BAKED APPLE BUTTER

4 large Granny Smith apples

4 large Braeburn apples

1 cup unsweetened apple juice or apple cider

1 cup brown sugar

2 heaping teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1 teaspoon lemon juice

Pinch of salt

Core and cut the apples into chunks, but leave the skins on. Put apples and apple juice into a large saucepan and boil over medium heat for 30 minutes or until apples are soft.

Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Using a stick blender or food processor, blend the cooked apples until smooth. Add sugar, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, lemon juice and salt. Stir to mix well.

Pour into a 13-by-9-inch baking pan and bake for 3 hours, stirring every half-hour or until the butter reaches the consistency you like. Cool and transfer to plastic or glass containers.

This recipe is not meant to be processed and “put up,” so be sure to keep it refrigerated. It will keep for several weeks in the refrigerator.

Makes 3 cups.

Per tablespoon: 42 calories, 0 grams protein, 0 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 11 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 0 milligrams cholesterol, 5 mg sodium