Do you have a favourite smell? One that brings back all your favourite memories? Of crisp autumn days or happy times in the kitchen?

If I could pick one smell, it would be crab apples.

Their pretty red pink might also win for best colour too, but I digress.

One of my favourite ways to use up crab apples is to make this delicious slow cooker spiced crab apple butter. For more about what you need, how to make it, and what to serve it with, read on! And, if you just want the recipe without all the rest, you can scroll to the bottom. Let’s get cooking!

Lessons in Crab Apples

I vividly remember picking crab apples growing up on the family farm. I would pick all the apples as high as I could reach while my mom or grandma got the taller ones with the ladder. My grandma’s voice still rings in my head, gently lecturing me to not waste a single apple.

Any apples that fell while picking could still be collected for juice.

At the time I thought it was silly. There were so. many. apples. Surely one or two going to waste wouldn’t be a big deal?

While I haven’t heard of anyone dying from lack of crab apples, the lesson still sticks in my mind. Now that I’m older, I confess that I take a certain amount of pride in being able to make my own crab apple pies, juice, and sauces.

Have a crab apple tree full of apples and no idea what to do with it? You'll want to make this maple spiced crab apple butter! All the smells and tastes of autumn. Spread it on toast or fresh bread, use it as a pancake topping, or use it to flavour plain yogurt.

Related: How to Organize an Apple Pie Making Day, THE BEST WAY TO JUICE CRAB APPLES

Use Early Autumn Apples to make Delicious Crab Apple Butter

Every year I like to try something new, and just a few short years ago this crab apple butter was calling my name.

Despite having the word butter in its title, there is actually no butter in apple butter. Think of it as a thick jam, or a jazzed-up version of apple sauce.

The ingredients are simple: crap apples, lemon juice, maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon, and allspice. Cook, blend, cook again, and serve. Don’t worry, I’ll go into slightly more detail below and provide the recipe in an easy-to-read format at the end.

Related: How to Make Crab Apple Juice, How to make a Simple and Impressive Charcuterie Board

Use it up!

I can hear you already, “That sounds great, Kristen, but what will I actually DO with this marvellous crab apple butter?”

Eat it like you would apple sauce, serve it over pancakes, serve it IN pancakes, or add it to your plain yogurt. You can even serve it on top of crackers and cheddar cheese or use it as a condiment for sausage and egg sandwiches or on a mouthwatering cheeseburger. Whatever you do, I know that you’ll be coming back for more.

Slow Cooker Spiced Crab Apple Butter

Yield: 6 250ml jars

Prep Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 4 hours

Additional Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 6 hours

A delicious apple sauce to use up crab apples.

Ingredients

5 cups apple sauce
1 cup apple juice
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp allspice

Instructions

1.Clean and cut your crab apples, removing all stems, cores, and blossom ends.

2.Fill a large pot approximately 1/2 full of crab apples. Add four cups of water and boil. You may need to add more water as your apples cook so they don't burn.

3.When the apples are cooked through and mushy, remove from heat and put them in a blender. Blend on medium low for 30 seconds, or until smooth.

4.Measure out five cups of crab apple sauce and return to the pot. Add apple juice. I use the crab apple juice I make, but apple juice from the store is fine too. Add maple syrup, brown sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon, and allspice. Feel free to adjust the spices to suit your tastes.

5.Heat and cook until boiling. Set heat to medium low and simmer for approximately 15 minutes. Transfer to sterilized jars and process in boiling water for 10 minutes, or let cool and store in freezer-safe containers. If canning, it is recommended to follow the procedure and guidelines as outlined here.

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Comments

Yolanda

I really have to try this. I make apple sauce all the time, but have never made an apple butter. I can't wait to go apple picking so I can really go for it this year with lots of apple recipes :)

Jackie

This looks amazing thabks for the great recipe

Samantha

I am an apple butter addict, but I've never tried to make my own. I'll have to give this one a shot - it sounds like heaven, especially on top of some homemade buttermilk biscuits!

- Kristen Raney
  
  Yes! Those biscuits would make such a good pairing.
  
Leighann

GASP! I forgot about crab apples! I remember seeing trees near my grandmas house when I was a kid! Also, I LOVE apple butter but never even thought about venturing into making my own! Thanks for sharing!

Paula @ I'm Busy Being Awesome

MMMM This makes me excited for fall :) I've made apple butter before, but never from crab apples - that's so interesting! Thanks for sharing!

Jeanine

I'm so excited to try out this recipe in my new home when I'm settled. My house will smell amazing thanks Kristen. ?

Darcy

I've been making buckets and buckets of crab applesauce! Thanks for the recipe, I can't wait to try it!

Sarah

I have never cooked with crab apples but this maple apple butter looks like a perfect use for fresh apples :)

Taylor || The Millennial Sprinkle

This recipe screams fall and I am LOVING it! Apple + cinnamon is my favorite combo, so this is definitely a must-try for me! Thanks so much for the idea! xo, Taylor (thesprinkle.tayloramead.com)

Stephanie

This sounds great and I know my son would love it too. I'm so happy you answered the question, what can you put it on. I will pin for later!

Karleen Schmiedt

Can you use a Foley food mill to remove skins rather than the blender?

- Kristen Raney
  
  I'm sorry, I don't have any experience with food mills. Maybe some of the other readers seeing this comment will chime in?
  
  - Alyssa Drane
    
    Do I peel the apples when I cut and core them??
    
    - Kristen Raney
      
      No, you don't have to. I never do.
      
Kristjana

So in the description it says you use brown sugar but it is not in the recipe ?

- Kristen Raney
  
  That's a mistake, I will fix that right away. Thank you!
  
Micheline Hatin

Hi I do not see the quantity of crabapple in the recipe, it start with 5 close of apple sauce !! ??

- Kristen Raney
  
  the amount of sauce you get from the crap apples can vary so much depending on the variety and even the growing year. My best guess would be that if you made a large ice cream pail or so of apples into apple sauce, you'd probably get 5 cups.
  
Bonnie

Hello! I'm just getting into crabapples this year, so thank you for this recipe! My husband and I were reading this together and got a little giggle over the one small typo (or likely auto correct) in the post where it says, "The ingredients are simple:" Looking forward to trying your recipe. Thanks!

Gale

Hi The recipe says it’s a slow cooker one but directions use a pot?

Frances

Do you peel the crab apples for crab apple butter

Wanda

Can this recipe be frozen in small batches instead of canned processing?

Delicious Maple Spice Crab Apple Butter