Fruit butter recipe – so easy
Fred is a jelly guy. I prefer jam but adore fruit butters. They are similar to those “Spreadable” fruit but have texture and more spices.
You probably have had Apple butter but what about Pear butter or Peach butter? Someday, when I am feeling brave, I might try making Pumpkin butter.
Yes, Apple butter is available in your local grocery store (in the jam & jelly aisle, probably near the honey) but if you have a crock pot, it is so very easy to make at home.
The basic recipe is:
– Peel and core fresh fruit, the riper the better. Cut into chunks and cook fresh fruit down to a sauce. You may want to add some liquid. I’ll use water but you should experiment to find your preferred.
– You might want to puree or put the cook fruit through a sieve but I don’t think it is absolutely necessary.
– Measure sauce into a crock pot. Add 1/4 to ½ cup sugar (depending on the fruit’s sugar content) per 1 cup of sauce in the crock pot. Stir until sugar has disappeared. Add ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 tsp cloves, 1/8 tsp cloves, 1/8 tsp all-spice, a dash of ground ginger, and a pinch of dried orange peel (optional) again for each single cup you measured into the crock pot. Stir to blend. A little brown sugar along with white gives a depth of flavor I really like but some find it too rich.
– Turn the crock pot on low and walk away. Every 30 minute or so, give it a stir.
– Yes, it will take hours and the house will smells so good. To see if done, drop a dab on a saucer. If you see a liquid ring form around the dab it is NOT done. Fruit butter is all fruit and goodness. You must cook all the liquid out of it.
– When fruit butter is done, put in a clean jar, seal and put in fridge. If you have extra, treat like homemade jelly and use jelly jars with vacuum seal lids and store in a cool place.
Serve on toast, waffles, ice cream, whatever. My favorite way to consume fruit butter is as heaping mound on a saltine cracker. I’ve used my Apple butter in place of oil/shortening in cake mixes with fabulous results.
FYI: You can use store bought applesauce rather than cooking up your own but make sure it is unsweetened.
