This easy instant pot apple butter recipe lets you have smooth, homemade apple butter in less time than the slow cooker! Vegan, gluten-free, and no added sugar. Spread this fall treat on toast, pancakes, or eat it off the spoon!
Course Condiment
Cuisine American
Keyword fall treat, instant pot apple butter, instant pot apple butter recipe
Prep Time 20 minutesminutes
Cook Time 40 minutesminutes
Coming to and releasing pressure 35 minutesminutes
Add everything except the honey to the pressure cooker, sealing the lid and valve.
Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes.
Allow the pressure cooker to naturally release for 20 minutes or until the valve drops. If that valve hasn’t dropped after 20 minutes you can release the rest of the pressure by opening the valve.
Blend the apples using an immersion blender.
Add the honey or other sweetener if using, stirring to combine.
Turn the instant pot to Sauté Less (you can do this by pressing the Sauté button twice). Partially cover the pot with the lid, allowing some steam to escape.
Let cook, stirring occasionally, for 30 minutes or more. You want your apple butter to be thick and darkened. It will be darker if you’ve left the apple peels on, didn’t add lemon juice, or added some sweeteners. You can cook to any consistency you like, but you’ll have a good apple butter consistency once you put a little on a plate and it doesn’t have a ring of liquid around it. You can also run your finger through it on the plate after it has cooled a bit to see if it holds the line.
Allow apple butter to cool for one hour before transferring to jars or other containers and storing in the refrigerator or freezer.
Video
Notes
Slow cooker option
After pressure cooking and blending the apples, you can turn your Instant Pot to Slow Cook More (press “slow cook”, then use the adjust button to change it to “high” or “more”) instead of using the Sauté Less function. If it isn’t splattering you can leave the lid off and slow cook for 4-8 hours, stirring occasionally.
Tips for customizing instant pot apple butter
If you like your apple butter really sweet, add up to ½ cup brown sugar with the other ingredients before pressure cooking
Leave out the cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves if you prefer a simple apple flavor
Swap the spices for 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
It’s ok to omit the lemon juice if you don’t have any on hand