Inspiration: A few months back, my better half and I went apple picking. The obvious outcome of this fun-filled excursion was many, many pounds of apples that needed something done with them. One of the most obvious recipes that this quantity of apples could easily handle was apple butter.

Scouring the internet for recipes, I found one I liked on the Pioneer Woman website and gave it a go. (Since I intended to use the apple butter as an ingredient in my bakes, I was not concerned with the comments this recipe garnered. As many of the reviewers took umbrage at the amount of apple cider vinegar the recipe called for. Plus, I enjoy the extra tang of apple cider vinegar, and it helps ensure the end product doesn’t become sickly sweet.)

And let me tell you, the apple butter turned out great!

Though, admittedly, I did need to cook it a bit longer to get my stuff to match the picture.

The literal fruits of our labor!

Helpful Hint: If, like me, you intended to use this as an ingredient rather than simply spreading it on toast, be mindful of the spices you add. If you add a ton of cinnamon, then add the apple butter to another recipe that calls for yet more cinnamon (for example), you could end up with an end product that’s overwhelming (not in a good way) and a tad unpleasant.

Hence why, for once in a row, I stuck to the recommended Tbsp and tsp.

Agatha Christie’s Canon of Characters: I can easily see Miss Maple or Tuppence making apple butter as a treat or to fill their table for a sale of work to benefit their community!

My 52 weeks With Christie: A.Miner©2025