Pumpkin Spiced Apple Butter Recipe (Low-Calorie & Tasty)
Despite its name, apple butter is not actually a butter but more of a cooked-down version of apple sauce, but BETTER—it’s like fall in a jar. The beauty of this fall staple is that you can adjust the sweetness just by the type of apple you select. I am partial to Gala apples for my apple butter, and despite most recipes, you don’t need any added sugar, honey, or sweetener to make a flavorful, velvety spread.
Some folks like to really kick up the apple taste by using apple cider as a base; however, I have found that using water and the right spices keeps this figure-friendly. Throw in some Low Carb Protein Powder, and you have instantly made this a healthy indulgence.
According to the infamous “Crock Pot Ladies,” the following apples are best suited for this pumpkin spiced apple butter butter:
- Ambrosia Apples: Firm flesh with a sweet flavor reminiscent of pear with low acidity.
- Braeburn Apples: Firm flesh with a combination of sweet and tart flavors, which don’t release a lot of liquid when cooked.
- Cameo Apples: Sweet, firm, and crisp flesh with an aromatic flavor.
- Crispin Apples: Also known as “Mutsu” is a juicy apple with a slightly tarter flavor than Golden Delicious. These make a great sauce.
- Cortland Apples: Very white flesh and sweeter than a McIntosh apple.
- Empress Apples: Coarse-grained flesh with a flavor that is sweet and spicy, reminiscent of apple cider.
- Fuji Apples: One of our favorites! A crisp and clean flesh that is nice and sweet and gets even sweeter in storage.
- Gala Apples: Fine textured flesh with a sweet aromatic flavor.
- Golden Delicious Apples: Sweet, mild-flavored apple. The flesh stays chunky when cooked and does not easily break down, making it great for those who like a chunkier applesauce.
- Granny Smith Apples: Crisp flesh that holds up well to baking and cooking with a bright tart flavor that mellows a bit as it ages.
- Honey-gold Apples: Yellowish-white flesh with a flavor that is slightly sweeter but similar to that of a Golden Delicious.
- Jazz Apples: Hard and crisp flesh that is juicy with a tangy and sweet flavor.
- Jonagold Apples: Fluffily crisp and juicy flesh that is sweet and has just enough acidity to appeal to a wide audience.
- Jonalicious Apples: Very firm crisp flesh with a sweet and tart flavor that gets sweeter the longer it is stored.
- Jonathan Apples: Crisp flesh that is a mostly tart apple perfect for sauces!
- McIntosh Apples: Tart apple with tender white flesh.
- Melrose Apples: A creamy white fleshed apple that is nice and firm with a flavor that is mildly acidic but not too much.
- Pink Lady Apples: Crisp, firm, and juicy flesh that is a combination of zesty, tart, and sweet.
Once you’ve picked out your apple variety, it’s time to get cookin’!
Pumpkin Spiced Apple Butter Recipe
Ingredients:
- 5 apples
- 1 cup water
- 1 scoop Pumpkin Spice Low Carb Protein Powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp cloves
- ½ tsp allspice
Directions:
- Peel, core, and slice apples.
- Add apples, water, and spices to crockpot.
- Cook on low for three to four hours until apples are tender (almost mushy).
- Using an immersion blender, puree contents of crockpot.
- Stir in protein powder and let simmer on low.
- Enjoy!
Chef Note: You are welcome to use another flavor of Low Carb and just add your own pumpkin pie spice.
Chef Note: This pumpkin spiced apple butter recipe freezes beautifully and can be canned and stored for up to a year. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to three months.
Nutrition Information:
Yields 15 servings (made with Gala apples)
- Calories: 30
- Fat: 0 g
- Carbs: 7 g
- Fiber: 1.4 g
- Protein: 1 g