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Small glass jar of Apple Butter with cinnamon sticks tied with twine in front of green and red apples and more cinnamon sticks

Instant Pot Apple Butter

Instant Pot Apple Butter is absolutely divine! This recipe is everything good about Fall, in one sweetly spiced condiment! Pressure Cooker Apple Butter is easy to make in your Instant Pot, and the results are a smooth, velvety spread that is delicious on toast, muffins, pancakes, and by the spoonful!

Course condiments
Cuisine American
Keyword pressure cooker apple butter recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours 7 minutes
Total Time 5 hours 32 minutes
Servings 32 (2 Tbsp)
Calories 65 kcal
Author Sandy Clifton

Ingredients

  • 5 lbs Apples (any variety, I use a mix) peeled, cored, chopped (about 10 apples)
  • 2 Tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
  • ¼ cup Apple Cider
  • ¼ tsp Ginger, powdered
  • ¼ tsp Nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp Allspice
  • 1 ½ tsp Cinnamon
  • ⅛ tsp Ground Cloves
  • 1 ¼ cups Sugar
  • ¼ tsp Kosher Salt (⅛ tsp table salt)

Instructions

  1. Add all of the ingredients to the pot and place the lid on, setting the steam release knob to the Sealing position.

  2. Press the Pressure Cook/Manual button or dial, then the +/- button or dial to select 7 minutes. The pot will take several minutes to build pressure.

  3. After the cook time has ended, let the pot sit undisturbed for 10 minutes (10 minute Natural Release), then turn the steam release knob to the Venting position to Quick Release the remaining steam/pressure. Then turn off the pot.

  4. When the pin in the lid drops down, open it and use a potato masher to mash the apples.

  5. Press the Slow Cook button, then the Adjust button until you have selected "More" (your model may vary. What you want is the highest heat setting for the Slow Cook Function). Adjust the time using the +/- button or dial to select 5 hours. If your model gets as hot as an actual slow cooker, then use the Low heat. On Instant Pot brand use the "More."

  6. Put the glass lid, or a silicone lid on the pot, but leave it ajar quite a bit so the apples can cook off their extra water (reduce) and turn into thick apple butter.

  7. Stir once or twice throughout the slow cooking.

  8. When the time is up, turn off the pot and use an immersion blender to blend the apple butter until it is smooth and glossy. If you don't have an immersion blender, let the mixture cool first, then use a regular blender.

Yield, Storage, Uses

  1. With 5 lbs of apples I get 2 pints (4 cups) plus a few spoonfuls for "taste testing". Calories are based on a serving size of 2 Tbsp.

  2. Store in a mason jar with a lid, or other air tight container, in the fridge.

    You can water bath can in mason jars. Leave ¼" head space and process for about 20 minutes (check with a safe canning resource for information on the proper way to can apple butter).

    Once it has cooled, you can freeze apple butter in freezer bags, or in freezable canning jars (leave ½ inch headspace).

  3. Apple butter is delicious on toast, muffins, pancakes & waffles, elephant ears, yogurt, oatmeal, and is a wonderful add-in for baked goods.