Slow Cooker Salted Date Caramel Apple Butter is a creamy, no-sugar twist on traditional apple butter. Made with fresh, crisp apples and sweet medjool dates, it is mellow and delicious without any refined sugar. Your kitchen will smell like caramel apples at a fair while your slow cooker does all the work
This easy, no-peel apple butter came to life when a follower asked if apple butter could be made without peeling. Challenge accepted! Just like my popular Salted Caramel Pear Butter, this version skips the cumbersome chore of apple peeling. Unlike traditional apple butter, this all-natural version uses medjool dates for a rich salted caramel flavor.
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📝Ingredient shopping list
This is a list of the ingredients you'll need to make sugar-free apple butter. For quantities and full preparation instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
- Apples - cored and diced, no need to peel. Use a mix of your favorite types for balanced sweet/tartness.
- Mejool dates - pitted
- Lemon juice - fresh squeezed or bottled
- Pure vanilla extract - or vanilla bean paste
- Sea salt - to amplify the sweetness
- Cinnamon sticks - for a cozy depth of cinnamon flavor
💜Why use your slow cooker for this recipe
- Hands-free cooking: Perfect for all-day or overnight cooking. Nothing is better than waking up to caramel-apple scented heaven!
- Perfect consistency: Low, slow heat caramelizes the fruit naturally. No added sugar needed!
- No babysitting: unlike stovetop versions, your slow cooker gives you total freedom.
- Flavor depth: Low, slow cooking allows the cinnamon and sea salt to infuse perfectly throughout your dish.
Preparing Your Slow Cooker
Prepare your slow cooker by coating it with a non-stick agent. Any nonstick cooking spray or oil will work. Olive oil and avocado oil are my go-to coatings.
NOTE: Some slow cooker inserts come with a nonstick surface. Use of a non-stick agent is still suggested. However, oil is sometimes recommended rather than spray to protect the longevity of the non-stick surface. Check your slow cooker's manual if you have any concerns.
Get Cooking
Step 1
Soak Medjool dates in warm water.
Step 2
Roughly chop apples into equal-sized pieces
Step 3
Add all ingredients to a greased slow cooker and stir to combine.
Step 4
After cooking, remove cinnamon sticks, stir, and then use an immersion blender until your apple butter is smooth and rich-looking.
ICYMI
It is worth repeating..... you do NOT need to peel the apples for this recipe!!
🍽Serving ideas
There are so many delicious ways to enjoy sugar-free salted caramel apple butter that I can't list them all. Here are a few of my favorites;
- Spread on toast, crackers, or bagels.
- Swirled into yogurt, oatmeal, cottage cheese, and cream of wheat
- Piled high on top of pancakes, waffles, or French toast
- Besides cheese and fruit on cheese boards and charcuteries
- Blended into smoothies
- Spooned over warm brie cheese (personal favorite!)
- Wrapped up into pretty jars to give as gifts
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Storing
Store your sugar-free apple butter in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. Or, freeze it for up to 3 months.
Frozen apple butter can be defrosted overnight in the refrigerator.
😉Hints & hacks
- Pair this date caramel apple butter with sugar-free peanut butter for a grown-up PB&J that is beyond compare!
- If you are a fan of fruit butter, check out my traditional apple butter, date caramel, pumpkin butter, and blueberry butter too!
- This recipe can also be made stovetop. Just keep an eye on it to prevent burning.
- Avoid using slow cooker liners if you plan to use an immersion blender. The blade can shred the liner.
- If you don't have an immersion blender, you can transfer your cooked apple/date mixture to a traditional blender or food processor to finish.
- If you live anywhere near an orchard - pick your own apples!! It is fun, nutritious, and educational.
- In the market for a new slow cooker? I love mine!
- Always check to confirm that your slow cooker has been plugged in and properly turned on!
⁉️People also asked
Absolutely! In my lazy opinion, not peeling the apples is the best part of this recipe. However, you can certainly peel if you like! There will be no noticeable change in the flavor and blending will be faster. However, keep in mind that the peel adds extra fiber and nutrients.
If you do decide to peel your apples, the cooking time and method would stay the same.
Yes! While Medjool dates give this recipe its signature salted caramel flavor, figs or raisins can be used in their place. These will provide a different type of fruit-based sweetness. Just keep in mind that each of these will change both the flavor and color.
Yes, you can. However, I recommend keeping at least a pinch of salt. The sea salt doesn't really make the recipe "salty"; it just enhances the caramel flavor. However, if you are looking for a reduced-sodium recipe, you can certainly remove most of the salt.
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📖 Recipe
Sugar Free Salted Caramel Apple Butter
(Click on the stars to leave a rating)
Print Pin Rate SaveAll nutrition information shown here is automatically generated and should be considered an estimate. If you follow a specific diet, please calculate your own values to ensure accuracy.
Equipment
- 3.5 quart slow cooker or larger
- Knife and cutting board
Ingredients
- 9 apples cored and diced - no need to peel
- 2 cups mejool dates pitted
- 1 lemon juiced
- 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoon sea salt
- 3 sticks cinnamon
Instructions
- Place 2 cups mejool dates into a bowl and fill with warm water. This will allow them to start to soften while you work on the apples.
- Core and dice* 9 apples. There is no need to peel your apples. You can use whichever variety you like. I like to mix them for a more well-rounded flavor. I aim for ½" to 1" pieces
- Place apple pieces into a well-greased slow cooker
- Drain water from the dates and add then to the slow cooker alog with the juice of 1 lemon, 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 2 teaspoon sea salt and stir to combine.
- Tuck 3 sticks cinnamon into the apples and dates
- Cover your crockpot and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-5 hours.
- Once all apples and dates are cooked, remove the cinnamon sticks and use an immession blender, righ in your slow cooker. Blend all ingredients until smooth and enjoy!
Final Step
If you love this recipe, please let everyone know by giving it a star rating and leaving a comment. This will help my business to grow and allow me to keep on testing and sharing free recipes with you.😊
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Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information shown here is automatically generated and should be considered an estimate. If you follow a specific diet, please calculate your own values to ensure accuracy.
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Gary Robert says
Incredibly delicious!
Cathy Dulmage says
SO DELICIOUS! I was looking for a yogurt recipe, and found this apple butter!!
Susan says
Hi Cathy! I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe as much as we do! Thank you for taking the time to share!