Easy Instant Pot Apple Butter Recipe {Low Sugar}

This velvety and sweet Instant Pot Apple Butter recipe is perfect with all the fall flavors and warm spices, like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice – it’s low sugar too.

Using an instant pot, your cooking process is finished in a fraction of the time, making it a great gift!

Plus, it’s prime time for apple picking! So, make a whole day of it—spend the morning with your family picking pounds of apples straight from the tree and come home to easily make this Instant Pot recipe, a fantastic smooth, not to sweet, smooth apple butter.

For instance, this creamy and festive White Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake is made in the Instant Pot! You can cook a Whole Chicken,  Ground Beef Stroganoff, and even Scalloped Potatoes with Ham!

Like these other Instant Pot recipes, making this delicious slow cooker apple butter recipe is much quicker and easier than ever.

Key Ingredients

• Apples | For this simple recipe, you can use whichever apples you prefer. I like to use organic and sweet Honeycrisp and Fuji apples. Choosing organic varieties is a wise choice when you prefer to keep some or all the skin on the apple slices.
• Brown sugar | Aside from the natural sugars in the apples, brown sugar will lend the majority of the sweetness in this Instant Pot apple butter recipe. You can use light or dark brown sugar or a combination of the two for the most maple syrup flavor.
• Kosher salt | A pinch of salt enhances the sweet and sugary flavors of the recipe.
• Spices | Spice up your apple butter with all the essential warm flavors, like cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. Consider freshly grating the nutmeg—it makes a big difference in the final taste.
• Vanilla extract | The warm and creamy notes of vanilla extract compliment the bundle of spices in this homemade apple butter. I actually used my homemade bourbon vanilla extract – nom-nom!
• Filtered water | Water will keep the ingredients from burning in the Instant Pot and help the sugar and spices to coat the apples.

How to Make Apple Butter in Instant Pot

Step 1 | Prepare the Apples

Begin by gathering the simple ingredients. Then prep the mix of apples for your instant pot apple butter. Core, peel, and slice each apple into 8ths. Here you can squirt a little lemon juice over the bowl of apples to keep them from browning, but it will all be brown in the end, so not necessary!

I like the texture and nutrients of some of the skins, which is why I use organic apples. But, it’s up to your preference— peel the apples, no peeling or be like me and be a lazy peeler with a little peel left behind.

Place the sliced apples in a six or eight-quart instant pot or pressure cooker. 

Step 2 | Mix the Spices

Next, combine the sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and salt in a medium bowl. Mix the ingredients well and pour them over the apples.

Then, add the water and mix thoroughly so the sugar and spices coat the sliced apples completely.

Step 3 | Pressure Cooking

Place the lid on the IP, seal the venting valve, then turn the Instant Pot to “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” on high pressure for 90 minutes.

Next, allow the steam to release naturally for about 10-15 minutes. Then, perform a quick release of the remaining pressure from the pot with caution due to the steam and high heat.

Step 4 | Blend Until Smooth

Now I am going to show you how to make apple butter in instant pot! Using an immersion blender, puree apple butter until smooth. Don’t have an immersion blender? No problem! Place the spiced apples in a blender* in batches. 

Step 5 | Thicken Apple Butter Mixture

Return the apples to the instant pot and hit the “Slow Cook” button twice to change it to HIGH. Then, with the lid propped open with a wooden spoon, cook on high for a couple of hours, stirring occasionally.

If you prefer apple butter on the thicker side, press the Sauté function twice to reach the low setting. Sauté on low or medium for 15-30 minutes, stirring often.

Remove the apple butter from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. 

Step 6 | Finishing Touches

Next, spoon the delicious apple butter into a clean glass or plastic container. Keep in mind that this is not a canning recipe, for how to can using a water bath, see my friend Lynn’s recipe.

Allow the apple butter to cool and place the sealed containers in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or in the freezer for three months!

And there you have it—homemade apple butter prepared perfectly and oh-so-easily in an Instant Pot! The apple butter will thicken as it cools, so I suggest refrigerating it for at least a couple of hours before serving.

Packaging for Gifts

This is a great recipe to make and give to neighbors, teachers, friends — total strangers!

• This recipe makes about 4-5 cups, so it can easily be split between jars for sharing!
• I love these Weck Tulip jars, but they are a bit pricey, these little Oui yogurt shaped jars are much more economical and come with a cork and a plastic seal, and twine and tags!
• I also fell in love with these wooden tops for ball jars. I found the Ball ones at my local grocery store, but here are some similar — Ball also makes these great leakproof lids.
• Don’t forget a cute tag! Download my FREE printable Gifts from the Kitchen gift tags or my Holiday Gift Tags.

Variations & Substitutions

Despite its misleading name, this pressure cooker apple butter is dairy-free– there is no actual butter! What’s more, it is also nut-free, gluten-free, and yes apple butter is vegan.

• Rather than using water, you can use apple cider or pure apple juice. While the liquid can help the sugar and spices coat the apples, it is mainly necessary to ensure the Instant Pot won’t give you a burn warning. So, apple cider, apple juice, or water can be used.
• If this recipe isn’t as sweet as you would like, increase the brown sugar measurement to a full cup and add half to one cup of granulated sugar. Or, you can even choose sweeter apple varieties the next time you make this recipe.
• No Sugar | Omit all the sugar or use Monk fruit or coconut sugar in place of regular sugar.
• Use pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice mixture instead of the variety of spices.
• If a super smooth apple butter is the desired consistency, use a high speed blender or food processor.

Storage Tips

Refrigerate – You can store your apple butter in several separate glass containers, mason jars, or one large airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

Freeze – To freeze, ensure you have left plenty of space at the top of the tightly-sealed, freezer-safe container. Otherwise, the contents will expand and burst. You’ll end up with a real mess on your hands. This apple butter recipe can be stored in the freezer for up to three months.

Crockpot Apple Butter

Maybe you decided you’d rather not babysit this Instant pot apple butter, below are easy instructions to make in your crockpot or slow cooker apple butter.

• Add all ingredients as detailed for IP recipe, cover and cook on low for about 10 hours, stirring occasionally. The mixture will turn a dark brown and thicken.
• Then uncover, stirring in vanilla, continue cooking uncovered on low for about 2 hours.
• Proceed with immersion blender, food processor or high speed blender as outlined above. Cool and store.

How to Make Apple Butter Thicker

• The best way is simply to let is simmer, simmer, simmer away — preferably with the lid off over low heat to allow the moisture to escape. Simmering for a long time, reduces the mixture, be sure to stir occasionally scraping the bottom of the pot.
• Sweeter apples will actually release more liquid, so go for tart if you want your apple butter really thick.
• Use a Food Mill instead of an immersion blender, this will give you a slightly chunkier apple butter.

Thicken apple butter using cornstarch, tapioca or pectin

• If you want it really thick, mix a tablespoon of water with a tablespoon of cornstarch, add the slurry to the simmering apple butter, if necessary add up to 2 tablespoons.
• Thicken using pectin or tapioca starch (flour), both of these are a great way to thicken your apple butter, but will give you a consistency more like a jam than a fruit butter.

8 ways to use homemade Apple Butter

1. Make unique cocktails, like this Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail (yum!).
2. Serve a little swirl of apple butter on top of your apple pie. Check out my irresistible Gluten-Free Apple Pie with Crumb Topping!
3. Spoon it over a scoop of Old-Fashioned Vanilla Bean Ice Cream.
4. Stir your apple butter into Homemade Creamy Greek Yogurt.
5. Spread over savory pork roast or pork chops.
6. Swirl into overnight oats or hot oatmeal.
7. Serve as an appetizer to spread on crackers with cheese (see picture below). My Fall Charcuterie Board makes for a delicious brunch or a festive family breakfast; just add the homemade, fresh apple butter! YUM!
8. Spread on toast, waffles, pancakes, muffins, scones, and so much more!

I hope you enjoyed learning how to make apple butter in the instant pot, such an easy recipe — if you did, would you share your creation on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest? And be sure to comment below!