilla extract or lemon zest to their cooking apple butter, or to combine in a few tart apples, such as Granny Smith, for a varied flavor. If you have some pears that are ripe to overripe, they can be added in as well.
If you would like to make your apple butter in an Instant Pot, add the apples, using the measurements above, into the Instant Pot and stir in the lemon juice. Add the sugar and spices and stir to combine. Follow the directions for securing and sealing the lid and cook on high for about ten minutes. When the time is up, follow the directions for naturally releasing pressure (usually about 15 minutes) and then manually releasing the pressure. Remove the lid and prepare your apple butter as listed above.
If you would like to make your apple butter in a slow cooker, place the cut apples in the cooker. In a separate bowl, combine the spices and lemon juice. Add to the apples and mix to combine. Place the lid and set on the lowest heat setting. This batch could take 8-10 hours to cook. Stir every once in a while, for a consistent texture. Remove the apples and blend, with the immersion blender, food processor, or by hand, and then return to the slow cooker. Allow to cook for at least one more hour, or until the consistency you like has been reached. Remove the apple butter from the cooker, allow to cool and place in clean, air-tight containers in the refrigerator.
Whichever technique or fruit you use, your pancakes, waffles, toast, hot cereal, steamed rice, tofu cheesecake, and even smoothies will benefit with a touch of apple butter!