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apple butter

American  

noun

  1. apples stewed to a paste, spiced, sometimes sweetened, and served as a spread or condiment.


apple butter British  

noun

  1. a jam made from stewed spiced apples

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of apple butter

An Americanism dating back to 1765–75

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Buttermilk, cornbread, apple butter, pork and kale, and other dishes will all be on McIntyre's menu.

From BBC Jul. 1, 2026

It involves a few extra steps—making almond frangipane, apple butter and apple glaze—but they’re what makes this the best galette I’ve ever tasted.

From The Wall Street Journal Nov. 7, 2025

Smucker, based in Orrville, Ohio, was founded in 1897 as a maker of apple butter.

From Los Angeles Times Oct. 16, 2025

The summer cousin of apple butter, but richer somehow — silkier, sun-drunk.

From Salon Jun. 2, 2025

Yesterday she’d done apple butter, and that hadn’t been too bad.

From "A Long Way from Chicago" by Richard Peck

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