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Pennsylvania Dutch apple butter
Slow-cooked spiced apple spread, dark as treacle
Every autumn Pennsylvania Dutch families once gathered round a copper kettle in the yard to stir 'lattwarick', apple butter, all day over a wood fire. There is no butter in it: apples and cider are cooked down for hours until the sugars caramelise into a thick, glossy, deep brown spread. It is eaten on bread with cottage cheese, a combination Lancaster calls 'smearcase and apple butter'. Chef's tip: it is done when a spoonful on a cold plate holds its shape and no ring of liquid seeps out.
- Total time
- 270 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 24
Ingredients
- 4 ⅜ lb mixed cooking and eating applescored and quartered, unpeeled
- 2 cups cloudy apple juice
- 7 oz soft brown sugar
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- ½ tsp ground allspice
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
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What you'll need
Spices & pantry
Fresh ingredients (3)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Put the 4 ⅜ lb mixed cooking and eating apples and 2 cups cloudy apple juice in a large heavy pot, cover and simmer for 30 minutes, until the apples collapse.
35 minStep 2: Push everything through a sieve or food mill to remove skins and pips.
10 minStep 3: Return the purée to the pot with the 7 oz soft brown sugar, 2 tsp ground cinnamon, ½ tsp ground cloves, ½ tsp ground allspice and 2 tbsp lemon juice.
2 minStep 4: Cook uncovered over a very low heat for 3–3½ hours, stirring every 15 minutes and scraping the bottom, until thick, glossy and dark brown. A common mistake is a high heat, which scorches it and spatters.
210 minStep 5: Do the cold-plate test, then spoon into sterilised jars and seal. Keep in the fridge for up to 2 months.
10 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 60 kcal
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbs
- 15 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does pennsylvania Dutch apple butter take?
- About 270 minutes in total: 30 minutes to prepare and 240 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 24 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of mixed cooking and eating apples?
- Pears, same amount.
- What can I use instead of soft brown sugar?
- White sugar + 1 tbsp molasses or treacle per 200g.
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