The Perfect Cheese Plate with Caramel Apple Butter

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how to make the perfect cheese plate

A cheese plate is without a doubt the easiest appetizer going. It’s assembling – not cooking, and that right there is why it always shows up when I have people over for dinner. I buy some great cheese, and then 9 times out of 10, I shop my pantry to fill it out. I rarely make the same one twice. I like my cheese plates to have variety. Sharp cheese, mellow, spicy, soft, hard. And then I like to add a few kinds of crackers, nuts, olives, meats, fruits, and a jam or chutney to round it out. Sweet, salty, bitter, crunchy, and soft. They are always interesting and everyone is happy.

how to make the perfect cheese plate

Ingredients

  • Assorted crackers and breadsticks
  • apples
  • grapes
  • olives
  • Peppadew peppers
  • Caramel Apple Butter (recipe below)
  • nuts
  • salami
  • Medium Asiago
  • Aged Wisconsin Cheddar
  • Aged Vermont White Cheddar
  • Fiesta Pepper Jack
  • Parmentino

sargento tastings cheeseI always have a few cheeses in the fridge, and made this cheese plate one evening when I didn’t feel like making dinner. A glass of wine, and I was perfectly content calling this a meal.

I like to keep a few jams, jellies, and butters around to go with my cheese. I love the sweet/savory combination more than anything. I made this caramel apple butter that I found in Better Homes and Gardens. It is very simple, and while it takes awhile to cook, it is zero effort. I think that this goes so well with the cheddars, a lot like apple pie. So good. I made a half recipe, I wasn’t going to can it, and I only needed a jar or two. We ate one, and I gave the other away. It also makes a great gift.

caramel apple butter recipe

Caramel Apple Butter Ingredients

  • 4 1/2 pounds tart apples (I used Golden Delicious, not tart, but what I like)
  • 3 cups apple juice
  • 1 vanilla bean, split and seeded (optional)
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Steps – Instructions

Step 1: Peel and chop apples. Add to a large Dutch oven or 8 quart pot with apple juice.

caramel apple butter recipe
Step 2: Add the vanilla seeds and pod to the pot. Bring to a boil, and reduce heat.

caramel apple butter recipeStep 3: Simmer, covered, for 30 to 35 minutes or until very tender.

caramel apple butter recipeStep 4: Take the vanilla bean out, but save it. Run the apples through a food mill, blender, or food processor.

caramel apple butter recipeStep 5: Measure 7 1/2 cups and put it back into the pot. (You may have some leftover.)

caramel apple recipeStep 6: Add the vanilla bean back to the pot and add brown sugar, sugar. lemon juice and cinnamon.

caramel apple butter recipeStep 7: Bring to a boil, and reduce heat.

caramel apple butter recipeStep 8: Cook, uncovered for 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours, or until the mixture is very thick and the liquid has been cooked out.

caramel-apple-butter_9
Step 9: Take the vanilla pod out. Transfer into 6 half pint jars. You can can this recipe but adding the butter to hot sterilized canning jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Process in boiling water canner for 5 minutes.

The Perfect Cheese Plate and Caramel Apple Butter

bakedbree
5 from 1 vote

Ingredients
  

  • 4 1/2 pounds tart apples I used Golden Delicious, not tart but what I like
  • 3 cups apple juice
  • 1 vanilla bean split and seeded (optional)
  • 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions
 

  • Peel and chop apples. Add to a large Dutch oven or 8 quart pot with apple juice. Add the vanilla seeds and pod to the pot.
  • Bring to a boil, and reduce heat.
  • Simmer, covered, for 30 to 35 minutes or until very tender.
  • Take the vanilla bean out, but save it. Run the apples through a food mill, blender, or food processor.
  • Measure 7 1/2 cups and put it back into the pot. (You may have some leftover.)
  • Add brown sugar, sugar. lemon juice, lemon juice, and cinnamon.
  • Bring to a boil, and reduce heat. Cook, uncovered for 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours, or until the mixture is very thick and the liquid has been cooked out.
  • Transfer into 6 half pint jars. You can can this recipe but adding the butter to hot sterilized canning jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Process in boiling water canner for 5 minutes.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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