Apple Butter in the Oven

This baked apple butter in the oven recipe offers an easy alternative to stovetop cooking, using a low oven temperature instead of constant stirring.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 3 hr 25 mins
• Total Time: 3 hr 40 mins
• Calories: 47 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 cups apple cider
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 whole cloves
• 1 pinch kosher salt
• 3 whole allspice berries
• 1 star anise
• 4 pounds apples - peeled, cored, and chopped
• 0.75 cup dark brown sugar

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C).

Step 2

Combine apples, apple cider, sugar, and salt together in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add cinnamon, star anise, allspice, and cloves. Bring to a simmer. Cover partially and cook until apples are soft, 20 to 25 minutes.

Step 3

Remove and discard allspice and cloves with a slotted spoon. Remove and reserve cinnamon and star anise. Purée apples with an immersion blender until smooth. Stir in lemon juice and reserved cinnamon and star anise.

Step 4

Bake uncovered in the preheated oven, stirring every 30 minutes, until mixture thickens and deepens in color, about 3 hours total. Let cool completely. Discard cinnamon and star anise before transferring to airtight containers.