There’s something truly magical about a pot of apple butter simmering on the stove all day. The scent of apples and spices wafting through the home feels both comforting and protective. Over the years, through researching and studying folk magic traditions, I’ve realized this is more than just cooking—this is kitchen witchery in action.
Setting intentions, infusing every bite with love, and incorporating magical correspondences elevate the process into a form of culinary alchemy. Often, we use ingredients because they taste good without fully understanding the deeper reasons they’ve been cherished for centuries. Yet, these choices connect us to something timeless.
Apple butter, with its rich, velvety texture and sweet, spiced flavor, evokes nostalgia and a deep connection to nature’s abundance. As I prepare each batch, I focus on weaving care and intention into the process. Each jar becomes a gift of joy, comfort, and cozy nostalgia.
This blending of culinary tradition and magical intention reflects what it means to slow down and find the magic in the mundane—a practice we often overlook in the rush of daily life. But when we pause and become present, even a simple recipe like apple butter transforms into something truly enchanting.
Choosing Apples with Intention for Making Apple Butter
When I select apples, I lean towards varieties that balance sweetness and tartness. I avoid mealy textures like Red Delicious and most baking apples (even Stamens made that list this year for some reason) but that’s just my own preference. I prefer to choose apples like Jonagold, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, or Gala - but there’s so many yummy varieties - to me these types not only hold up during cooking but also add a bright, layered flavor to the apple butter that some varieties just don’t bring to the table. Be sure to check out heritage varieties of apples or what is unique to your region - these are usually going to be much more flavorful anyway.
A good rule of thumb: one apple yields about 4 ounces (a quarter pint jar) of apple butter. A ½ peck of apples—about 12 apples or 5–6 pounds—typically makes six half-pint jars. Perfect for savoring through winter and sharing as gifts, these jars remind us of nature’s abundance and bring warmth into the home.
Amplifying Intentions with Magical Correspondences
For centuries, ingredients have carried symbolic meanings in rituals and recipes. Items such as rocks, crystals, plants, animals, colors, perfumes, etc. have been used symbolically in religious ceremonies and rituals to set the mood and amplify the intention behind them. From sacred texts to secular literature there are abundant references available; however, they may seem very cryptic. Shakespeare’s Macbeth has an excellent example of these codified ingredients…
“Eye of newt, and toe of frog, Wool of bat, and tongue of dog, Adder’s fork, and blind-worm’s sting, Lizard’s leg, and howlet’s wing,– For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.”
Researchers believe codes were used for several reasons: to insure the safety of the practitioner (typically midwives who were targeted by the church), purely for effect, visual associations, or perhaps local colloquialisms. The actual ingredients believed to be described in Macbeth were probably plant matter instead of the macabre ones described.
Here’s a few decodified items in case you aren’t up on your grimoire writing traditions.
Eye of newt - Mustard Seed
Toe of frog – buttercup leaves
Wool of bat – holly or moss
Tongue of dog – hounds tooth
Adder’s fork – violet
Blind worm’s sting – Knotweed
Lizard’s leg – Ivy
Howlet’s wing – garlic or maybe ginger
Learn more about Magickal Correspondences in the zine DOWNLOAD HERE
Each item in this apple butter recipe carries its own magic:
Apple: Immortality, good health, love, and abundance.
Cinnamon: Warmth and protection.
Clove & Nutmeg: Grounding and energizing.
Ginger: Vitality and prosperity.
Apple Cider or Honey: Sweetness and abundance.
Lemon Juice: Clarity and brightness.
Vanilla: A grounding, gentle sweetness.
As you stir your pot of apple butter, consider the symbolic energy of each ingredient. The slow, transformative simmering process mirrors how we can take the raw moments of the year and turn them into something nourishing and magical. Stir clockwise and infuse your apple butter with love and intentions, whether silently or spoken aloud.
Let’s Get Cooking: Making Apple Butter
This recipe is approximately what I put in my batches, but don’t hesitate to trust your intuition — FOLLOW YOUR HEART – this is just one way to combine practical magic and culinary skill.
Ingredients:
5–6 pounds of apples (about 12 apples)
2–3 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp clove & nutmeg
¼ tsp ginger
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla extract
¼–1 cup apple cider (or water + a touch of honey for sweetness)
Tools:
Immersion blender or potato masher
Jars, lids, and rings (sterilized)
Boiler for sterilizing jars
Optional
labels if you care to add them
decorative bits and bobbles - like greenery, ribbon, etc
The Process - watch this Youtube Short briefly explaining my process here
Prep the Apples: Peel, core, and roughly dice the apples (I reserve my apple peel and core in a gallon size bag in the freezer until I have enough to make Apple Cider Vinegar or something else with them). Toss the apple chunks in lemon juice to prevent browning and start the bright flavor base.
Simmer the Magic: Combine the apples, cider, and spices in a heavy-bottomed pot. I use a dutch oven but a regular saucepan works just fine. Cook on low heat with the lid on for several hours, stirring every 30 - 60 mins. Let the aroma fill your home.
Blend: The apples will naturally start to break down but for a smoother texture, blend the apple butter with an immersion blender - but i just use a handy dandy potato masher
Cook Down: When everything looks smooth and blended - this is the apple sauce stage - you can stop here - but for truly velvety apple butter - remove the lid and allow the continue simmering down and thickening up - this is usually around the 5 - 8 hour window frame
Sterilize: to preparing for canning - remove fresh jars from container and de-lid - gently dropping the jar lid and glass jar into a boiler of water - bring to low boil for min of 5 mins - remove from onto a clean dry cloth
Jar it up: Spoon the apple butter into sterilized jars while warm, seal with jar lid and ring - drop back into the boiling water you just sterilized your jars in for about 10-15 mins
Let cool - remove from the hot water bath and place onto your cloth to cool - it’s always joyful when you start hearing the lids pop as they seal properly.
Share - at this point they are ready to share - or you can decorate with some festive ribbons and greenery if you like or label them
A Tradition Worth Sharing
Making apple butter isn’t just cooking; it’s a ritual—a way to slow down, connect with the rhythms of the season, and fill your home with warmth and magic. Each jar you gift is a token of love, filled with the joyfulness of the season and intentions for prosperity, protection, and comfort.
What are your favorite magical ingredients in the kitchen? Share your stories and recipes in the comments—I’d love to hear how you’re infusing your creations with love and intention.
If you’ve enjoyed this recipe, be sure to check out my other seasonal recipes to help you embrace the rhythms of nature. From hearty soups to spiced treats, these recipes are designed to bring a touch of magic to your kitchen.
For even more seasonal inspiration and magical content, consider becoming a Patreon supporter. Your support helps me continue creating inspiring and educational content, from recipes and rituals to zines and workshops. Together, we can keep the magic in the mundane alive and thriving. Become a supporter - here
Want to find alignment with Nature and start finding more magic in the mundane? Join Lauren G. Koch: Keeper of the Old Ways and fellow Pop Up Healing Practitioners - for the Journey to the Labyrinth Guided Meditation for Releasing & Intention Setting and to learn a little bit more about the Walking the Labyrinth's Path Visioning Cohorts
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