Roasted Apple Butter

This recipe contains no added sugar.  The sweetness is brought out through the caramelization process in the oven.

Ingredients:

8 medium apples, peeled, cored, and quartered

2 cups unsweetened apple juice

(Variations:  If you would like a sweeter apple butter, you can add a little maple syrup to the puree.  To add some spice, lay a couple of cinnamon sticks over the apples when you place them in the roasting pan. 

Instructions:  Preheat your oven to 450 degrees F.  Place apples in a large roasting pan.  Pour juice over the apples.  Bake until the apples are tender and lightly browned, approximately 30 minutes.  Use a fork or a potato masher to mash up the apples right in the roasting pan.  Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. and bake this puree for an additional 1 ½ to 1 ¾ hours until it has thickened (it should be quite thick!) and a deep brown.  Remove the puree from the pan and place in a bowl to cool.  (Taste the puree.  If you would like it a little spicier, add some ground cinnamon, cloves, and/or allspice to taste.)  This apple butter can be just kept in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or you can put in the freezer for even more long-term storage.  You can also can in jars by preparing the jars and process ing as usual using the boiling water canning process.