This 5-Minute Caramel Apple Butter is the quickest easiest apple butter made right in the blender, but still as smooth and sweet as the traditional kind. Perfect as a filling, topping, dip, or spread!
And by apple butter I mean apple “butter” because this is like a lazy cheaters version of what is usually a slow-simmered sweet spread. But if you are like me and would rather sweeten with dates than sugar and turn on the blender than heat up the stove, then I think you will see the beauty in this no-cook apple butter/”butter” cheat too!
Only one apple on hand but you want to make apple butter? Problem solved.
Only 5 minutes but you want to make apple butter? Problem solved.
Shiny green granny smith apple in the fridge that you don’t know what to do with because they are abysmally tart for straight snacking? Problem solved.
Slice of crusty toast or warm bowl of oatmeal just begging for an instantly fall-festive topping? Problem solved.
No pots, pans, or knives in your entire house but you are in dire need of a spoonful of something sweet? Problem solved.
Too many dates and don’t know what to…wait…that never happens.
So pretty much this 5-Minute Caramel Apple Butter is solving all the major pressing world problems. World, you are welcome.
I realize I just kinda snuck that C word in there, didn’t I? I should mention, it is not only easier and faster than any other apple butter, but it’s also CARAMEL apple butter!! Basically if you took an entire caramel apple, shoved it in a blender, and blended until smooth and creamy you would end up with this delicious stuff.
However, the reverse is not true. You can turn caramel apple into caramel apple butter, but not caramel apple butter into the on-a-stick snack. At least not with any kitchen gadget I know of. A reverse un-blending blender, how awesome would that be??
Don’t worry though, I have a not-on-a-stick caramel apple butter snack idea coming your way very very soon…!
Anywho…enough about un-blenders, back to the butter!
So maybe I am a cheater, skipping the actual cooking part of the apple butter process, but when it comes to testing out and finding what type of apple works best in this blender butter I did not skimp. I tested 3 different apples and I can report that the type of apple actually makes quite a big difference…
Sweet red apple. I used a Fuji for the first batch, and the apple flavor was too overpowered by the dates. Delicious, yes! But not as apple-y as I would like.
Gritty apple. No, just no! Since the apple is not cooked in this apple butter, a gritty apple will ruin the smooth texture of the apple butter. For anything not cooked, just avoid these entirely. Why do they even exist again?
Tart green apple. Yes I’m looking at you Granny. Granny Smith that is. This is the perfect apple for this recipe, which makes sense since they are the classic caramel apple apple too. Lots of apple flavor and the perfect tart balance to the sweet dates. Even the aroma was twice as apple-y with this batch. We have a winner!
The dates are plenty sweet enough to mimic the sugar-y taste of a traditional cooked apple butter. But for texture, adding in a quarter cup of maple syrup is very helpful. Plus it certainly doesn’t hurt the fall flavor vibe. You can swap it out for water or nondairy milk instead, but the end product won’t be as smooth.
So are you ready to cheat your way to speedy scrumptious blender Caramel Apple Butter with me?!
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5-Minute Caramel Apple Butter
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
Description
This Caramel Apple Butter is the quickest easiest apple butter made right in the blender, but still as smooth and sweet as the traditional spread!
Ingredients
- 1 granny smith apple
- 8 pitted Medjool dates
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 cup maple syrup*
Instructions
- Core and roughly chop the apple.
- Add all the ingredients to a blender.
- Blend on high until very smooth. You may need to use the tamper to get it to blend, try to avoid adding more water if possible to keep the texture thick.
- Transfer to an airtight jar and keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- It is wonderful as a dip or spread, stirred into oatmeal, baked into sweet treats, or by the spoonful!
Notes
*You can substitute the maple syrup with water or nondairy milk, but the texture of the apple butter will not be as smooth.
The only thing that could make this apple + caramel flavor party even better is some peanut butter! Oh look I found the perfect PB vehicle…Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Why yes, yes it could double as a frosting atop a Cinnamon Cupcake!
Three words: Caramel Apple Pop-Tart. Or is that four?
Did you say you wanted more caramel + apple goodness? Right this way…Caramel Apple Pie Bars
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Wait… but by butter you mean… butter? 😉 Hehe. J/k! Oh you KNOW I love a no-bake, less work option. Especially if I’m gonna get something THIS amazing! So many problems solved, I don’t even know where to begin! But with so many solutions, who cares? 😉 I love that you snuck that glorious “C” word in there. Could there be a more delicious word? Okay, maybe chocolate. But they could probably throw down and none of us could predict a clear winner. Can’t wait to see the caramel apple butter snack idea! 🙂 Muah! xoxo P.S. These photos are BOMB. No, I didn’t say photobomb. I said that these photos are bomb. Er… anyway! xo
The silly “foods in quotations marks because I’m breaking all the rules and traditions thing”. I try not to do it very much 😀 It’s like the energy ball/bite version of apple butter–easy and no bake! Which I know we both love. Oooh another very very good C word, the letter C seems to have all the yummiest words, have you ever noticed that? Cookie, cake, chocolate, cauliflower…okay maybe not that last one, although I do love a big cozy bowl of mashed cauliflower 🙂 Hehe thanks missy <3 Nope no photobombs, just plain old white back there because I'm simple like that (read: lazy with the props lol) xoxo
Oh stop this sounds insanely good! I can’t tell you how badly I’m craving this right now… I have some apple pie ingredients for tomorrow and if I have any leftover, I know what I’ll be making 😉
Apple pie did you say, there will be apple pie!?! I look forward to your sure to be marvelous take on that! Between your stir fry and this butter we would have dinner and dessert covered 🙂
OK, I’m so making this! I LOVE apple butter and have a traditional recipe for it… but I only love making it when I have that (oh man I’m starting to feel really old repeating myself here :S ) magical thing called time… and access to heaps of apples to go through (which was the case when I had access to lots of wild apple trees). This is so brilliant in contrast. Can’t wait — just need one of those tart green apples.
Haha time is the missing ingredient for so many great plans! Yes I think this cheat defeats the purpose of traditional apple butter to preserve freshly picked apples since it only lasts a few weeks, but since I don’t have any apple trees down here I guess I forgot about that. So very spoiled by supermarkets 😀
How long will this keep in the fridge? 🙂
Approximately 1-2 weeks. It may separate a little with time, so just give it a stir before using 🙂
Hi Natalie,
I’d like to give this a try, it looks and sounds amazing! But I was wondering, do I need to peal the apple?
It’s optional. If you have a high speed blender the peel will not be noticeable by the time you are done and adds some extra fiber. If your blender is not so strong then I would recommend peeling it first.
Hi. I’d like to know the quantity that this recipe makes please. Thank you!
Approximately 1.5 cups!