Apple Butter in the Oven

Ingredients

• 4 pounds apples - peeled , cored, and chopped
• 2 cups apple cider
• 0.75 cups dark brown sugar
• 1 pinch kosher salt
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 star anise
• 2 whole cloves
• 3 whole allspice berries
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Instructions

1. 1

   Combine apples, apple cider, brown sugar, and salt in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add cinnamon, star anise, cloves, and allspice. Bring to a simmer. Cover partially and cook until apples are soft, 20 to 25 minutes.

2. 2

   Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C).

3. 3

   Remove whole spices from the pot with a slotted spoon. Reserve cinnamon and star anise; discard cloves and allspice. Purée apples with an immersion blender until smooth. Stir in lemon juice and return cinnamon and star anise to the pot.

4. 4

   Bake uncovered in the preheated oven, stirring every 30 minutes, until apple butter thickens and deepens in color, about 3 hours. Let cool completely. Discard cinnamon and star anise before transferring to airtight containers.