The Creative, Homemade Apple Butter Hack You Need

Because it’s such a quintessentially fall ingredient, we’re all about apples in the Plated Test Kitchen right now. Whether it’s adding a sweet crunch to salad, cooking with cider, or indulging in a slice of classic apple pie, the ways to enjoy this fall favorite are almost endless.

Recently, while experimenting with grilled cheese recipes (see: Cheddar Apple Grilled Cheese), Head Chef Elana came up with an amazing cooking hack to make another apple treat: apple butter! This smooth, sweet spread is delicious on toast, pancakes, and, of course, in grilled cheese. Here’s how we made it: