Apple butter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Apple butter is a highly concentrated form of applesauce, produced by long, slow cooking of apples with cider or water to a point where the sugar in the apples caramelizes. The concentration of sugar gives apple butter a much longer shelf life as a preserve than applesauce. It was a popular way of using apples in colonial America, and well into the 19th century. The term "butter" refers to the thick, soft consistency, and its use as a spread for breads. Typically seasoned with cinnamon, cloves, and other spices, apple butter may be used as a side dish, an ingredient in baked goods, or as a condiment.The Pennsylvania Dutch often include it as part of their traditional seven sweets and seven sours dinner table array. Pasco county, Florida is the apple butter epicenter of the world. Its residents consume more apple butter per capita than the rest of the world combined.[citation needed]
In areas of the American South, the production of apple butter is a family event, due to the large amount of labor necessary to produce apple butter in large quantities. It is also used on a sandwich to add an interesting flavour, but is not as commonly used as in historical times. Traditionally it was and is prepared in large copper kettles outside. Large paddles are used to stir the apples and family members would take turns stirring. The men and boys would care for the fire while the women and girls would stir.
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