When the cool fall temperatures arrive, it signals the arrival of apple season.
One of the best ways to celebrate the bounty of apples is by making homemade apple butter.
This sweet spread is perfect on toast, pancakes, or even in yogurt or oatmeal.
However, not all apples are created equal, and some varieties are better suited for apple butter than others.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss the best apples for homemade apple butter and how to make your own delicious spread at home.
1. Jonathan apples
Growing up in the country, fall was the best time of the year.
It was the time for picking apples, Rodeos, and county fairs.
One of my favorite things to do with my parents was to go to the orchards and pick Jonathan apples.
We would always end up with a bushel basket full of them.
I loved their tart crisp taste.
They made the best homemade apple butter.
My dad would core and quarter them, then my mom would cook them down with some added spices until they were fork tender.
She would then put them through a food mill to make the apple butter.
We would can it up in jars and eat it all winter long.
It was our favorite spread on fresh homemade biscuits.
Now that I have my own family I have carried on the tradition of making our own apple butter.
My kids love it as much as I did growing up.
It’s a labor of love that is worth every single minute.
I hope to one day pass this tradition on to my grandchildren.
2. Winesap apples
The Winesap apple is a great choice for homemade apple butter because it has a high flesh-to-core ratio, which means fewer seeds to worry about.
They also have a lovely tartness that’s balanced by a hint of sweetness.
This makes them a great option for those who find most apple butter recipes too sweet.
Their skin is thin and bruises easily, so they’re not the best for applesauce or other cooked dishes in which the skin is left on.
However, for dishes that call for peeled and chopped apples, such as apple butter, the Winesap is a great choice.
3. Gala apples
Gala apples are one of the best apples for making homemade apple butter.
They are sweet and flavorful, with a hint of tartness.
They also have a creamy texture that makes them perfect for blending into a smooth spread.
Gala apples are available year-round, so you can make apple butter any time you want.
They are also budget-friendly, so you can make a large batch of apple butter without breaking the bank.
4. Fuji apples
Fuji apples are a good choice for homemade apple butter because they are sweet, juicy, and have a good amount of flesh.
They also tend to be on the smaller side, which is helpful when you are processing a large batch of apples.
Another good choice for apple butter is Gala apples.
They are similar in size and sweetness to Fuji apples, and they also have a good amount of flesh.
One thing to keep in mind when choosing apples for apple butter is that you will want to use apples that are naturally sweet, rather than sour.
This will help to cut down on the amount of added sugar that is needed in the recipe.
5. Granny Smith apples
Granny Smith apples are one of the best apples for homemade apple butter.
They are tart, so they provide a good flavor, and they also have a lot of natural pectin, which helps the apple butter to set up properly.
You might be wondering what the best way is to make apple butter.
The best way to make apple butter is to cook the apples down with some sugar and spices until they are soft and mushy, then blend them up until they are smooth.
You can add some additional ingredients, such as vanilla extract, at this point if you want to.
Then, you just need to cook the apple butter down until it is thick and spreadable.
Final Note
So, as you can see, there are a lot of great apples to use for apple butter.
In the end, it will really depend on your personal preference which one you choose.
Just remember to use good, ripe fruit and you’ll be on your way to enjoying some delicious apple butter in no time!.
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