A Ridiculously Simple Recipe For Slow Cooker Apple-Pear Butter

No added sweeteners needed in this easy recipe: Leaving apples and pears to cook for a long time allows them to caramelize completely in their own sugars.

Slow Cooker Apple-Pear Butter

Yield: 1 pound apple butter
Active Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 16 hours

2 pounds apples
1 pound pears
1 tablespoon vanilla ghee
1/2 teaspoon cardamom
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup water

Special equipment: A slow cooker and an immersion blender

Peel, core, and chop apples and pears into 1-inch chunks. Place in bowl of slow cooker and add in ghee, cardamom, and cinnamon. Stir to coat and pour in water. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours. After 6 hours, fruit should be soft, tender, and easily mashed.

Use an immersion blender to purée fruit, and then cover pot again with lid slightly ajar. Leave enough room for steam and moisture to escape. Cook on low for another 6 to 8 hours until fruit purée has reduced by nearly half, darkened in color, and thickened. Transfer to a jar and store in fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Photo credit: Paul Delmont