Jonagold Apple Butter
Ingredients
- 5 pounds tart apples (such as Jonagold, Winesap, Jonathan, Empire, or Granny Smith), peeled, cored, and cut into eighths ⓘ
- 1 cup apple juice or water
- 1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar ⓘ
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar ⓘ
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon ⓘ
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves ⓘ
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice ⓘ
- Pinch of fine sea salt ⓘ
Instructions
- Combine the apples and juice in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan.
- Cover and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Decrease the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the apples are very soft, 30 to 45 minutes.
- Add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and salt.
- Continue to cook until the apple butter is thick enough to mound when spooned onto a plate, about 45 more minutes.
- Meanwhile, place a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet.
- Sterilize the 1/2-pint canning jars and lids in boiling water, following the manufacturers instructions (or see Boiling-Water Canning, page 279).
- Remove the jars from the water and place upside down to drain on the prepared rack.
- Remove the lids from the water and dry with a clean towel.
- Turn the sterilized jars right side up on the rack, using tongs or a kitchen towel to protect your hands.
- When they are cool enough to handle, dry them with a clean towel.
- Set aside.
- When the apple butter is cooked, fill the hot jars according to the procedure for Raspberry Jam (page 289), and process them in a boiling-water canner for 10 minutes.
- Store the unopened jars of apple butter at room temperature for up to 1 year.
- Once a jar is opened, store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
- For refrigerator or freezer apple butter, transfer the mixture to clean airtight containers and refrigerate for up to 1 month.
- Or spoon into airtight freezer-safe containers, leaving at least 1 inch of headroom and freeze for up to 1 year.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
326
kcal
16% DV
Protein
Fat
Carbs
Diet fit
High-fiber
Under 400 cal
Low-fat
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).