Cinnamon Cardamom Apple Butter is as buttery as can be with no butter! With fall flavors throughout, it’s rich, creamy, smooth and oh-so-delicious! 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. So soft that it’s creamy, rich and buttery.
What is Apple Butter?
- Apple butter is a spread that has a buttery or jam-like consistency. It’s typically spiced with a touch of cinnamon.
- There’s no butter in apple butter — it gets its well deserved name from the super silky texture of the cooked apples. Add some warm spices and it becomes a butter like no other!
What’s the difference Between applesauce and 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. Therefore the flavor is a bit richer and more caramel-y.
What to Serve with it
- Apple Butter is super delicious served with pork, on toast, in a crepe, over ice cream or with a spoon. 😉
- I love serving this at a brunch with bagels. Just put it out along with the cream cheese, butter, and other jams and preserves. Everyone will love it!
Enjoy every last spoonful of this Cinnamon-Cardamom Spiced Apple Butter!
Below are a few more super delicious recipes made with apples.
More recipes with apples:
- Chai Apple Bundt Cake
- My mom’s Ginger Applesauce
- Apple Bacon Roasted Chicken
- Chicken Apple Salad with Cranberries

Cinnamon Cardamom Apple Butter Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds apples, (I like Fuji for this recipe, but use any crisp apple you like.)
- 5 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 1/2 tablespoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cardamom
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- couple pinches of salt
Instructions
- Peel and core the apples. Then cut them into sixths and add them to a medium-sized soup pot. Add the vinegar, sugar, water and vanilla and mix.
- 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.
- Pour the contents of the pot into a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Now pour it back into the pot and add the cardamon, cinnamon and salt. Place it over low heat, this time uncovered, and let it simmer for another 10 minutes, until it's super aromatic and thick.
- Let it cool to room temperature and then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. (It should keep for a couple of weeks.)
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Deb|EastofEdenCooking says
Such a lush fall treat! I especially like the addition of cardamon, sublime!
valentina says
Thanks, Deb. I love cardamom so much — so good in both sweet & savory recipes. 🙂
Jenn says
I’ve never thought to add cardamom to apples before, but it sounds so good!!! Yum!
valentina says
Thanks, Jenn. I LOVE cardamom! 🙂
simon says
I’m curious how this Apple butter tastes! The spices are intriguing! I once ate it with clove at the dunk! Festival. It was fantastic too!
Thanks for sharing!
valentina says
Cloves would be lovely in this! 🙂 Hope you try it and thank you!
Cassandrea @ chewsandbrews.ca says
I love, love, LOVE cardamom! I am sooo making this!! Great recipe!
valentina says
Thanks so much, Cassandrea! Hope you love it as much as I do. 🙂
Chris @ SimpleFood365 says
I am imagining this on a slice of toast from a loaf of fresh baked bread. It looks and sounds delicious!
valentina says
Bring on the freshly baked bread please! Yum!
Sandra @ Heavenly Home Cooking says
Oh, wow! Yum! This sounds absolutely delicious! I love cardamom. I bet this would be delicious on vanilla or tapioca pudding too.
valentina says
Agreed! Last night I actually served it with pork and loved that, too.
Laura says
This apple butter looks a little less cooked to me, and I think that looks fantastic! I can imagine putting this on a lot!
valentina says
Thanks, Laura! Enjoy! 🙂
Shihoko says
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 says
Thanks so much for visiting my site! I hope you try it and enjoy. 🙂
Boastful Food says
My father loves apple butter. I think he’d absolutely love this version.
valentina says
Enjoy! XO
David says
I love cardamom with apples! This is definitely something I would like to make, and I know Mark would love it too.
valentina says
Thanks, David. It’s one of my favorite flavor combinations. 🙂
Cristie | Little Big H says
I would love this on my porridge of a morning. It sounds delicious.
valentina says
On porridge is an excellent idea! 🙂
Nicole says
Yum!! Love apple butter and love cardamom! Thanks for sharing!
valentina says
Thanks, Nicole! 🙂
David @ Spiced says
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 these schmeared on a piece of toasted wheat bread would be pretty darned fantastic. Great seasonal recipe, my friend!
valentina says
I love that, David. Applesauce and things like this (usually involving cinnamon!) always make the house smell so delicious. Thanks. 🙂 ~Valentina
Jeff the Chef says
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 chunky version.
valentina says
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