AppleButter Making

Picture: Garley Henderson Hood

Making Applebutter the old timey way.

1 bushle Winesap apples or tart apples, peeled an cored
25 pounds white sugar
1 large bag cinnamon candies
2 teaspoons cinnamon oil
red food coloring (optional)

Build fire outside with dry hickory wood.  (Don't let wood touch kettle.)  Pour apples into copper kettle placed over wood fire.  Cover apples with water.  May have to add more water, depending on juice in apples.   Stir constantly with wooden ladle.  Cook 3 to 5 hours.  When apples reach an applesauce stage, add sugar, cinnamon candy, cinnamon oil and red food coloring.  When apples leave a trail beding the ladle and has a slick finish, it is done.  Pour into either pint or quart mason jars.  Seal with ring and lids.

(Many people omit the cinnamon candies, oil and coloring, perferring a more natural applebutter.)

A lot of hard work, but well worth it in the end.

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