Overnight Apple Butter (Crockpot Recipe You’ll Fall in Love With)
- Kristina DeRobertis
- Oct 13
- 3 min read
If fall had a scent, it would be a slow cooker full of apples, cinnamon, and cloves gently simmering overnight. This Overnight Apple Butter recipe is one of those cozy kitchen traditions that feels like a warm hug — and it’s almost entirely hands-off!
With just a few ingredients and your trusty crockpot, you’ll wake up to a home that smells like a country orchard and a batch of golden-brown apple butter ready to slather on everything from sourdough toast to buttermilk biscuits.
Why You’ll Love This Apple Butter
It’s overnight: The crockpot does all the work while you sleep.
It’s from-scratch, simple, and seasonal: Just 5 lbs of apples and pantry staples.
It’s freezer and canning-friendly: Make a big batch and enjoy it all winter.
No added pectin or complicated steps: Just slow, natural magic.
Whether you’re deep into your From Scratch Era or just looking to use up a bushel of apples, this recipe is the kind of slow-living kitchen moment that makes fall special.
Ingredients You’ll Need
5 lbs apples (peeled, cored, chopped)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
Pinch of cloves
2 Tbsp cinnamon
Pinch of nutmeg
1 tsp salt
½ tsp vanilla extract
Tools You’ll Need
Crockpot – for that effortless overnight cook
Immersion blender – to puree the apples into a silky-smooth butter
Mason jars – for storage, gifting, freezing, or canning
Check out my Soup Making Essentials HERE
How to Make Overnight Apple Butter
Step 1: Load the Crockpot
Add your chopped apples, both sugars, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt to the crockpot. Give everything a good mix so the apples are evenly coated in that sweet spiced mixture.
Cook on low overnight for about 10 hours. As the apples break down, they’ll caramelize, darken, and fill your home with the coziest fall scent imaginable.
Pro tip: Use a mix of apple varieties — like Honeycrisp, Gala, and Fuji — for more complex flavor.
Step 2: Blend Until Smooth
In the morning, your apples will be tender and rich in color. Using an immersion blender, puree everything until completely smooth (or carefully transfer to a blender in batches).
Stir in your vanilla extract, then decide:
For a looser, spreadable texture — you’re done!
For a thicker, more caramelized apple butter — cook on low for 2 more hours, stirring occasionally.
Step 3: Cool + Store
Let your apple butter cool completely before transferring it to mason jars. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks or freeze for up to 6 months.
How to Can Apple Butter
If you want to make your apple butter shelf-stable (and giftable!):
Sterilize your mason jars and lids.
Ladle hot apple butter into jars, leaving about ¼ inch of headspace.
Wipe rims clean, apply lids and rings.
Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
Remove and let cool — you’ll hear that satisfying pop as the jars seal!
Once sealed, they can be stored in a cool, dark pantry for up to a year.
Bonus: Add a piece of ribbon and a tag for a homemade holiday gift that everyone will love.
Freezing Apple Butter
If you prefer freezing, use freezer-safe containers or wide-mouth mason jars (leave space at the top for expansion).
Thaw in the fridge overnight and stir before using — it tastes just as fresh and cozy as the day you made it.
Ways to Use Homemade Apple Butter
Once you have a jar of this golden goodness, you’ll find endless ways to use it:
Spread on buttermilk biscuits or sourdough toast
Swirl into oatmeal, pancake batter, or Greek yogurt
Serve alongside pork chops or roast chicken
Use as a filling for hand pies or cinnamon rolls
Gift a jar with homemade labels and twine for the holidays
Apple Butter vs. Applesauce
They might sound similar, but the difference is in the time and texture.
Applesauce cooks quickly and stays light, tangy, and spoonable.
Apple butter cooks low and slow until the sugars caramelize, creating a deep, spiced, buttery spread.
Think of apple butter as the grown-up, indulgent cousin of applesauce.
Tips for Perfect Apple Butter
Don’t rush it. Low and slow is key — that’s where the flavor deepens.
Use a mix of apples. Tart + sweet = perfect balance.
Taste as you go. Adjust sugar or spice depending on your apples.
Keep the lid cracked open at the end to help it thicken and darken beautifully.
In the From Scratch Spirit
There’s something deeply rewarding about waking up to homemade apple butter made from scratch. It’s one of those simple, slow-living recipes that fills your home with warmth and your fridge with something that tastes like autumn itself.
Whether you’re spooning it onto biscuits, canning a batch for winter, or gifting jars to friends, this overnight apple butter is proof that good things really do come to those who wait.