Apple Butter

One of the benefits of living in the country for two years (Canaan, IN) was witnessing some of our church members make homemade apple butter.  It was such a great experience to watch a family get together and make this family recipe in a huge copper barrel over a fire in their backyard.  Everyone had a part whether it was getting the fire burning, putting in the ingredients, stirring for hours, pouring the finished product into glass jars, putting the lids on the jars, or storing the jars away.  Some of the jars even got a special cinnamon stick.
I have always liked the taste of apple butter, but once you have tasted the homemade version, Kroger brand or Cracker Barrel don't quite measure up.  I came home wanting to make this a family tradition of our own.  After a move to TN and not having the barrel or fire pit in the backyard, I stored this thought away for later use.  Then, while on Pinterest one day, I saw it - a recipe for crock pot homemade apple butter.  I have a crock pot.   I ended up combining several of the recipes I found and came up with this one.  This recipe could easily be doubled or tripled if you have a larger crock pot.  The fall is the perfect time to make this because apples are in season and everyone is in the cooking mood this time of year.  Enjoy!

9 red delicious apples
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

Peel, core, and chop apples.  Place in crock pot.  Add sugar and cinnamon and stir to mix with apples.  Cook on low for 2 hours and then high for 5 more hours.  Enjoy the great smell all over your house.  Puree in blender.  Pour in glass jars.  Be careful because it will be very hot.