Reinventing the spread: How apple butter can transform your meals

Apples are undoubtedly our national fruit treasure. They come in many varieties, are readily available throughout the year, and are affordable. While they're a common ingredient in apple pies and cakes, I have another fantastic recipe.

Apple butter isn’t just delicious; it’s also a healthier substitute for traditional butter. Due to its low fat and calorie content, it's ideal for those watching their diet. Those on a plant-based diet will find it a perfect addition to their meals.

Given its sweet flavour, combining it with ham sandwiches might seem unusual, but it pairs wonderfully with oatmeal, pancakes, and cheese platters. You can tweak the butter’s flavour to your liking by choosing the right spices. Add cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cardamom, salt, or pepper to enhance it.

Cinnamon is a must in my version of the recipe.

Ingredients:

• about 3 kilograms of apples (slightly sour varieties are preferred),
• 100 grams of brown sugar,
• juice squeezed from 1 lemon,
• 1 tablespoon of cinnamon,
• 3 allspice berries, finely crushed,
• 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg,
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves.

How to prepare:

1. Wash, peel, and core the apples thoroughly before cutting them into smaller pieces to ease cooking.
2. Mix the apples with lemon juice to prevent browning and add a pleasant tartness.
3. Combine all ingredients in a pot and simmer on low heat for about an hour until the apples are mushy.
4. Blend the mushy apples into a smooth paste or strain them for a finer texture.
5. Stir in the spices: cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. If the apples aren't sweet enough, you can add sugar at this point.
6. Return the mixture to low heat and cook for 4 to 4.5 hours until most of the moisture evaporates. The specific cooking time and yield of butter will depend on the apple variety used.
7. The finished apple butter should be thick, creamy, and dark due to the sugar caramelizing.
8. Transfer the apple butter into sterilised jars. Pasteurise the jars if you wish to preserve them longer; otherwise, store them in the fridge if you plan to consume the butter within two weeks.

Enjoy your homemade apple butter!