Sugar free apple butter is a cozy, homemade spread that’s simple to make in your crockpot and bursting with natural sweetness. This slow cooker recipe combines a mix of apples, warming spices, and dates for a rich, flavorful breakfast treat that’s perfect on toast, in oatmeal, or even straight from the jar. This is pure homemade goodness in every spoonful!
When I make homemade treats for my grandkids, I often try to use less refined sugars whenever possible. This healthy apple spread is a perfect example—similar to our unsweetened applesauce, but cooked down even further to create a rich, dark, and deeply concentrated flavor they love.
Here is Why This Healthy Apple Butter Recipe Works
Naturally Sweetened: No added sugar here! Dates bring all the natural sweetness, so you can feel good about slathering this on everything.
Set It and Forget It: Toss everything in the crockpot, and let it do the work while you go about your day. Easy peasy!
Versatile Goodness: Use it as a topping, mix it into your favorite recipes, or just grab a spoon—no judgment here!
Perfectly Spiced: The warm blend of cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg gives this apple butter that cozy, fall flavor you’ll want to enjoy all year long.
The Ingredients
- Produce: Apples
- Pantry Seasonings: Ground cinnamon, allspice, ground nutmeg, ground ginger, ground cloves, salt
- Other: Unsweetened apple juice, dates
Ingredient Substitutions
You can substitute the dates with dried figs or prunes… or you can leave them out all-together.
Adjust the spices to your liking—use more cinnamon, reduce the cloves, or toss in some pumpkin pie spice.
Use any combination of sweet and tart apples, or go all-in with your favorite variety.
For more apple recipes, try our crystalized ginger muffins with apples, or our apple cranberry granola. You can also use this apple butter in baked goods like our applesauce coffee cake.
Variations
Maple Pecan Apple Butter: Stir in 1/4 cup of pure maple syrup and 1/2 cup of chopped pecans for a rich, nutty twist.
Cranberry Orange Zest Apple Butter: Toss in 1/2 cup of dried cranberries and the zest of one orange for a burst of tangy flavor.
Sugar Free Crock Pot Vanilla Apple Butter: Mix in 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract into the pureed apple butter after it cooks down. Don’t add the extract sooner because the long cooking time can cause the vanilla flavor to diminish.
Tips for Success
Peeling is Optional. If you prefer a smoother texture, peel the apples before chopping. However, leaving the skins on adds more fiber and nutrients.
Cooking on low heat for 8-10 hours allows the apples to break down slowly and develop a rich, deep flavor.
If the apple butter isn’t thickening as desired, cook it uncovered for the last 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Don’t seal the lid during this stage. Leaving it slightly ajar allows the steam to escape and thicken properly.
Use an immersion blender for easy blending right in the crockpot. If using a regular blender, blend in small batches and be cautious with the hot mixture.
Storage
Refrigeration: Store the apple butter in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Make sure the jars are tightly sealed to maintain freshness.
Freezing: For longer storage, freeze the apple butter in freezer-safe containers or resealable plastic bags, leaving a little room at the top for expansion. It will keep well in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Pure Homemade Goodness
This sugar-free apple butter proves you don’t need to add sugar to enjoy a rich, sweet spread. Perfect for toast, oatmeal, or straight from the jar. Happy spreading!
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No Sugar Apple Butter
Ingredients
- 5 pounds of apples cored, and chopped (peeled if desired)
- ½ cup pitted dates chopped
- ½ cup unsweetened apple juice
- 2 to 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Place the chopped apples in a 6 quart slow cooker. Add the chopped dates, apple juice, spices, and salt. Stir to combine.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 8-10 hours, stirring occasionally. The apples will break down and get soft.
- Once the apples have softened, use an immersion blender to puree the mixture until smooth. Alternatively, you can transfer the mixture to a blender in batches and blend until smooth. Be careful, as the mixture will be hot.
- If the apple butter isn’t as thick as you’d like, continue cooking uncovered on low for an additional 1-2 hours, stirring every 20 to 30 minutes, until it reaches your desired consistency. As the mixture thickens, it will start splattering. To prevent a mess, you can place a wire mesh splatter screen over the top of the slow cooker. Alternatively, partially cover the slow cooker with the lid, making sure the lid isn’t fully sealed. This will allow the mixture to evaporate and thicken.
- Let the apple butter cool completely before transferring it to jars or airtight containers. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or freeze for longer storage.
Notes
- Five pounds of apples will be between 7 to 10 apples, depending on their size.
- Use a mix of sweet and tart varieties, such as Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apples, for a more complex flavor.
- Peeling is Optional. If you prefer a smoother texture, peel the apples before chopping. However, leaving the skins on adds more fiber and nutrients.
- Swap the dates for prunes or just leave them out for a more pure apple flavor.
- Fill the slow cooker up all the way to the top. The apples will cook down quite a bit.
angiesrecipes
Saturday 7th of September 2024
I like to sweeten food with dates too.This looks fabulous!
Dahn Boquist
Saturday 7th of September 2024
Thanks Angie!