APPLE BUTTER- CLEAN EATING

I love this time of year...days that start out crisp and cold then slowly change into warm afternoons, leaves just starting to change color and apple trees dripping with big juicy apples.

I recently received a bag of the most delicious apples and couldn't decided what to make...really they were so good that we ate them like candy for a few days and then I decided to try something new...apple butter.

Honestly, the name always scared me away, I always thought butter was involved and was happy to find out it has nothing to do with butter. It is basically just a sweetened and thicker version of apple sauce. This is a great recipe to use up all those autumn apples.

APPLE BUTTER- CLEAN EATING
Adapted from PHOO-D
Makes Approximately 6 Cups

5 lbs. Apples, peeled, sliced, and cored
1 cup Apple Cider
1/4-1/2 cup Honey or Agave Syrup - to taste (I use honey)
1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Cloves
1/2 teaspoon Allspice
Pinch of Salt

Place apples and apple cider in a large pot over low heat, uncovered.

Cook apples slowly, stirring occasionally, until they begin to fall apart, about 30-45 minutes on a gas range (could take up to an hour).

Use a potato masher or a stick blender to puree the apples. You can either puree until the mixture is completely smooth or you can leave small chunks, depending on your preference.
Taste the apple puree and add in honey, brown sugar, or agave syrup until it reaches your desired level of sweetness. Stir in the cinnamon, cloves, and allspice. Continue to cook the apple puree over low heat until it thickens, stirring frequently to keep it from sticking to the bottom of the pot. The apple butter is finished cooking when you can drop a spoonful on a plate and it forms a stiff mound that does not have liquid running around the bottom edge.
Let the apple butter cool and then store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks or in the freezer for a year.

You can use apple butter many different ways. We eat it plain, stir it into oatmeal or yogurt, on pancakes or muffins. My daughter's favorite is a piece of warm bread with homemade peanut butter, topped with warm apple butter...

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