Apple Butter

Recipe Adapted from Put 'Em Up

Ingredients

3 lbs apples, stems removed (I used Macouns)

2 cups apple cider

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions

1) Quarter the apples but leave on the peel and core. Bring the apples and cider to a boil in a large pot. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 30 minutes, until the apples are very soft and starting to break down.

2) Let the apples cool slightly and then run them through a food mill to remove the seeds and skins. (I own this miniature food mill-easy to store!)

3) Put this apple puree in the pot and stir in the sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Simmer the mixture over medium heat, until thickened. This timing is variable. I had to simmer for 1 hour, stirring constantly, until the mixture was thick enough to be spreadable. It might be slightly different for you, depending on your pot and burner. You want the texture to be smooth with a silky sheen.

Are you storing it?

Using a stainless steel spoon to transfer the jam into its storage containers. Let cool on the counter before putting into the refrigerator.  Keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

Are you canning it?

Ladle into oven sterilized jars, leaving 1/4 inch of headspace.  (To sterilize your jars in the oven, heat your oven to 250 degrees before placing your jars and lids onto cookie sheets.  Keep in the oven for at least 30 minutes, but longer is fine, too.)

After filling your jars and securing the lids (use gloves if the jars are too hot to handle) carefully put the jars back on the cookie sheet(s) for 15 minutes.

Remove the jars from the oven keeping them on their sheet(s).  Put the sheet on a wire rack and cool them over night.  They will seal as they cool.