Amish Apple Butter (2-Hour Recipe)

Description

The tradition of making apple butter originates from the Pennsylvania Dutch, who brought this tradition with them from the area of modern-day Germany and Holland. The European version of apple butter is called apfelkraut or appelstroop, but differs from the Pennsylvania Dutch (also known as Amish) version in that it is also often made with the addition of pairs and contains no spices, unlike the Amish version. When these immigrants settled in America in the 17th century, they chose the land of southeast Pennsylvania. The soil there was ideal for growing many staple European crops, including apple trees. In Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine, apple butter is utilized in a variety of both sweet and savory contexts; it can be served along with meat, used as a filling for desserts, or eaten with bread and/or cottage cheese. Many traditional recipes for apple butter take an upwards of 10-12 hours to cook, as the apples need to be concentrated down into a thick spread. The recipe below can be made in only 2 hours, thanks to the use of slightly higher heat and a smaller batch size.

(Source: at my Kitchen Table)

Ingredients

• 6 medium tart apples, peeled, cored and cut into cubes

• 2 cups water

• ½ cup brown sugar

• ½ cup white sugar

• ½ tsp salt

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Preparation

Add apples and water to a pot. Cover, and cook on medium for 30 minutes or until apples are completely soft. Blend using an immersion blender until smooth.

Stir in the brown sugar, white sugar, salt, cinnamon and apple cider vinegar. Cook uncovered on low for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. When the apple butter is a deep brown and a spoonful holds it shape, it is done. Store in a jar in the refrigerator for several weeks or freeze.

Notes

• For full authenticity, replace the brown sugar with 2 tbsp molasses.

• Feel free to add other spices such as cloves, allspice and nutmeg.

• After blending the apples into sauce, feel free to transfer the mixture into a crock pot and cook for 5-6 + hours instead of on the stove.