Apple Butter

One of my favorite items to spread onto toast or an english muffin is....APPLE BUTTER! Now, you know one of my favorite things.  I was introduced to apple butter when I lived in Lancaster, PA.  There's an amazing and historical farmer's market in downtown Lancaster city called Central Market. The best apple butter is sold at Kauffman's Fruit Farm stand.  I've noted it as the best through many test sequences of apple butters purchased throughout the Northeast (sort of kidding about the testing).  Anyway, I decided to try to create my own apple butter from all of the apples left in my fridge. I wanted to figure out an easy recipe, with just a few ingredients, cooked on the stovetop.  This is definitely not the traditional way of making apple butter, but it still works!

Ingredients:

Apples (2 macintosh or your favorite and 2-3 green apples)

1 cup of apple cider

1/2 cup of sugar

3/4 cup of water

2-3 Tbsp of cinnamon

1/2 tsp of ginger (optional)

1/2 tsp of nutmeg (optional)

Directions:

Peel the apples and cut into cubes.  Place into a pot onto the stovetop over medium heat. Add the apple cider, water, cinnamon and additional spices, if desired. Stir every so often. Cook down the apples, for another one and a half hours.  The mixture will thicken and turn into a jam.  Remove from heat and allow to cool.  Place into a mason jar and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.

Enjoy on your favorite piece of bread. I enjoy apple butter with a little peanut butter on an english muffin!