Spiced Sweet Potato Butter with Apple: Easy Recipe
This easy sweet potato butter recipe is a delicious spiced treat reminiscent of pumpkin butter and apple butter! Made with fresh sweet potatoes and apples and sweetened naturally, this versatile sweet potato butter can enjoyed spread over English muffins, dolloped over ice cream, added to custards, and more!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Easy
This recipe only requires a few simple steps, and then a little patience as it cooks down. I find the quickest and easiest way to be the instant pot method, but if you don’t have a pressure cooker there’s good news, I also have the complete guide for using a slow cooker and stove top in the recipe below! The stove top method is the most labor intensive, as it requires more stirring as it cooks down.
Healthy
This is a great recipe for those searching for sweet potato recipes that aren’t only delicious, but also healthy! Instead of canned sweet potatoes and processed sugar, this recipe uses fresh sweet potatoes and natural sweetener. With sweet potatoes and apples, this sweet potato butter is a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin A, and potassium.
Delicious
This sweet potato butter is sweet, smooth, and gently spiced. While sweet potato butter may not be the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to fall treats, it’s a versatile and great way to enjoy sweet potatoes!
Simple Ingredients in This Sweet Potato Apple Butter
Sweet Potatoes: whole sweet potatoes are the main ingredient in this recipe. My favorite variety is Covington for the sweet taste and smooth texture. Other red or orange sweet potato varieties from the grocery store will work well, just keep in mind the textures may vary slightly.
Apple: fresh apple adds sweetness, a little flavor, and improved texture to this sweet potato butter recipe. Make sure to use a sweet apple, not too tart. Fuji or gala work well.
Natural Sweetener: I like to use a combination of coconut sugar and maple syrup in this recipe. Feel free to substitute coconut sugar for dark brown sugar or light brown sugar if you prefer.
Spices: I found a little pumpkin pie spice to be the perfect combination of flavors for this recipe. Add a little extra cinnamon or nutmeg if you like.
Vanilla Extract: a splash of vanilla adds floral, sweet notes.
Equipment Needed for This Easy Sweet Potato Butter
- You can make this recipe using an Instant Pot/pressure cooker, a Crock Pot/ slow cooker, or just a heavy bottomed pot. If you choose the clow cooker method, you will need a heavy bottomed pot as well to steam the sweet potato mixture initially.
- An Immersion blender or heat proof high speed blender is needed for for pureeing the sweet potato mixture. I don’t recommend using a food processor
How to Store This Sweet Potato Butter
- A batch of this recipe makes 1 pint that can be stored in an airtight container (like a mason jar) in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- This sweet potato butter can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months. To freeze in a glass jar, place jar in the freezer with 1-inch headspace and without a lid over night or until frozen. The next day or once fully frozen, secure with a lid. Securing with a lid too soon can cause the glass to break from expansion.
- You cannot safely water bath can this sweet potato butter, as the pH is too low. You can pressure can it by following these steps using a pressure canner from the National Center for Home food Preservation.
How to Serve Sweet Potato Butter
Creamy Spread: spread it over morning toast, English muffins, bagels, sourdough bread, waffles, and more! Don’t forget to enjoy with a a bit of unsalted butter and a sprinkle of salt for the best taste.
Add to Recipes: this sweet potato butter can be added to custard or ice cream recipes for a fall flavored twist, and can even be used to make sweet potato pie. For a simple dessert, add a crumble topping and bake!
Top Desserts: instead adding sweet potato butter to recipes, you can also use it as a topping. Dollop over ice cream, vanilla custard, yogurt, and more!
Sweet Potato Latte: combine sweet potato butter with warm milk and espresso for a delicious fall flavored latte.
Sweet Potato Smoothie: blend sweet potato butter with milk and ice for a sweet, creamy, spiced smoothie!
How to Make Sweet Potato Butter with Apples
Instant Pot Method
Pressure cook sweet potato pieces, apple pieces, sugar, water, spices, and vanilla on high for 15 minutes and allow to release naturally.
Remove lid and use an immersion blender or transfer to a high speed blender to puree sweet potato mixture until smooth.
Add sweet potato puree back to the instant pot and slow cook on low for 2 hours or until it reaches a thick a creamy consistency.
Add extra maple syrup for more sweetness if desired.
Let cool to room temperature, then transfer to an airtight container.
Slow Cooker Method
Add sweet potato pieces, apple pieces, sugar, spices, and vanilla to a heavy bottomed pot.
Cover with water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and cover the pot with a lid. Let simmer for 15 minutes.
Once sweet potatoes are very soft, use an immersion blender or transfer to a high speed blender to puree sweet potato mixture until smooth.
Transfer sweet potato puree to a slow cooker and slow cook on high for 3 to 4 hours, or until it reaches a thick a creamy consistency.
Add extra maple syrup for more sweetness if desired.
Let cool to room temperature, then transfer to an airtight container.
Stove Top Only Method
Add sweet potato pieces, apple pieces, sugar, spices, and vanilla to a heavy bottomed pot.
Cover with water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and cover the pot with a lid. Let simmer for 15 minutes.
Once sweet potatoes are very soft, use an immersion blender or transfer to a high speed blender to puree sweet potato mixture until smooth.
Turn the stove top on low and cook sweet potato puree down, keeping the lid ajar, for 1 hour stirring occasionally. Cook on low for an additional 30 minutes stirring frequently so it doesn’t burn on the bottom, until it reaches a thick a creamy consistency.
Add extra quarter cup maple syrup (or more to taste) for extra sweetness if desired.
Let cool to room temperature, then transfer to an airtight container.
Spiced Sweet Potato Butter with Apple: Easy Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Instant pot, slow cooker, and/or large heavy bottomed pot
- 1 immersion blender or high speed heat proof blender
- 1 airtight storage container (pint jar works well)
Ingredients
- 4 medium sweet potatoes peeled sand cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1 apple peeled and chopped
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup maple syrup plus more to taste if desired
- 1 cup filtered water for Instant pot method, or enough water to cover in steaming in a pot on the stove
Instructions
Instant Pot Method
- Pressure cook sweet potato pieces, apple pieces, sugar, water, spices, and vanilla on high for 15 minutes and allow to release naturally.
- Remove lid and use an immersion blender or transfer to a high speed blender to puree sweet potato mixture until smooth.
- Add sweet potato puree back to the instant pot and slow cook on low for 2 hours or until it reaches a thick a creamy consistency.
- Add extra maple syrup for more sweetness if desired.
- Let cool to room temperature, then transfer to an airtight container.
Slow Cooker Method
- Add sweet potato pieces, apple pieces, sugar, spices, and vanilla to a heavy bottomed pot.
- Cover with water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and cover the pot with a lid. Let simmer for 15 minutes.
- Once sweet potatoes are very soft, use an immersion blender or transfer to a high speed blender to puree sweet potato mixture until smooth.
- Transfer sweet potato puree to a slow cooker and slow cook on high for 3 to 4 hours, or until it reaches a thick a creamy consistency.
- Add extra maple syrup for more sweetness if desired.
- Let cool to room temperature, then transfer to an airtight container.
Stove Top Only Method
- Add sweet potato pieces, apple pieces, sugar, spices, and vanilla to a heavy bottomed pot.
- Cover with water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and cover the pot with a lid. Let simmer for 15 minutes.
- Once sweet potatoes are very soft, use an immersion blender or transfer to a high speed blender to puree sweet potato mixture until smooth.
- Turn the stove top on low and cook sweet potato puree down, keeping the lid ajar, for 1 hour stirring occasionally. Cook on low for an additional 30 minutes stirring frequently so it doesn’t burn on the bottom, until it reaches a thick a creamy consistency.
- Add extra quarter cup maple syrup (or more to taste) for extra sweetness if desired.
- Let cool to room temperature, then transfer to an airtight container.
