Slow Cooker Apple Butter

I picture apple butter at local fall festivals: large cauldrons of apples cooking and smelling like autumn. On my farm, we even have some large brass buckets that, years ago, were used for apple butter making. Crazy right?!
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Since I don’t think anyone needs 100 quarts of apple butter, this recipe is pared down and cooked in a slow cooker! All the autumn spice with amazing apple flavor. Plus it’s super easy!
INGREDIENTS
4 qt (approx. 8 lbs) apples, peeled and sliced
2 ¾ cups sugar
2 ¾ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp ground cloves
1 star anise pod or a pinch of anise seeds (optional)
1 tbsp lemon juice
¼ tsp salt
INSTRUCTIONS
Wash, core and take out the seeds from the apples. Slice into 1/2” pieces.
Measure out four quarts of apples. Pour all apples into slow cooker.
Add sugar, cinnamon, cloves, anise pod, salt, and lemon juice. Stir to incorporate everything.
Turn slow cooker on high for 4-5 hours. After the first hour, remove the star anise pod, if added. Stir the apples every so often.
Once the mixture is bubbling and cooking well (after approximately 1-2 hours), turn the slow cooker to low and leave for 10-12 hours. I usually do this in the evening so it can sit on the low setting overnight.
After ten hours, start checking the slow cooker. Stir mixture using a strong wire whisk or hand potato masher to break up the apples. Turn the cooker on high and remove the lid to cook off extra liquid.
Once the butter is the consistency desired, use a blender, food processor, or immersion blender to break down the rest of the apples to achieve an even consistency.
Let cool. Freeze or can the mixture.