It’s been quite a tradition to offer different goodies in a hamper as a gift for Christmas, a basket full of sweets and savory treets, nougats, alcoholic drinks and others… But why not doing something different to surprise your beloved ones this year with something gourmet made by you?! It is a nice and original gift!
I propose this present that include the elaboration of the apple butter and the DIY to make your own pots so you can offer a beautiful and totally homemade gift. Both preparations are really easy to make and you’ll surely surprise that person.
This recipe is original from my homeland Québec (Canada). The original name is “beurre de pomme” something like apple butter. It is a simple cream yet super creamy, smooth and absolutely delicious.
It can be used many ways as for breakfast or brunch to spread on toasts and pancakes or add to your yogourt; also for desserts, or even to give a different touch to your porridge. On the other hand it works wonderfully as a sauce for any Christmas roasted meat as turkey, or if you like (what is probably going to happen) just to eat it like that with a spoon!
The classic recipe is made with butter but this is my dairy free and vegan version, you can choose to make it as you prefer.
This apple butter can be kept in the fridge for 2 weeks. If you want to make more jars you just need to double the amount of ingredients of the recipe.
It is essential to refrigerate this apple cream. Just as the butter, the coconut oil solidifies when cold and that is what makes this cream unctuous and spreadable. Once it is done you can pour the cream directly in the glass jars or keep it in a glass container in the fridge and the day after when it has thicken pass it to the glass jars, that’s how I do it.
Firstly here’s the recipe for this gourmet apple butter and then the DIY to make the jar gifts. Now we are officially on Christmas mode!
APPLE BUTTER RECIPE (For about 3 small jars)
INGREDIENTS:
- 8 sweet apples, peeled and cored
- 2 tbsp. maple syrup
- 3 cloves
- 1/2 tsp. cardamom powder
- 1/2 tsp. star anise powder
- 1 tsp. bourbon vanilla paste (or a vanilla bean)
- 3 tbsp. organic virgin coconut oil (liquid) or butter
- 1/2 lemon
- Water
ELABORATION:
- Cut the apples (previously peeled and cored) in to medium pieces. Place in a saucepan.
- Add the maple syrup, a splash of lemon and water, all the spices and the vanilla (if using a vanilla bean, use the seeds but also put the bean). Cook at medium heat for about 20 minutes , stirring from time to time.
- Once cooked turn off the heat. Remove the liquid excess, the cloves and the vanilla bean. In the same pan use a hand blender (or Thermomix or other) to make a very thin cream. (Add more maple syrup if you want it sweeter).
- Then add the coconut oil gradually while you keep blending.
- Set aside to cool at room temperature and then keep in the fridge in glass containers or jars. Can be kept refrigerated up to 2 weeks.
What you need for the DIY and how to make it, couldn’t be less inexpensive!! :
- Glass jars or pots (I use recicled).
- Some pieces of Christmas wrapping paper.
- Red and green wrapping ribbons.
- Scissors.
- Optional: You can also add some pretty tags or stickers and write remove the “Apple butter”.
- First of all, wash and dry the jars. If you are using recicled ones remove the labels . A great hack is to immerse the pot in warm water for a while, the stickers will then be easy to remove. To eliminate the rest of glue you can use nail polish remover, soak a cotton pad and rub the pot, it should disappear completely.
- Cut some christmas paper in to squares, use the jar lids to calculate how much you need, at least 4-5 cm on the sides.
- Once you’ve filled the jars with the apple butter close up with the lid, place the paper on top and wrap with the ribbon. There you have your gifts ready!
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