Caramel Apple Butter

Total Time: 4 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 4 hrs

Ingredients

• 3 lbs apples
• 1/2 cup water or 1/2 cup apple juice
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 21 caramels

Recipe

• 1 peel, core and chop apples.
• 2 add apples and water/applejuice into a large pot.
• 3 over medium high heat cook apples until just tender.
• 4 remove apples with a slotted spoon-puree using a food mill, food processor, whatever you have on hand. (discard fluid in pot).
• 5 return puree to pot.
• 6 add the sugar stirring well.
• 7 return to medium high heat-you want mixture to bubble.
• 8 *reduce heat and simmer, stirring frequently until butter is thick and has a spreadable consistency.
• 9 add the ginger, cloves and cinnamon, stirring well.
• 10 add the caramels.
• 11 turn the heat up to medium low, stirring constantly until caramels are melted.
• 12 ladle butter into clean hot jars leaving 1/2 inch head space. seal.
• 13 process in a boiling water bath canner 10 minutes for pints, 5 minutes for half pints.
• 14 *using a frozen saucer place a spoonful of butter in center. if no rim of liquid forms, your butter is done.