This Instant Pot apple butter recipe is super easy, made with just a few simple ingredients, and requires very little active prep time! Great to gift during holidays.
3lbs applescored and quartered, I used Granny Smith here!
¼ cup water
2teaspoonslemon juice
1teaspoonground cinnamon 1 cinnamon stick
½teaspoonfreshly grated nutmeg
¼teaspoonground ginger
¼teaspoonsalt
1tablespoonvanilla extract
Instructions
Set the Instant Pot to High-Pressure mode for 6 minutes.
Add apple pieces along with the remaining ingredients to the Instant Pot, close the lid and cook for 5 minutes. Then allow a natural release of 20 minutes.
Once completed, open the lid carefully and check the consistency.
Turn it into apple butter by blending it with an immersion blender or popping the mixture into a normal jug blender until smooth with the lid slightly opened to avoid heat pressure inside the jug. You may like to add sugar or sweetener at this point.
For slow cooking, turn the Instant Pot to “Slow Cook” and cook on high for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally, with the lid propped on but not latched so the steam discharges. Alternatively, use a splatter guard. You can cook even more, up to 4 hours. The longer it cooks, the darker, thicker and sweeter it gets.
Once done allow it to cool in the pot, remove the cinnamon stick, and place it in a jar with a lid and store it in the fridge for up to 3 weeks.
Notes
Note: This is not a canning recipe!
Type of Apples: Any apple can work for this recipe, but it will vary in taste and texture. Softer apples are best (e.g., Fuji, Honeycrisp, MacIntosh, Golden Grimes). Using a mix can result in a really balanced flavor profile!
Quick cooking: Set the Instant Pot to sauté mode and continue cooking the apple butter to reduce for 30 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the desired consistency.
Thickness of the apple butter: No artificial thickening is required because the apple butter can thicken, become richer, and become velvety as it cools down!
Safety tip: The apple butter splatters a lot, use a splatter guard if available and wear mittens while stirring it. Stir frequently to avoid burning!
Burn notice: Different models of the Instant Pot can sometimes behave a bit differently! If you get a burn notice, add half a cup of apple cider or water.