Tea Time with Jo | Paleo Apple Butter

Ingredients:

-2.5-3lbs of Apples (I like Honey Crisp or Ambrosia)

-1/4-1/2 cup of Water

-1Tbsp of Pumpkin Pie Spice, or to taste

-1Tbsp of Ground Cinnamon, or to taste

Steps:

-Core and chop  your apples.

-Place them in a slow cooker. Add enough water to coat the bottom.

-Sprinkle in the spices and give everything a good mix so all the apple pieces are coated. Feel free to adjust the amounts, just keep in mind that the flavors will concentrate as the apples cook.

-Set on High and cook for 2-3 hours, or until the apples are soft.

-Use an immersion blender to blend all the apples. At this point you have spiced applesauce and can eat this as is, if you prefer.

-Offset the lid on the slow cooker to allow the steam to vent and continue to cook on High for another 45min-60min.Stir occasionally to make sure nothing is burning and to help evaporate the moisture.

-Your apple butter is ready when you stop seeing liquid pooling on top or when you spoon a small amount on a non-paper plate and there is no moisture ring around it.

Storage:

-Jar the apple butter and allow it to cool completely before closing with a lid and placing it in the fridge. It will easily keep for 7 days.

-Store any leftovers in the freezer. Allow to thaw for 24 hours in the fridge before use.

Recommendations:

-Of course you can use this apple butter on your toast but you can also use it in your oatmeal, on top of pancakes, or mixed in to a muffin recipe for added moisture and flavor. You can even add it to your coffee with a little coconut milk and maple syrup for a real treat!

Notes:

-I prefer to use Honey Crisp or Ambrosia apples because they are natural sweet and the sweetness concentrates as the apples cook. I find their natural sweetness  to be plenty on their own. If you find that you would like your apple butter sweeter, regardless of the apples you use, wait until the end of the process, when all the natural sweetness has concentrated to its highest point, and then add coconut palm sugar to taste. Stir it well until it dissolves and incorporates throughout. Then store as mentioned above. 

If you don't have 4 hours to hang around your slow cooker, you can turn it to low to extend the cook time and just turn it up to high at the very end to evaporate the moisture. A side benefit of making this recipe is that your house will smell so good the entire time this is cooking!

Apples are considered cooling and moistening in Chinese Medicine which is very helpful to combat the dry air that is typical of the Autumn season. Cinnamon and Pumpkin Pie spices are warming in nature which helps us promote inner warmth when the temperatures drop.

I hope you enjoy this simple but cozy recipe. Please let me know if you try it and feel free to share with someone who also wants a cozy recipe for the autumn season.