Overnight Apple Butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup apple cider
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/8 tsp ground mace
10 medium apples, cored, and cut into large chunks (about 2-1/2 lbs).
Combine all ingredients in a 5-qt electric slow cooker. Cover and cook on low 10 hours or until apples are very tender.
Place a large fine-mesh sieve over a bowl; spoon one-third of apple mixture into sieve. Press mixture through sieve using the back of a spoon or ladle. Discard pulp. Repeat procedure with remaining apple mixture. Return apple mixture to slow cooker. cook, uncovered on high 1-1/2 hours or until mixture is thick, stirring occasionally. Spoon into a bowl; cover and chill up to a week.
Stovetop variation: Combine all ingredients in a dutch oven. Cover and cook over medium-low heat 1 hour or until apples are very tender, stirring occasionally. Strain through a sieve as recipe instructs above. Return mixture to pan. Cook, uncovered, over medium-low heat 15 minutes or until thick, stirring frequently.
Yield: 4 cups (serving size: 1/4cup)