This Cinnamon Apple Butter Recipe with Cardamom has an incredible smooth texture and deep, rich fall flavors throughout. Fresh apples are transformed into a silky spreadable treat that has many delicious uses. 
When a raw apple is cooked, the transformation is really quite remarkable.
It's taken from a tart crisp bite, to one that's soft and sweet. In this case, so soft that it's almost buttery.
This Cinnamon Apple Butter recipe includes a generous amount vanilla, which, along with the spices, gives it an amazing depth of flavor.
Pro tip: Use a melon baler to core the apples. It's easy and you'll get all of the seeds out at once.
Ingredients for Cinnamon Apple Butter
- apples - Choose softer varieties of apples for this recipe. (See suggestions below.)
- apple cider vinegar
- brown sugar
- ground cinnamon
- ground cardamom
- pure vanilla extract - I like this one.
- salt - I almost always bake and cook with Kosher salt. (It’s coarse and salts foods in a subtle way that enhances their flavor without making them taste salty.)
The Best Apples for Apple Butter
Softer apple varieties are best for apple butter because they will cook down fairly quickly compared to more firm apples. Here are a few examples:
- Golden or Red Delicious
- Braeburn
- Liberty
- McIntosh
How to Make it
(More detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.)
- Add roughly chopped apples to a medium-sized pot with apple cider vinegar, sugar, water, vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom and salt. Mix to blend.
- Place the pot over medium heat and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce the heat to low. Simmer until the apples are very tender, about 30 minutes.
- Pour the contents of the pot into a powerful blender.
- Blend until super smooth.
- Now pour it back into the pot and bring it to a boil and turn heat to low and let it simmer until it's super thick, about 10 minutes.
- Let it cool to room temperature and then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Recipe Tips and Substitutions
- If you don't love cinnamon or cardamon, feel free to adjust the spices to your taste. You can use one, both, or neither.
- When the apple butter is in its final simmering stage (the last ten minutes), it will very likely splatter a bit. Be careful! Ideally at this stage, we would have the pot uncovered, but since it splatters, place a lid on top, but askew, so it's partially exposed to the air so that it reduces.
Serving Suggestions
The are almost endless serving possibilities . . .
- It's amazing with delicious pork chops.
- Fabulous in a crepe and on toast.
- Definitely swirl it over vanilla ice cream.
- Add it to waffle and pancake batter.
- Swirl it into your morning granola or oatmeal.
- Add it to a peanut butter sandwich.
- I love serving this at a brunch with bagels or biscuits. Just put it out along with the cream cheese, butter, and other jams and preserves.
- Of course you might just want a spoon.
A jar of cinnamon apple butter also makes for a delightful edible gift. Just add a bow .
How long does homemade apple butter last?
- In a tightly sealed jar or container, it will keep in the refrigerator for about a month.
- You can freeze it in an airtight container for up to six months.
Applesauce vs Apple Butter
- Apple butter is essentially a very concentrated applesauce.
- Apple butter is cooked much longer than applesauce, which creates a thicker and shinier consistency.
- Since the apples are cooked for a longer period of time when making apple butter, the apples become more caramelized than they are in applesauce, which intensifies the flavor making it richer and a bit caramel-y. It's also darker in color than applesauce because of the caramelization.
I hope you love this Cinnamon Apple Butter with Cardamom as much as my family an I do!
More recipes with apples:
- Chai Apple Bundt Cake
- My mom's Ginger Applesauce
- Apple Bacon Roasted Chicken
- Chicken Apple Salad with Cranberries
Cinnamon Apple Butter Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 pounds apples*
- 5 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¾ teaspoon cardamom
- couple pinches of salt
Instructions
- Prepare the apples. Peel and core the apples. Then cut them roughly into medium-sized chunks. (Once cut you should have about 5½ cups.) Add them to a medium-large soup pot. Add the vinegar, sugar, water, vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom and salt.
- Cook. Place the pot over medium heat and bring to a boil. Immediately cover and reduce the heat to low. Let this simmer until the apples are very tender, about 30 minutes.
- Blend, Cook. Pour the contents of the pot into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Now pour it back into the pot, this time uncovered, and bring it to a boil and then immediately reduce the heat to low and let it simmer until it's super aromatic and thick, about 10 minutes. If it's splattering (which is likely), you can put the lid on, but askew, so the apple butter is partially exposed.
- Cool. Let it cool to room temperature and then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. (It should keep for about a month this way, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.)
Notes
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Deb|EastofEdenCooking
Such a lush fall treat! I especially like the addition of cardamon, sublime!
valentina
Thanks, Deb. I love cardamom so much -- so good in both sweet & savory recipes. 🙂
Jenn
I've never thought to add cardamom to apples before, but it sounds so good!!! Yum!
valentina
Thanks, Jenn. I LOVE cardamom! 🙂
simon
I'm curious how this Apple butter tastes! The spices are intriguing!
Thanks for sharing!
valentina
Hope you try it and thank you!
Cassandrea @ chewsandbrews.ca
I love, love, LOVE cardamom! I am sooo making this!! Great recipe!
valentina
Thanks so much, Cassandrea! Hope you love it as much as I do. 🙂
Chris @ SimpleFood365
I am imagining this on a slice of toast from a loaf of fresh baked bread. It looks and sounds delicious!
valentina
Bring on the freshly baked bread please! Yum!
Shihoko
Hi Valentina, I saw your link on FBC. This Apple sauce sounds delicious as I loooove both spice cinnamon and cardamon. I usually use cardamon for my fruit salad too. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
valentina
Thanks so much for visiting my site! I hope you try it and enjoy. 🙂
Boastful Food
My father loves apple butter. I think he'd absolutely love this version.
valentina
Enjoy! XO
David
I love cardamom with apples! This is definitely something I would like to make, and I know Mark would love it too.
valentina
Thanks, David. It's one of my favorite flavor combinations. 🙂
Cristie | Little Big H
I would love this on my porridge of a morning. It sounds delicious.
valentina
On porridge is an excellent idea! 🙂
Nicole
Yum!! Love apple butter and love cardamom! Thanks for sharing!
valentina
Thanks, Nicole! 🙂
David @ Spiced
What a fun idea! We recently made apple sauce on a Sunday afternoon, and the house smelled AMAZING! Now I need to go back and make apple butter. I'm thinking a bit of this schmeared on a piece of toasted wheat bread would be pretty darned fantastic. Great seasonal recipe, my friend!
valentina
I love that, David. Applesauce and things like this (usually involving cinnamon!) always make the house smell so delicious. Thanks. 🙂 ~Valentina
Jeff the Chef
I have had apple-cardamom on the brain all fall and haven't found the right dish. Until now. I'm such an apple butter fan. I love your version.
valentina
Thanks so much, Jeff! I hope you try and love it. Yes, it has some lovely chunks for apple. (It's delicious on pork!) 🙂 Enjoy. ~Valentina
Liz
I'll eat mine with a spoon!! So yummy and it's reminded me that I need to make some applesauce or butter to go with our pork tomorrow!!
valentina
Thanks, Liz. I use a spoon too (sometimes with peanut butter - delicious). Enjoy. 🙂 ~Valentina
Healthy World Cuisine
One of our favorite fall treats! I bet your kitchen smells amazing right now. Love the addition of cardamom too.
valentina
Yes, the kitchen always smells so warm and delicious with cinnamon and apples. Thanks for visiting. 🙂 ~Valentina
Colette | cocointhekitchen.com
I just LOVE apple butter!
I can't wait to try your recipe, Bella! xo
valentina
Thank you, my friend! I hope you love it. 🙂 ~Valentina