Ball® Apple Butter for the Freezer
This post is sponsored by the makers of Ball® home canning products.*
The apples are beginning to ripen here on our little Iowa farm, and it is one of my favorite times of year. Over the years of growing apples, we have learned that apple trees have on-again/off-again years. It seems that every other year is a good one for a specific tree, and this year is the one where we have my favorite varieties ready for picking: Jonagold, Honeycrisp, and Golden Delicious! They are so sweet and delicious, just like honey!
I recently decided to try a new version of a classic recipe: Ball® Apple Butter. This recipe is made without any cooking! You simply blend up the apples in the blender or food processor, mix it with some sugar, pectin, and spices, and put it in the refrigerator. How easy is that? I think it makes a wonderful start for someone who is not yet ready to dive into hot water bath canning. If you do not think you’ll eat 4 half-pint jars worth of apple butter, you can put it into the freezer! Just make sure that you fill only to the freezer safe line, which is recommended at leaving 1/2-inch headspace for all freezer safe jars.
ingredients & recipe:
makes about 4 (8 oz) half-pint or 2 (16 oz) pint jars:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
5 Tbsp Ball® RealFruit™ Instant Pectin
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp nutmeg
5 cups peeled, cored, coarsely chopped apples (about 5 med)
1 Tbsp lemon juice
directions:
STIR sugar, brown sugar, instant pectin, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg in a bowl until well blended. Set aside.
ADD apples and lemon juice to food processor or blender. Blend until smooth, about 30 seconds. Add apple puree to pectin mixture. Stir 3 minutes.
LADLE jam into clean jars to fill line. Twist on lids. Let stand until thickened, about 30 minutes.
SERVE immediately, refrigerate up to three weeks or freeze up to one year.
I love apple butter. It has to be one my all time favorite fruit butter! It’s so sweet, and the delicious blend of allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon bring back memories from my childhood. I spent most of my autumns growing up visiting pumpkin and apple farms in Illinois. Now, I spend those days visiting small farms with my children and growing our own pumpkins and apples!
What do you like to make with apples? I can’t wait to start making apple cider, donuts, applesauce, dried apples, apple muffins, and more.
CLICK HERE TO SHOP BALL® HALF-PINT JARS.
xoxo Kayla
This is a sponsored post that is part of an ongoing partnership with the Fresh Preserving Division of Newell Brands. They have provided jars, equipment and monetary compensation. All thoughts and opinions expressed remain my own.
