If you love fall flavors, you’ll want to try this recipe for Instant Pot Apple Butter with no added sugars. Serve your apple butter with toast, oatmeal, or even on top of pancakes. Everyone loves this apple delicacy made easily in the electric pressure cooker or on the stovetop. It’s a healthy treat!

a jar of apple butter in front of instant pot.

Nothing says fall like a jar of apple butter! You can make it on the stovetop or in a crockpot, but my favorite quick and easy way is in an Instant Pot electric pressure cooker.

This no-fuss apple butter recipe is a breeze to make and it doesn’t take all day. Apple butter is essentially homemade apple sauce that has thickened and lightly caramelized.

The Instant Pot quickly cooks the fresh apples while the sauté function thickens it into a smooth apple spread. If you don’t have an Instant Pot, you can make it in a pot on the stovetop as well. It is so good!

Eat your homemade apple butter by the spoonful as a tasty treat, or spread it on toast, muffins, pancakes, or oatmeal.

Why You Need This Recipe

  • Red apples and apple cider are naturally very sweet on their own. This means you don’t need any added sugar for a delicious and smooth apple butter. Of course the apples contain natural sugars, but this recipe is healthier than most because you don’t need to add extra sugar.
  • Apple butter makes a thoughtful and homemade edible gift. It’s just apples, spices, cider, and lemon which means even friends with allergies can enjoy this homemade treat with simple ingredients.
  • Making homemade apple butter is a great way to use up extra pounds of apples without wasting them.

Key Ingredients

ingredients for apple butter.
  • Sweet red apples – Be sure to choose sweet apples like Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, or your favorite type of apple. Granny smith apples are generally too tart for this recipe. You can also use a combination of Gala or Fuji apple varieties. Feel free to use your favorite sweet apples for this recipe. Fresh ones just after apple harvest are the best type of apple.
  • Unsweetened apple cider or juice – Although apple cider tastes sweet, it is actually made with only apples. It is usually unfiltered and sometimes unpasteurized. You can find it in the grocery store in the refrigerated section during the fall. If you can’t find it apple juice will work too.
  • Spices – Ground cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg make this apple butter taste just like fall! Feel free to toss in some cinnamon sticks as well. You could also use an apple pie spice or pumpkin pie spice blend.
  • Lemon – The acidity of the lemon juice cuts the sweetness a bit and gives this apple butter the perfect balance.
  • Vanilla extract – adds depth of flavor to the final product.

Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

I’ve also included the stovetop directions for this sweet apple butter in the recipe card.

Recipe Steps

how to make apple butter in the instant pot.

Step One

Wash, core, and slice your apples. Put all the apples into the Instant Pot or in a large pot on the stovetop.

Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

Step Two

Add the apple juice, spices, vanilla, and lemon juice then stir to combine.

Step Three

Lock on the lid and set the cook time to 10 minutes at high pressure (or over low heat on the stovetop for 1-2 hours; leave the lid slightly ajar so the heat and moisture can escape).

Once the cooking time is up, let the pressure come down naturally for 10 minutes using the natural pressure release.

Step Four

Use the quick release to get rid of any remaining pressure then remove the lid.

Carefully blend the cooked apples with an immersion blender or food processor until smooth.

Press the sauté button (on low or normal) and then set the time to 15 minutes. Put on the lid or a splatter guard to prevent hot apple butter from splattering.

Once it’s thick it should be a dark golden brown color.

simmered apple butter in instant pot.

Transfer the apple butter to an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Serve cold or at room temperature on toast, ice cream, oatmeal, or pancakes.

I hope you and your family love this pressure cooker apple butter. It’s my favorite way to use up a pound of apples after going apple picking.

apple butter served on oatmeal.

Recipe Tips

  • You don’t need to peel the apples for this recipe. Just leave on those apple peels as they will melt into the apple mixture.
  • Please note that if you use apple cider, it is different than apple cider vinegar. Apple cider is non-alcoholic and can be found in the refrigerated beverage section of most grocery stores during the fall and winter months.
  • Try to find the sweetest apples for this recipe that you can. I like Fuji, Gala, or Honeycrisp. Don’t use tart apples as they will not be sweet enough.
  • Store your apple butter in the refrigerator for up to a week. Or, you can freeze the apple butter for up to two months (or can it in mason jars for longer-term storage).
  • STOVETOP DIRECTIONS: Put all of the ingredients in a large pot on a stovetop and simmer for several hours until thickened. Put a lid on the pot while it is simmering, but leave it slightly ajar so the moisture can escape. Then turn off the heat and use an immersion blender to reach the desired consistency. 
a spoonful of instant pot apple butter.

Recipe FAQs

What’s the difference between applesauce and apple butter?

Applesauce is a sauce made from apples that have been cooked and pureed. Apple butter is applesauce that has been cooked longer into a thick and smooth spread. The apples caramelize and the flavors are more intense than applesauce.

Will apple butter thicken as it cools?

Yes, the apple butter will continue to thicken some as it cools. Don’t worry if the apple butter is slightly runny while hot.

What can you put apple butter on?

Apple butter can go on muffins, biscuits, banana bread, pumpkin bread, toast, oatmeal, pork, or even chicken.

Can I make this on the stovetop?

Yes, absolutely! Just cook everything on a stovetop and simmer for several hours until thickened. Put a lid on the pot while it is simmering, but leave it slightly ajar so the moisture can escape.

Can I add brown sugar to the apple butter?

Yes! If you want your apple butter to be sweeter, you can add up to 1/2 cup of brown sugar to the Instant Pot with the other ingredients.

More Fall-Inspired Instant Pot Recipes You Might Like

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Crockpot Applesauce Without Added Sugar

Air Fryer Apple Crisp (Gluten-Free & Vegan)

How to Freeze Apple Cider Up To 18 Months

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

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a jar of apple butter

Instant Pot Apple Butter (No Added Sugar)

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5 from 1 review

Print Recipe

If you love fall flavors, you’ll want to try this recipe for Instant Pot Apple Butter with no added sugars. Serve your apple butter with toast, oatmeal, or even on top of pancakes. Everyone loves this apple delicacy made easily in the electric pressure cooker or on the stovetop. It’s a healthy treat!

  • Total Time: 75 minutes
  • Yield: 18 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 5 pounds sweet red apples (about 15-18 medium apples)
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened apple juice or apple cider
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 lemon, juiced

Instructions

  1. Wash your apples and then core and slice them.
  2. Combine the sliced apples inside a 6-quart Instant Pot.
  3. Add the apple juice, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, vanilla extract, and lemon juice.
  4. Stir gently to combine.
  5. Lock on the lid and set the time to 10 minutes at high pressure.
  6. When the cooking time is up, let the pressure come down naturally for about 10 minutes.
  7. Then, use the quick release to get rid of any remaining pressure. Carefully remove the lid.
  8. Use a hand immersion blender to blend the cooked apple mixture until it is smooth. You can also transfer the cooked apple mixture to a food processor (always be cautious when blending hot liquids).
  9. To thicken the apple butter, then press the Sauté button on your Instant Pot (on low or normal setting). Set the time to 15 minutes and put a splatter guard or a glass lid on top of the Instant Pot to prevent splattering.
  10. When the apple butter is done thickening, it should be a dark golden brown color and thick like thick applesauce (it will further thicken in the refrigerator).
  11. Transfer the apple butter to a container with a lid and place in the refrigerator to chill and further thicken for at least 2 hours.
  12. Serve cold or at room temperature, with your choice of toast, oatmeal, or pancakes.

Notes

  1. You don’t need to peel the apples for this recipe.
  2. Please note that if you use apple cider, it is different than apple cider vinegar. Apple cider is non-alcoholic and can be found in the unrefrigerated beverage section of most grocery stores during the fall and winter months.
  3. Try to find the sweetest apples for this recipe that you can. I like Fuji, Gala, or Honeycrisp. Don’t use green apples as they will not be sweet enough.
  4. Store your apple butter in the refrigerator for up to a week. Or, you can freeze the apple butter for up to two months (or can it for longer-term storage).
  5. STOVETOP DIRECTIONS: Put all of the ingredients in a large pot on a stovetop and simmer for several hours until thickened. Put a lid on the pot while it is simmering, but leave it slightly ajar so the moisture can escape. Then turn off the heat and use an immersion blender to reach the desired consistency. 

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1/18 of recipe
  • Calories: 112
  • Sugar: 19.6 g
  • Sodium: 2.3 mg
  • Fat: 0.4 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 26.6 g
  • Fiber: 4.3 g
  • Protein: 0.5 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

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About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition and is studying to be a holistic nutritionist. She is a top wellness and food blogger with over 5 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send her a message through her contact form.