Autumn’s Hidden Gem: Ina Garten’s Chunky Apple Butter Recipe

Autumn’s golden embrace brings the sweet, spiced aroma of homemade Ina Garten chunky apple butter wafting through cozy kitchens.

Orchards burst with ripe, crisp apples ready to be transformed into a luscious spread that captures seasonal magic.

Slow-simmered with warm spices, this recipe turns simple ingredients into a delectable treasure.

Rich, velvety, and packed with deep apple flavor, the butter spreads like silk across warm toast.

Each spoonful tells a story of harvest abundance and comforting traditions.

The gentle bubbling of apples and cinnamon creates a symphony of warmth that fills your home with irresistible fragrance.

Grab your favorite apples and let’s craft a condiment that celebrates the heart of autumn’s bounty.

Small Tools for Big Flavor: Ina Garten’s Apple Butter

• Dutch oven or pot (9 to 10-inch): Essential for melting butter and sugar, then cooking the apples.
• Food processor: Perfect for creating a chunky purée of cooked apples.
• Knife: Needed for peeling and dicing apples into 1-inch chunks.
• Cutting board: Provides a stable surface for chopping apples.
• Measuring cups: Helps accurately measure ingredients like apple cider.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: Great for stirring and mixing ingredients while cooking.
• Microwave or small saucepan: Optional for reheating apple butter before serving.

Follow These Steps for Ina Garten’s Chunky Apple Spread

• Butter and Sugar Foundation

Create a warm, melty base in a medium pot by slowly combining butter and sugar, allowing them to merge into a luxurious mixture.

• Apple Preparation

Transform fresh apples into rustic chunks, peeling and chopping them into hearty pieces that will capture the essence of homemade goodness.

• Spice and Liquid Transformation

Combine apple chunks with aromatic cider, fragrant cinnamon, warm cloves, rich allspice, and a whisper of vanilla, bringing the ingredients together in a bubbling symphony.

• Gentle Cooking Process

Let the mixture simmer softly, first covered, then uncovered, allowing liquid to reduce and apples to break down into a rich, concentrated flavor.

• Texture Creation

Pulse the cooked mixture briefly in a food processor, creating a delightfully chunky consistency that celebrates the natural texture of apples.

• Preservation and Enjoyment

Store the apple butter in a sealed container, ready to be warmed and enjoyed as a luscious spread or topping for your favorite breads and pastries.

Variations to Elevate Ina Garten’s Classic Apple Butter

• Choose firm, tart varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best texture and balanced sweetness in your apple butter.
• Experiment with adding ground nutmeg, ginger, or cardamom to create a unique flavor profile that matches your taste preferences.
• Can the apple butter in sterilized jars for long-term storage, extending its shelf life up to 6 months in a cool, dark pantry.
• Package the cooled apple butter in decorative jars with ribbons for a homemade holiday or hostess gift that feels personal and thoughtful.
• Spread on warm toast, swirl into yogurt, use as a glaze for roasted meats, or fold into baked goods for an extra burst of apple flavor.

How to Serve Ina Garten’s Apple Butter with Charm

• Spread Breakfast Delight: Slather this chunky apple butter generously on warm, freshly toasted artisan bread or crispy English muffins for a delightful morning treat.
• Pastry Pairing Perfection: Swirl this rich, spiced apple butter into flaky croissants, dollop onto scones, or use as a decadent filling for homemade turnovers.
• Cheese Board Companion: Add a rustic touch to your charcuterie board by serving this apple butter alongside sharp cheddar, creamy brie, or tangy goat cheese, creating a delicious sweet and savory contrast.
• Baking Boost: Incorporate this chunky apple butter into cake batters, muffin recipes, or use as a glaze for roasted pork tenderloin to elevate your culinary creations with deep, warm flavors.

Refrigeration Tips for Ina Garten’s Apple Butter Batch

• Maximize Freshness Storage
• Keep apple butter in an airtight glass container to maintain optimal flavor and prevent bacterial growth.
• Quick Refrigeration Technique
• Seal the container tightly and store in the coldest part of your refrigerator, ensuring the apple butter stays fresh for up to two weeks.
• Smart Serving Suggestion
• Warm the apple butter gently in the microwave for one minute before serving to restore its smooth, spreadable consistency.
• Freezing for Future Enjoyment
• Transfer apple butter to freezer-safe containers, leaving slight headspace, and freeze for up to three months for extended enjoyment.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 55 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Calories: 200 kcal

Servings: 4

What You’ll Need for Ina Garten’s Chunky Apple Butter

• Unsalted Butter: Provides rich, velvety foundation that helps caramelize the sugar and creates a smooth cooking base.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a golden, glossy texture for the apple butter.

• Granny Smith Apples, Golden Delicious Apples: Select firm, crisp apples with balanced tartness and sweetness for robust flavor complexity.
• Apple Cider: Enhances depth of flavor and provides natural moisture for cooking process.
• Vanilla Bean: Introduces elegant, complex undertones and aromatic warmth to the apple butter.
• Ground Cinnamon: Delivers classic, comforting spice that complements apple's natural sweetness.
• Ground Cloves: Contributes deep, slightly intense aromatic notes that elevate the overall flavor profile.
• Ground Allspice: Adds subtle warmth and rounded spice character to the apple butter.

• No Additional Ingredients Needed: Serve directly from refrigerated container or gently warm for enhanced enjoyment.

Rustic Ina Garten Chunky Apple Butter Recipe

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4.6 from 12 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s chunky apple butter reveals autumn’s warmth through caramelized apples and comforting spices. Rich homemade spread promises delightful moments with family and friends, inviting you to savor seasonal richness.

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Ingredients

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• 2½ lbs (1134 g) apples (1½ lbs (680 g) Granny Smith, 1 lb (454 g) crisp sweet red, such as Macoun or Empire)
• 1½ cups (360 ml) fresh apple cider
• 1 cup (220 g) light brown sugar, lightly packed
• 6 tbsps (85 g / 0.75 stick) unsalted butter
• 1½ tsps ground cinnamon
• ½ vanilla bean, split lengthwise
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• ¼ tsp ground allspice

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Instructions

1. Caramelize Base: Melt butter and sugar in a medium Dutch oven over low heat, stirring gently until they harmonize into a golden, glossy foundation.
2. Prepare Apples: Meticulously peel, core, and chunk apples into uniform pieces, ensuring consistent cooking and texture.
3. Develop Flavor Profile: Combine apple chunks with cider, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and vanilla bean, allowing ingredients to intermingle and create a rich, aromatic essence.
4. Initial Cooking Phase: Bring mixture to a robust boil, then immediately reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until apples soften and begin to break down.
5. Reduction and Concentration: Uncover pot and continue simmering, letting liquid evaporate and apples transform into a deeply concentrated, caramelized mixture, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.
6. Texture Refinement: Remove vanilla bean and transfer contents to food processor, pulsing briefly to create a rustic, chunky purée that maintains subtle apple chunks.
7. Storage and Serving: Transfer apple butter to a clean container, refrigerate for up to two weeks, and gently reheat before serving, enjoying either warm or at room temperature.

Notes

• Choose the Right Apples: Select firm, tart varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for robust flavor and ideal texture.
• Spice Balance Matters: Freshly ground warm spices intensify the apple butter’s depth and create a more complex taste profile.
• Patience Yields Perfection: Low and slow cooking breaks down apples naturally, developing rich caramelization without burning.
• Storage Strategy: Use sterilized glass jars for longer preservation and maintain refrigeration to keep apple butter fresh and safe.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 55 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 200
• Sugar: 32g
• Sodium: 5mg
• Fat: 4.5g
• Saturated Fat: 3g
• Unsaturated Fat: 1.5g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 42g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 0.5g
• Cholesterol: 15mg