Instant Pot Apple Butter Recipe

Name: Instant Pot Apple Butter
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 3 Granny Smith apples (use organic apples); 3 tsp lime juice (fresh squeezed); 1 Tbsp butter (grass-fed or vegan); ⅔ cup dark brown sugar (see note #1); 1 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice; 2 Tbsp pecan pieces (optional)

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This spiced Instant Pot apple butter recipe is ready in just 20 minutes and it’s made without cornstarch. This easy homemade recipe with pecan pieces has many uses.

The aroma of a home where apple butter is being made is HEAVENLY!

I feel like fall is in the air because of the aromas of pumpkin spice, apples and pecans come wafting through my kitchen when I am making it.

Trust me, apple butter in the Instant Pot is the most aromatic and delicious fall recipe ever!

Top view of a small glass jar filled with apple butter. Wheat crackers and potato chips by its side — The fastest way to make apple butter is in the Instant Pot

Tips for making it

Use organic granny smith apples in this recipe. They are free of pesticides and other harmful elements.
This recipe can be made with or without the apple peels.
If you remove the apple peels, you can put them in compost or check out these post on it’s many uses.
Use lemon or lime juice to coat the apples so that they don’t turn brown.
Instead of white sugars, I prefer using dark brown sugar. If you want to make an Amish version, you can use sucanat instead.
The sugar amount will vary depending on the tartness of the green apples. Taste it after you open the Instant Pot. Add more sugar at that time, if needed.
If you don’t have pumpkin pie spice, you can add ½ tsp nutmeg and 1½ tsp and ground cinnamon.
You can actually make your life easy by making the brown sugar syrup separately. Add it to this recipe and storing remainder for future use.
Pecan pieces are optional, but, I highly recommend you use them in this recipe. It adds a nutty and delicious flavor to the apple butter.
Wait for the Instant Pot to fully cool down before opening the lid.
Store the apple butter in a glass jar and refrigerate.

Front and closeup view of a small cube of cream cheese topped with apple butter. Crackers and chips in the background — An easy dip recipe is to top a block of cream cheese with apple butter.

What is apple butter?

Apple butter is apple that is cooked to the point that it becomes a pulp. Along with warm spices, apple butter is a fragrant, spreadable condiment. It’s different from applesauce because it has spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.

Smooth vs chunky texture

I have always been a fan of chunky texture when making apple butter. I like the roughness of the apple butter and it’s easy to spread.

But, if you are a fan of smooth texture, it’s easy to do so. When you open the instant pot, use an (affiliate link) immersion blender to smooth the apple butter.

Do you prefer smooth or chunky apple butter?

Answering common questions

Can this apple butter be made without an Instant Pot?

Yes, apple butter is easy to make stovetop. The only problem is that tenderizing the apple takes a long time. On the stove, I think it takes about 60 minutes to cook the apples fully.

Should homemade apple butter be refrigerated?

Yes, homemade versions should be refrigerated because there are no preservatives. Store in a glass container with a tight lid.

How long will it last?

Once refrigerated, it can last for about 2 weeks. Or, it can be canned for long-term use. The Hillbilly Kitchen has a step-by-step video on how to do it.

Can it be made in the slow cooker?

The slow cooker is also a perfect gadget to make it. Cook the apples in it for about 3 hours.

What’s the difference between applesauce and apple butter

Apple butter is a more concentrated version of applesauce. Just like apple butter, canning applesauce is very easy.

Top view of a wheat cracker with a Tbsp of cream cheese and apple butter drizzled on it. — Use apple butter as a drizzle on cream cheese and dip crackers in it.

Types of apples

Granny smith apples
Fuji apples
Macintosh apples
Empire apples
Honeycrisp apples
Gala apples

Granny Smith apples, AKA, green apples is the best apple type to use in this recipe. It’s tart enough that it will retain a little bit of it after it’s cooked, giving it that signature sweet and tangy flavor.

One thing I love about gala apples is that they cook well in both the Instant Pot and Air Fryer. I made these stuffed air fryer apples using gala apples and it was delicious.

It has many uses!

Use it as a marinade – I marinated tofu in it and it was delicious!
As a dip – I drizzled it over cream cheese and then dipped crackers in it.
Put it into baked goods – like cakes, muffins, breads and pies.
Great in smoothies – perfect for fruit smoothies.
Spread it on toast – regular toast or those thick toast pieces.
Can be a dip for chips – I tried it on potato chips and beet chips too.
Make awesome cocktails out of it – Burrata and Bubbles makes an eye-popping Bellini!

Ingredients

Butter
Granny Smith apples
Dark brown sugar
Pumpkin pie spice
Pecan pieces

This is just a quick look at the ingredients. See the recipe card for details on how to make it.

How to make apple butter

Peel and chop the first apple.

The apple is peeled and cubed — Keep the cubes large so the apple butter will have a chunky texture.

2. Add lime juice and coat the apples with it. Set aside.

The author mixing the apples with a blue spatula — The lime juice prevents the apples from browning.

3. Peel and chop 2 more apples. Be sure to coat them with lime juice too.

2 green apples sitting side by side. — Repeat the process for 2 more apples

4. Open the Instant Pot lid and set it to saute.

the author pointing to the saute option on the Instant Pot — Saute option will keep the instant pot warm while ingredients are being added

5. Add butter to the Instant Pot.

Add 1 Tbsp of butter to the instant pot — Butter will make sure that the apples don’t stick to the bottom of the container

6. Add the chopped apples to the Instant Pot.

Top view of cubed apples inside the instant pot — Add the cubed apples to the Instant Pot container

6. Add dark brown sugar to the apples

The author adding dark brown sugar to the instant pot — Add dark brown sugar in the instant pot

7. Add pumpkin pie spice

The author adding pumpkin pie spice to the Instant Pot — Pumpkin pie spice is a warming spice that makes the apple butter taste amazing!

8. Add pecan pieces (optional)

The author adding pecan bits using a red measuring spoon — Pecan pieces add a nice nutty taste to the Instant Pot

9. Mix well. Make sure that all the ingredients are coated well

The author using a blue spatula to mix the ingredients together. — Gently mix everything together.

10. Close the lid and remove the saute option. Then, choose “Pressure Cook” option, set it to 5 minutes and remove the “keep warm” option.

Instant Pot in the background with a text overlay showing the cook options — Just simple settings needed to make these apple sauce in the instant pot

11. Wait for the valve to drop before opening the Instant Pot. Then, open the lid carefully as there will be steam will be hot.

The id of the instant pot is removed, revealing the contents. — The opening of the Instant Pot is an aromatically zen experience

12. Use a spatula and mix well. If you like it smooth, use your immersion blender in the container. Be sure to unplug the Instant Pot first.

The author gently crushing the cooked apples in the Instant Pot — Gently crushing the cooked apples gives it a chunky texture

Transfer to a glass container and refrigerate.

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