When you combine apple picking with delicious apple butter you know my fall bucket list is getting off to a perfect start!
This post was done in a collaboration with my friend, Katie from The Franklin Foundations. Be sure to check out the link to her awesome fall themed recipes at the end of this page!
This post contains affiliated links which means if you make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure HERE
You guys, it is officially my favorite time of the year! Well, it should be anyway but mother nature has other plans. This 90 degree+ weather can go somewhere else because this girl is ready for sweaters and boots.
Despite the uncooperative weather, that isn’t stopping me from enjoying such a beautiful fall season. For once I actually carried out my little summer bucket list for our family and have moved on to fall. The first on the list was to visit an apple orchard to pick our own apples. I have always wanted to do this but put it off year after year and then it ends up too late.
Not this year! A couple of weekends ago we finally made it to Haney’s Appledale Farm and got to catch up with friends all at the same time.
You can’t pick apples though without making a super cool recipe to go with it.
Am I right or am I right?
I had a few ideas up my sleeve but what ended up sealing the deal was apple butter. I didn’t just want to make any ole apple butter though. No, that wouldn’t do.
When I stumbled upon a few apple butter recipes with bourbon as an ingredient I knew that was it, no doubt.
So here we are with my own version of maple bourbon apple butter!
Maple Bourbon Apple Butter Video
Haney’s Appledale Farm
Despite growing up near Haney’s can you believe this was my very first time picking apples and only my second time visiting? I can tell you right now though it won’t be my last. We had such a great time, built memories and it for sure made a wonderful start to my little fall bucket list.
The kids loved their large playground set, life size connect four game and can’t forget picking apples!
Afterwards we enjoyed an amazing apple cider slushy and cookies from their gift and snack shop. If you live in the area and haven’t stopped by Haney’s DO IT! Take the kids and let them roam wild. They’ll love it.
Maple Bourbon Apple Butter Ingredients
6 lbs of apples (use a sweet or semi-sweet variety)
2 TBS of good quality Bourbon (I used Four Roses)
2/3 cup of Maple Syrup
3/4 cup of water, apple juice, or apple cider
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 drop of Orange Vitality Essential Oil (I use Young Living Essential Oils) or 1/2 tsp orange zest
Maple Bourbon Apple Butter Instructions
The first step in making apple butter is getting apples of course! Unlike apple pie and other desserts you should not use Granny Smith’s or other very tart varieties for apple butter. Most of your sugar content will come from the apples themselves so you want more of a sweet apple. We ended up with a mix of McIntosh as well as another variety that I am unsure of. If anyone knows feel free to let me know! It seems to taste semi-sweet to me.
After gathering 6 lbs of apples you’ll need to wash, cut and core them. I have a simple apple core but if you have a more fancy option by all means go for it! I am kind of wishing I had a fancy contraption that would peel, slice and core my apples for me. As far as peeling goes, that is totally optional. I am far too lazy to peel apples myself but if I had something to peel for me, honestly I’d do it. If you have a pretty good blender though leaving the peels on will be fine.
Next you’ll want to place your chopped apples in a pot (I used my trusty dutch oven) with your water, apple juice or apple cider. Cook on medium-low heat, covered for about 30-45 mins.
Once your apples are pretty soft it’s time to break out the blender. Blend until they are as smooth as you can get them. Personally, I have a Ninja blender but I have my eye set on an immersion blender. It would be super handy not only for this recipe but for so many soups and other dishes! My Ninja is still awesome though.
Now it’s time to add the yummy stuff!
Begin by adding the bourbon. If you are worried about the alcohol content in this recipe, it’s all good! The additional time spent in the oven will cook out the alcohol content and all you’ll be left with is the bourbon flavor.
Next add the cinnamon, maple syrup and orange vitality oil. Be careful adding the orange because since it is so concentrated it would be very easy to add too much. You don’t want orange overpowering the classic apple taste!
Give everything another good blend and then transfer back into your pot. Bake in the oven, uncovered for about 2 hours. Be sure and stir pretty often to keep from burning. I gave it a good stir every 20-30 mins.
You’ll know the apple butter is finished when it gets much thicker and turns a few shades darker in color. Sometimes the butter tends to lump together as it cooks in the oven so you may want to give it one last go in the blender before transferring to jars.
Special Notes
This recipe yields about 48 oz. It nearly filled up 3 of my 16 oz mason jars so I’d say 48 oz would be pretty close.
They will last about 2 weeks in the fridge unless you can them with a water bath. It seems pretty easy but since I knew we would eat these up within 2 weeks I didn’t bother with the water bath! If you are interested in doing a water bath this article explains it well. You can check that out HERE.
Print Maple Bourbon Apple Butter
Maple Bourbon Apple Butter
Equipment
- blender
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp bourbon I use Four Roses
- 2/3 cup maple Syrup
- 3/4 cup water, apple juice or apple cider
- 2 tsp cinnamon ground
- 1 drop orange vitality essential oil I use Young Living
- 6 lbs apples use a sweet variety
Instructions
- wash, cut and core the apples then place into a pot with the water, apple juice or cider.
- Cook on stove top, covered for about 30-45 mins.
- When the apples are pretty soft transfer to a blender and blend as fine as you can get it.
- Add the bourbon, maple syrup, cinnamon and orange essential oil and blend once more.
- Transfer back into your pot and bake at 300 in the oven for about 2 hours, uncovered. You'll know the apple butter is finished when it thickens up and turns 2-3 shades darker in color.
- Give one last blend for extra smoothness and then add to your jars! Store in the fridge for 2 weeks or can with a water bath.
Notes
Fall 2019 Collaboration
I’m very excited to be a part of a fall recipe collaboration. My friend, Katie from The Franklin Foundations has shared two very awesome Chicken Chili Recipes! While you’re at it swing by her blog and check it out. Katie posts on an honest look at biblical wifehood womanhood and motherhood. She has such inspiring wisdom! You can also find her on Facebook.
Interested In Essential Oils?
I’d love to help you get started on your very own oily journey! I’ll answer any questions you may have on essential oils. You can comment down below or feel free to send me an email!
hello@notyouraveragefox.com
If you’d like to begin your membership with Young Living Essential Oils and receive a complete starter pack then you’ll want to head HERE.
Only want to purchase Orange Vitality Essential Oil? Not a problem! Head HERE
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