Instant Pot Apple Butter

Instant Pot Apple Butter is pure autumn feels in one amazing spread. Enjoy its rich apple flavor on toast, in your baked goods, or straight off a spoon! A super quick and easy dish to make at home. 

If you like fruity spreads, you’ll fall in love with the Best Peach Jam you’ll ever make. Fill up jars with my no-pectin Plum Jam and this Easy Strawberry Jam so you always have some for breakfast or as a snack. Great for giveaways too!

apple butter in the instant pot

Easy Instant Pot Apple Butter Recipe

Instant Pot Apple Butter will make you forget about plain-old applesauce. I mean, that version is great, but this stuff is absolutely magical. It’s got that deep fruit flavor you can only get from slow and low cooking.

But since we make this in the Instant Pot, you don’t need to wait the usual 12 hours in the slow cooker.

This recipe is super quick and easy and has all the flavors you are looking for. Also, it tastes much better than the store-bought version, and it costs considerably less.

Not to mention, it is healthier! This is the perfect recipe to make in the pressure cooker at home in less than one hour from start to finish. 

What is apple butter?

Despite the name, there’s absolutely no butter in this recipe. It’s literally cooked-down fruit with intensely concentrated flavor and delicious caramelization. Also, because there’s no dairy or butter in it, this is a vegan dish.

Some people confuse it with the sauce version, and the two are very similar. However, this is so much smoother, thicker, and bursting with concentrated with fruit essence. 

It’s perfect slathered on toast and soft rolls, or as a sub for fruit filling in baked treats that call for jam. Great as a side dish as well.

instant pot apple butter in mason jar

What are the characteristics of Apple Butter?

Here’s what to look for in your finished product:

  • Thick and spreadable consistency
  • Deep brown color similar to caramel
  • Intense sweet fruit flavor
  • Super smooth texture

 How to make Instant Pot Apple Butter?

  1. Spray the Pressure Cooker: For easy clean-up, apply the non-stick spray to the side of your Instant Pot.
  2. Prepare the apples: Wash and peel your fruits. Remove the core and chop. Then, blend half of the chopped fruit and cider until totally smooth. Repeat with the remaining half.
  3. Add the spices: Stir in your spices.
  4. Cook: Pressure cook for five minutes at High Pressure, and Natural Release for 20 minutes.
  5. Season: Add sugar to taste.
  6. Serve: Enjoy fresh as a spread on your favorite bread.

apple butter in mason jar

Do I have to peel them?

Yes. You need to peel them to achieve that ultra-smooth consistency.

The best kind to use for Instant Pot Apple butter?

Any type, really. But I’m partial to Fuji, Gala, and Golden Delicious for their natural sweetness. Also, if you prefer something a bit tarter, try the Granny Smith kind. I like mixing different types as well!

How do you thicken it?

There are a couple of ways to thicken it in the Instant Pot. First, you can use the Sauté function for 30 minutes to an hour to thicken it. Second, you can also look at the Slow Cook function for 4-8 hours to achieve a thicker consistency.

How to serve Apple Butter?

It goes so well on so many things! I use it as a filling for cakes and cupcakes. Spoon some on top of pancakes and ice cream. Spread a generous amount on bread or warm, buttered toast!

It’s also a fantastic accompaniment to savory items like my Pork Chops, Lemon Garlic Roast Chicken, Perfect Dry Brined Turkey, the Best Honey Butter Ham

I also highly recommend making up a big batch and giving them as Christmas gifts to your family and friends. There’s nothing like a jar of homemade deliciousness to show people you care!

apple butter in mason jar

Want to make it in the slow cooker?

For the slow cooker fans out there, I’ve got the perfect Slow Cooker Apple Butter Recipe for you too!

Storage Instructions:

This recipe has an incredibly long shelf life. You can store it a couple of ways:

  • Use sterilized leaded mason jars or glass containers. Then, keep in the fridge for up 1o to 14 days.
  • Use sterilized freezer-proof jars and seal them tightly. Keep in the freezer for up to 6 months!

 More delicious apple recipes:

apple butter

 Recipe Tips:

  • Play with spice combinations! Try saffron, allspice, and pumpkin pie spice for a twist.
  • Aside from table sugar, you can also use molasses, brown sugar, honey, or any preferred sweetener.
  • You can switch the order of preparation: pressure cook the fruit first, then blend if you prefer.
  • It’s okay to just chop the fruit roughly since you’ll be blending them smooth anyway.
  • Also, if using the Sauté function to thicken, make sure to use a splatter guard.
apple butter in the instant pot

Instant Pot Apple Butter

Catalina Castravet
Instant Pot Apple Butter is pure autumn feels in one amazing spread. Enjoy its rich apple flavor on toast, in your baked goods, or straight off a spoon! A super quick and easy dish to make at home. 
5 from 6 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 4 small mason jars
Calories 322 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • 1 cup apple cider
  • 10 apples stems removed, peeled, seeds removed and chopped
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/8 teaspoon cloves
  • pinch of all spice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract optional but recommended
  • dash of salt

Instructions
 

  • Spray the Pressure Cooker with non-stick spray.
  • Blend half of the chopped apples and cider in a high-speed blender or food processor until totally smooth. Repeat with the remaining half.
  • Add the apple puree and the rest of the ingredients. to the pressure cooker. Stir in the spices.
  • Pressure cook for five minutes at High Pressure, and Natural Release for 20 minutes.
  • Add sugar to taste if needed
  • Enjoy fresh as a spread on your favorite bread with some butter.

Nutrition

Calories: 322kcalCarbohydrates: 83gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 13mgPotassium: 471mgFiber: 9gSugar: 69gVitamin A: 197IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 58mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

easy instant pot apple butter pin

5 from 6 votes

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11 Comments

  1. I can’t wait to make this! I love apple butter, but I’ve never tried making it at home. This recipe looks so easy!5 stars

  2. Confession – I’ve never had apple butter! I’ve had maple butter, but never apple butter. This looks really tasty and I’m thinking I’d love it on a pork chop, wonder if it’s good to put on that? Either way, I love apple season and I’ll surely find some way to enjoy this flavorful apple butter. 🙂

  3. I need to get apples…. adding them to my grocery list. I love Apple butter but have only made it stovetop or in my slow cooker. Thanks for the IP recipe, I can’t wait.

  4. I don’t think I’ve tried apple butter before but that looks quite tasty! I’d love to try making this and see how it tastes.5 stars

  5. My sister cooks hers in the oven for a few hours. Keep it stirred and it comes out really thick. Oh soo good! I think she also puts red hots along with lots of spice in hers. I could just eat by the spoonful.

  6. I had a bunch of fresh apples, so I decided to try this instant pot apple butter. The flavor turned out great, and it was so easy to make!5 stars