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Apple Butter Chai Flavors

All the comforting seasonings of a cup of Chai tea in thick apple butter. The sugars in the apple caramelize with the long cooking becoming a deep dark brown. No need to PEEL the apples my choices are Winesao, Granny Smith, Gala and or Gravenstein. cooking them pureed instead of sliced, you can get more into the crock pot so this will take longer cooking time. Making more and making for a very fragrant home and neighborhood! You know Chai means tea? So if you want the tea flavor added, try the optional black tea ingredient. Top a pork roast, oatmeal, pancakes, french toast use as sandwich spread.

Recipe card by Rita1652Editorial by recipesvibrant · Updated October 13, 2026
AppleFruitLow ProteinVeganLow CholesterolHealthy
Apple Butter Chai Flavors

Total time

1220 min

Servings

30

Calories

103.2

Category

Spreads

Experience the cozy, comforting essence of autumn with our homemade Apple Butter Chai. This slow-cooked, vegan delight perfectly balances the natural sweetness of orchard-fresh apples with a warming blend of aromatic chai spices. Ideal for spreading on crusty sourdough, stirring into oatmeal, or gifting to friends and family, this recipe is a must-make for the fall season.

Ingredients

Makes 30 servings

  • 15 apples
  • 1/2 bottled lemon juice
  • 1 apple cider
  • 2 black tea
  • 1 white sugar
  • 1 brown sugar
  • 1 ginger
  • 1 -2 ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 - 1 ground cloves
  • 1/2 black pepper
  • 1/2 - 1 ground fennel
  • 1/4 - 1/2 ground cardamom
  • 1 salt

Method

  1. Tasty Optional:

  2. Heat the apple cider to boiling remove from heat and steep the tea bags for 5 minutes. No longer or it`ll be to bitter and astringent. If you want more tea flavor just add an other tea bag.

  3. Place 1/3 of the apple and 1/3 of the lemon juice in a running food processor through feed tube and then pulse till smooth then place in crock pot with plain or optional steeped tea cider on high heat. Continue with other 2/3`rds apples and juice.

  4. Cook for 18 hours on high in crock pot or 8 hour low in crock pot.

  5. Watch pot for burning and do turn heat down to low if need be.

  6. Stir the apples about every couple hours and more toward the end of cooking. Add sugars, and 1/2 the spices. Mix all together and cook 2-8 more hours. Depending on how much liquid the apples had and how hot your crock gets.

  7. You want a spreadable jam consistency.

  8. Taste and add more spices to taste.

  9. For a smoother butter use immersion blender to blend.

  10. Fill the jars to within ¼-inch of the top, wipe any apple butter of the top and rim, place the lids and tighten the ring around them.

  11. Process the jars in the canner and keep them covered with at least 1 inch of water and boiling.

  12. Lift the jars out of the water and let them cool without touching or bumping them in a draft-free place (usually overnight) You can then remove the rings if you like. Once the jars are cool, you can check that they are sealed verifying that the lid has been sucked down. Just press in the center, gently, with your finger. If it pops up and down (often making a popping sound), it is not sealed. If you put the jar in the refrigerator right away, you can still use it. Some people replace the lid and reprocess the jar, then that's a bit iffy. If you heat the contents back up, re-jar them (with a new lid) and the full time in the canner.

Cook's notes

  • Use a mix of apple varieties like Honeycrisp, Gala, and Fuji for a complex, balanced sweetness.
  • For a smoother texture, use an immersion blender directly in your slow cooker before the final reduction phase.
  • To achieve that perfect dark color, allow the apple butter to cook uncovered during the last 2 hours to concentrate the sugars.
  • Sterilize your jars properly if you plan on water-bath canning for long-term storage.

Easy swaps

  • Replace refined sugar with coconut sugar or maple syrup for a more caramel-like flavor profile.
  • If you don't have a chai spice blend, mix cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and a pinch of black pepper.
  • Substitute apple cider for apple juice to add a deeper, more rustic depth of flavor.

Frequently asked

Is this apple butter recipe vegan?

Yes, this recipe is 100% plant-based and contains no dairy or animal products.

How long does it take to cook apple butter in a slow cooker?

This recipe requires a long, slow cook of approximately 10 to 12 hours on low heat to achieve the signature thick consistency.

Can I make this apple butter without a slow cooker?

Yes, you can simmer the apples on the stovetop over very low heat in a heavy-bottomed pot, stirring frequently to prevent sticking.

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