Apple Butter

A recipe by Catherine McCord

Makes 1 1/2 – 2 cups
A few months ago, we got in the car and drove just outside of Palm Springs, CA to Los Rios Rancho’s beautiful u-pick farm to go apple picking. Not only does Los Rios have rows and rows of apple trees that seem to go on for miles, but they also have live music, pony rides, a petting zoo, roast corn, BBQ, and more. We had a blast and we picked bags filled with several varieties of apples to take back home.

Whenever we go apple picking, I always set out with an adventurous spirit thinking I’m going to get home and crank out batches of apple pies, turnovers, bread, etc. By the time I get home, I’m so exhausted from a long day of running around after Kenya that I just want to rest on the couch. Still, what to do with all those apples? Apple butter! And this recipe is so easy and healthy that you can make it even if you have no energy.

I went to the farmer’s market the next day to ask several farmers about the difference between apple sauce and apple butter and I got many different answers. I did come to the realization that it’s made from half sweet apples and half tart apples. Luckily, we picked tons of Golden Delicious (sweet) and Wine Sap (tart) apples, packed with vitamin C and fiber–a perfect mix for this recipe. Adding just a bit of agave nectar for sweetness and a pinch of cinnamon for zip makes this apple butter recipe a perfect spread on toast, sandwiches or even as a dip for turkey, as our little son demonstrated at dinner the next night.

2 Apples (1 tart such as Granny Smith or Wine Sap, 1 sweet such as Golden Delicious or Fuji)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon agave nectar
1 tablespoon apple juice, cider or water

Place all the ingredients in a sauce pan over low heat. Cook for 15 minutes or until apples are soft and tender. Smash apples with a potato masher or back of a spoon. You want the apple butter to be slightly chunky. Cool and serve.

Catherine McCord’s Recipes for Kids
Visit www.weelicious.com for many more kid-friendly recipes with agave!