French-Style Apple Butter Recipe

French-Style Apple Butter

Makes 3 cups

In the United States, apple butter is usually seasoned with a lot of cinnamon and spices, but in France, the spread is made by slow-cooking apples by themselves or with a little butter and sugar until you have a smooth, rich spread. Use a mix of tart apple varieties for the best flavor. Serve with toast, pancakes, or waffles. Or warm up apple butter, and spoon over ice cream.

2 Tbs. unsalted butter
2 ½ lb. tart apples, peeled, cored, and quartered
¼ cup sugar
1 pinch salt

1. Heat butter in Dutch oven or saucepan with tight-fitting lid over medium heat. Add apple quarters, and cook 10 minutes, or until apples begin to brown, stirring occasionally.

2. Add sugar, salt, and 11/2 cups water. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 2 hours, stirring occasionally (more often toward the end) and breaking up apple pieces as they soften. Cool.

September 2011 p.35