Apple Butter

I like to experiment with jams and jellies with an outlook into candy and other sweet creations.  I live in Texas where they don’t grow one apple except maybe in a greenhouse.   However a coworker told me apples were priced well a couple of weeks ago.   So I decided I was going to try apple butter out.  I had had it in a breakfast restaurant once or twice, but that was my only exposure to it.   I read through about 5 recipes that came to the top of my Google feed.  This is what I came up with.  I think it’s excellent, but in all honesty I didn’t grow up on the stuff.  Anyways on to the recipe.

Ingredients:

• 4 to 5 lbs of apples – I used Kanzi – was looking for tart
• 2 cups orange juice
• 3 small limes
• 2 Tbsp molasses
• 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground cloves
• Water

Instructions:

1. Core apples and cut into eighths.  I left the skins on for flavor, but if not to your taste they could be removed.
2. Place apples, orange juice,  and juice from limes in large pan.
3. Add water to pan to cover apples and boil at medium heat until soft.
4. Take immersion blender and blend until smooth.
5. Reduce heat to low and add molasses, sugar, cinnamon,  and cloves.
6. Stir to incorporate spices.
7. Reduce by about half, or until mixture has the texture of butter.  This will take a significant amount of time.
8. Remove from heat and package as you prefer.