Creamy Cranberry Apple Butter Recipe: A Sweet Harvest Delight

Cranberry apple butter changes ordinary spreads into a magical autumn experience that captures seasonal warmth in every spoonful.

Rich seasonal ingredients blend seamlessly to create a luxurious condiment bursting with complex flavors.

Deep crimson hues and silky textures promise a delightful culinary adventure that tantalizes taste buds.

Home cooks find immense satisfaction in crafting this smooth, intensely concentrated spread that elevates simple toast and pastries.

Sweet-tart notes dance harmoniously, reflecting the best of orchard harvest traditions and modern kitchen creativity.

Homemade preserves connect us to generations of passionate food artisans who understand true comfort comes from carefully crafted recipes.

Each batch represents a personal celebration of seasonal bounty and culinary craftsmanship.

Why Cranberry Apple Butter Is the Fall Spread You Need

• Slow-Simmer Magic: This recipe transforms simple apples and cranberries into a luxurious, deeply flavored butter through the gentle, patient crock pot method that allows natural fruit sugars to caramelize and intensify.
• Texture Transformation: Watch ordinary fruits turn into a silky-smooth, spreadable delicacy that glides effortlessly across toast, with a rich consistency that captures the essence of both tart cranberries and sweet apples.
• Simple Preservation Delight: Create a homemade condiment that stores beautifully for weeks in the refrigerator or can be frozen, providing a taste of seasonal comfort whenever you crave a burst of fruity goodness without complex cooking skills.

What You’ll Need for Homemade Cranberry Apple Butter

• Apples: Sweet and soft fruits that provide a smooth base for the butter, with a balance of tartness and sweetness.
• Cranberries: Vibrant red berries that add tangy flavor and beautiful color to the butter, rich in antioxidants.

• Cinnamon Stick, Powdered Cinnamon: Warm, aromatic spice that enhances the natural sweetness of fruits and adds depth to the butter.
• Honey: Optional natural sweetener that brings additional complexity and smoothness to the spread, perfect for those who prefer a touch of sweetness.

Making Cranberry Apple Butter in a Few Simple Steps

Step 1: Kickstart the Fruity Fusion

• Water (optional)

Gently mix the apples and cranberries inside the crock pot. Set the temperature to HIGH and let the magic happen for 4 hours. Give the mixture an occasional stir to prevent any stubborn sticking. If the mixture seems dry, splash a tiny bit of water to keep things smooth.

Step 2: Transform Into Silky Smoothness

• Mesh strainer
• Large spoon

Once the fruits have softened beautifully, carefully transfer the mixture in batches to a blender or food processor. Puree each batch until ultra-smooth. Push the puree through a mesh strainer using the back of a spoon, discarding any leftover solids. Clean the strainer between batches for perfect consistency.

Step 3: Develop Deep Flavor

• Cinnamon stick

Return the strained puree to the crock pot and nestle the cinnamon stick deep within the mixture. Continue cooking on HIGH, leaving the pot uncovered, for 2 additional hours. The butter should become thick and spreadable. Stir occasionally to prevent any burning.

Step 4: Preserve Your Delicious Creation

Carefully spoon the finished fruit butter into clean glass jars. Allow the butter to cool completely before sealing. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks or freeze for a full year. Enjoy your homemade fruity delight on toast, muffins, or as a delightful gift!

Tips to Get Cranberry Apple Butter Just Right

• Choose Ripe, Seasonal Fruits: Select fresh, firm apples and cranberries at peak ripeness for the most intense, natural flavor and best texture.
• Prevent Burning: Stir the fruit mixture frequently during cooking to avoid scorching and ensure even caramelization of the sugars.
• Strain for Silky Smoothness: Use a fine-mesh strainer to remove seeds and create an ultra-smooth, velvety butter with no unwanted texture.
• Control Thickness Carefully: Monitor the cooking process closely in the final stage, stirring occasionally to achieve the perfect spreadable consistency.
• Storage Smart: Transfer cooled butter to sterilized glass jars and refrigerate promptly to maximize freshness and preserve the vibrant fruit flavors.

How to Store Cranberry Apple Butter Long-Term

• Refrigeration: Transfer the cooled cranberry apple butter into airtight glass containers with tight-fitting lids, ensuring no air can enter to prevent spoilage.
• Freezing: Pour the butter into freezer-safe containers, leaving a small space at the top for expansion, and store for up to 12 months with minimal flavor loss.
• Reheating: Gently warm small portions in the microwave using 15-second intervals, stirring between each interval to distribute heat evenly and maintain the smooth, creamy texture.

What to Serve with Cranberry Apple Butter

• Savor Complementary Cheese Pairings: Spread this tangy cranberry apple butter on a sharp cheddar or creamy brie for a delightful flavor explosion that balances sweet and savory notes.
• Elevate Breakfast Companions: Drizzle over warm buttermilk pancakes, waffles, or swirl into morning yogurt to transform your ordinary breakfast into a gourmet experience with bursts of fruity richness.
• Match with Warming Beverages: Pair with a spiced chai latte or mulled apple cider to enhance the cinnamon undertones and create a cozy autumn-inspired flavor profile that warms you from the inside out.
• Create Charcuterie Magic: Use as a delectable spread on artisan crackers alongside prosciutto or smoked turkey for an elegant appetizer that brings together sweet, tart, and savory elements perfectly.

Fresh Flavor Ideas for Cranberry Apple Butter

• Spiced Autumn Sensation: Add ground nutmeg, cloves, and allspice to enhance the warm seasonal flavors, creating a deeper, more complex fruit butter profile.
• Maple Cranberry Infusion: Replace sugar with pure maple syrup for a rich, woodsy sweetness that complements the tart cranberries and mellow apples.
• Bourbon-Spiked Preserve: Stir in a splash of bourbon during the final cooking stage to introduce a subtle, sophisticated alcohol undertone that elevates the fruit butter's complexity.
• Ginger Berry Blend: Incorporate fresh grated ginger and orange zest to brighten the mixture, adding a zingy, citrusy dimension that cuts through the butter's richness.

Cranberry Apple Butter Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 8 reviews

• Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Homemade cranberry apple butter brings winter comfort straight from your kitchen. Spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, this smooth spread promises rich flavors that dance across toast, muffins, and warm breakfast treats you’ll savor.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Fruits:

• 5–6 apples
• 12 ounces (340 grams) fresh cranberries

Spices:

• 1 stick of cinnamon (or powdered cinnamon to taste)

Sweeteners:

• Honey (optional)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Meticulously cleanse and quarter the apples, extracting their central cores and eliminating seeds with precision.
2. Gently cascade cranberries into the mixture, ensuring even distribution throughout the cooking vessel.
3. Activate the slow cooker at maximum temperature, allowing the fruits to meld and transform over four hours, periodically stirring to prevent potential adherence to the surface.
4. When fruits have softened substantially, transfer them carefully into a high-performance blending apparatus, processing in measured batches until achieving a velvety consistency.
5. Utilize a fine-mesh strainer to refine the puree, delicately pressing through with a robust utensil and discarding any residual fibrous remnants.
6. Reintroduce the silky puree to the cooking vessel, nestling a fragrant cinnamon stick deep within the luxurious mixture.
7. Continue cooking uncovered, maintaining elevated heat until the concoction reaches a thick, spreadable texture, stirring intermittently to prevent scorching.
8. Carefully ladle the culminated fruit butter into sterilized glass containers, permitting complete cooling before sealing.
9. Store the luscious preserve in refrigeration, where it will maintain optimal quality for approximately four weeks, or alternatively preserve by freezing for extended enjoyment.

Notes

• Freezer-friendly condiment bursting with autumn’s richness and deep seasonal flavors.
• Homemade butter requires patience but rewards you with intensely concentrated fruit essence.
• Straining ensures ultra-smooth texture, eliminating potential seed or skin fragments for silky consistency.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 6 hours
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Slow Cooking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 60
• Sugar: 10g
• Sodium: 1mg
• Fat: 0g
• Saturated Fat: 0g
• Unsaturated Fat: 0g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 16g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 0g
• Cholesterol: 0mg