One Bowl Apple Butter Cake Recipe | Dessert for Two (2024)

FAQs

How to tell when apple butter is thick enough? ›

If it's the consistency of applesauce, no ma'am! To check for doneness: Spoon out some of the apple butter, turn the spoon upside down. The apple butter should cling to the spoon without falling off right away. If it does fall off, continue cooking to remove more of the liquid.

But the apple butter has a more concentrated, rich flavor. It works wonders in a cake, especially compared to applesauce. Sure, applesauce is great and delivers a lot of moisture to baked goods, but it rarely brings tons of fall, apple flavor. That's why apple butter is here to save the day!

Average shelf life unopened is 11 months. But after you open a jar, it is very important it is re-capped and refrigerated. It will last about a month in the refrigerator, but we usually finish out a jar in a couple of days. The same goes for any baked goods or cooked items made with apple butter.

Apple butter is essentially concentrated applesauce.

The only difference is that apple butter is milled, pureed, or finely chopped and then cooked for a longer period of time, which gets out more water and allows it to caramelize.

To thicken your apple butter after puréeing, continue to cook it uncovered, stirring occasionally, in the slow cooker until it's reached your desired consistency. This apple butter will continue to thicken as it cools.

If you want the apple butter thicker, you can continue to cook it on low with the lid of the slow cooker slightly ajar so that steam can escape. Allow the mixture to cool, then spoon into jars and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month, or freeze for up to 1 year.

It will keep in your refrigerator for up to 3 months, or in the freezer for up to one year.

While apple butter is undeniably delicious, it also offers some health benefits. Made from fresh, organic apples, it contains essential nutrients like dietary fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. These components contribute to a healthy digestive system, support immune function, and promote overall well-being.

During the slow cooking, the sugars that are naturally present in the apples caramelize into a deep, molasses-like flavor, and a dark color. This gives the apple butter its rich, sweet flavor and dark brown hue.

Eating two apples a day is good for heart health. You can eat any kind of apple, as long as you eat the peel. Apple peels contain many antioxidants that help fight cancer. Researchers suggest that it is best to get antioxidants from fruits and vegetables rather than from dietary supplements.

What is the point of apple butter? ›

Apple butter and apple sauce also have different uses. Popular ways of using apple butter include, condiment or spreads for pastries and pie fillings. It can also be used as a healthier alternative for oil, shortening, or butter.

Apple butter is the richer, prettier, and perhaps more sophisticated sister to plain-Jane applesauce. It's truly the embodiment of fall, with colorful crisp apples cooked down and caramelized in spices, brown sugar and vanilla.

The longer you cook it, the thicker it will be. Apple butter is high in natural sugar so if you want don't want to add sugar, then use sweet apples. The thing about sugar is that helps thicken your apple butter. I used about 5 tablespoons of coconut sugar so my apple butter was satisfyingly sweet.

Leave the crock of apple butter uncovered, and continue to cook on LOW heat for another hour or so before giving it another stir. The apple butter will be fairly thick, but still run off the spoon–like the texture of commercial apple sauce. Don't worry, the apple butter will thicken as it cools.

If it's runny it just hasn't been cooked long enough. It's not a safety issue, but again, it'd be more like a spiced applesauce.

Press fruit through a colander, food mill, or strainer. Cook fruit pulp with sugar and spices, stirring frequently. To test for doneness, remove a spoonful and hold it away from steam for 2 minutes. It is done if the butter remains mounded on the spoon.