Discover the charm of vegan apple butter: A healthier, tasteful spread

Apple butter is a familiar delight, yet it still carries an air of mystery. This simple spread is universally adored, with children and adults unable to resist its charm.

Apples could arguably be hailed as our national fruit treasure. They come in numerous varieties, are readily available throughout the year, and are affordable. While they're most celebrated in apple pies and cakes, I'd like to share another culinary use for them.

Apple butter isn't just delicious; it's a healthier alternative to traditional butter, making it an ideal choice for those monitoring their fat and calorie intake. It's also perfectly suitable for a plant-based diet.

Given its sweet flavour, pairing it with ham sandwiches might seem unusual, but it complements oatmeal, pancakes, and cheese platters beautifully. You can customize its taste by adding cinnamon, ginger, cloves, cardamom, salt, or pepper.

In my recipe, cinnamon is a must-have ingredient.

Ingredients:

• about 3 kg of apples (preferably slightly sour),
• 100 g of brown sugar,
• juice squeezed from 1 lemon,
• 1 tablespoon of cinnamon,
• 3 allspice berries, crushed,
• 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg,
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves.

How to prepare:

1. Rinse, peel, and core the apples before cutting them into small pieces to make cooking easier.
2. To prevent the apples from browning and add a refreshing tartness, sprinkle them with lemon juice.
3. Combine all ingredients in a pot and simmer on low heat for about an hour until the apples soften and meld together.
4. Blend the cooked apples to a smooth texture or strain them for consistency.
5. Mix in the cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Add sugar if needed, depending on the sweetness of the apples.
6. Return the pot to low heat and let it cook for another 4 to 4.5 hours, or until most of the water has evaporated. Cooking times and yields vary with the apple variety.
7. Once done, the apple butter should be thick, smooth, and darkened from the sugar caramelization.
8. Transfer the apple butter into sterilized jars. If consumed within two weeks, pasteurization is unnecessary; simply store the jars in the refrigerator.

Your apple butter is now ready to be enjoyed!