Making Apple Butter Outdoors at Kapnick Orchards

Freshmade apple butter outside at Kapnick Orchards in Britton, Michigan. That front jar is in our fridge. Click on this and the fourth pic for larger versions.

One of those simple pleasures I love a whole Hell of a lot is real, handmade apple butter. When I was growing up near Flint, Michigan, my parents would take us to Porter’s Orchard in Goodrich where I’d buy a jar that would last me maybe a month. Just spread the stuff on good white bread and that’s all I’d need for breakfast. But frankly it’s been a while since I’ve had any of the good stuff.

At the Apple Festival at Kapnick Orchards last week in Britton outside Tecumseh, Michigan, the staff made apple butter outside in a huge copper kettle over an open flame. They’ve done this every year I remember back to 1996 or so, and I’ve always enjoyed the flavor and texture of this beautifully-made stuff.

Constant stirring of the apple butter while cooking gives it its smooth consistency.

Since I was taking photos for this blog, the staff broke a cardinal rule and allowed my camera and I inside the setup for a few minutes.

Apple butter. Not baked beans. Really.

The few ingredients of apples and cider from the orchard itself, along with sugar and a few spices, ar constantly stirred within the pot to prevent scorching and to give the finished apple butter its wonderfully smooth consistency. This is apple butter like no other, made the old-fashioned way with no extra chemicals, sold in jars that have been but through a standard process for preserves. This is about as perfect a food as you’ll find.

Just stay out of the jar in our fridge. Thank you very much.