Slow Cooker Apple Butter

Since it's fall and therefore apple season...here's a yummy and really easy apple butter recipe for the slow cooker. The recipe as written is fairly sweet - I've put my adaptations to make it less sweet and more spicy in parentheses. Enjoy! -jg

3 lbs cooking apples, cored, left unpeeled, and cut into eighths

¾ c. brown sugar (I usually take this down to less than ½ c.)

¾ c. apple juice (I usually use about half that, and make up the rest with water)

Juice of 1 lemon

1 T. ground cinnamon (I tend to add extra of each of the spices)

1 tsp ground allspice

½ tsp ground nutmeg

½ tsp ground ginger

¼ tsp ground cloves

1. Combine the apples, brown sugar, apple juice and lemon juice in a 4-qt slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, until the apples are very soft.

2. Remove the lid, turn the heat setting to high, and stir in the spices. Continue to cook, uncovered, for 2 hours, stirring once about halfway through, if possible, until the mixture thickens.

3. Press the apples through a metal strainer to remove the peels, or process the apples through a food mill.

4. Cool to room temperature and store. (Should keep for several weeks in the refrigerator. It also freezes well.)