Fruit butters, apple
FDC 168816tbsp (17 g)
Source: USDA FoodData Central · Public domain
Original analysis by NutriVerdict
Density 7 · -2 vs Sweets medianApple fruit butter scores 7 of 100 in the Low band, ranking 40th of 60 in Sweets, just under the category median of 9. It shows no standout nutrient percentages in this brief, since long, slow cooking of apples into a spread concentrates sugars far more than any vitamin or mineral.
It's spread on toast or biscuits by the tablespoon rather than eaten by the spoonful on its own, and at 173 calories per 100 g it's lighter than most jams. Per 100 g it still carries 35.3 g of sugars, so despite the fruit origin it behaves like a sweet spread rather than a low-sugar one.
See how this score is calculated, build a plate around fruit butters, apple, or compare it with another food.
Source: USDA FoodData Central · Public domain
Percent of calories derived by NutriVerdict from USDA grams
Nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Amount | % DV |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 173 kcal | 9% |
| Total fat | 0.3 g | 0% |
| Saturated fat | 0.05 g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 15 mg | 1% |
| Carbohydrate | 43 g | 15% |
| Dietary fiber | 1.5 g | 5% |
| Sugars | 35 g | |
| Protein | 0.39 g | 1% |
| Potassium | 91 mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 14 mg | 1% |
| Iron | 0.31 mg | 2% |
| Magnesium | 4 mg | 1% |
| Vitamin C | 0.6 mg | 1% |
| Vitamin A | 1 µg | 0% |
| Vitamin E | 0.05 mg | 0% |
| Nutrient | Amount | % DV |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 29 kcal | 1% |
| Total fat | 0.05 g | 0% |
| Saturated fat | 0.01 g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 2.6 mg | 0% |
| Carbohydrate | 7.2 g | 3% |
| Dietary fiber | 0.26 g | 1% |
| Sugars | 6 g | |
| Protein | 0.07 g | 0% |
| Potassium | 15 mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 2.4 mg | 0% |
| Iron | 0.05 mg | 0% |
| Magnesium | 0.68 mg | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 0.1 mg | 0% |
| Vitamin A | 0.17 µg | 0% |
| Vitamin E | 0.01 mg | 0% |
Source: USDA FoodData Central · Public domain
FDC 168816Original analysis by NutriVerdict
Versus the sweets median
Original analysis by NutriVerdict
More nutrient-dense swaps
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In the kitchen and how to use it
Apple butter is made by slow-cooking apples, often with cider, sugar, and warm spices like cinnamon and cloves, down into a thick, dark, smooth spread, far more concentrated than applesauce since most of the water cooks off over hours of simmering. It has a deep caramelized apple flavor rather than a fresh, bright one, and is traditionally spread on toast, biscuits, or pancakes, swirled into oatmeal, used as a filling for thumbprint cookies, or stirred into baked goods in place of some butter or oil for moisture.
At 173 calories per tablespoon serving and 35.3 g of sugar per 100 g, apple butter is sweeter and more calorie-dense than plain applesauce because of the reduction and added sugar, so it is used as a spread in modest amounts rather than by the bowlful. It provides 1.5 g of fiber per 100 g from the apple solids that remain after cooking down. An unopened jar keeps in the pantry, but once opened it should be refrigerated and is typically good for a few weeks, much like a fruit preserve or jam.
Frequently asked questions about fruit butters, apple
How many calories are in apple butter?
Apple butter has 173 calories per tablespoon (17 g) serving.
How is apple butter different from applesauce?
Apple butter is cooked much longer to reduce most of the water content, giving it a thicker, darker, more concentrated and caramelized flavor than applesauce.
How do you store apple butter?
An unopened jar keeps in the pantry, but once opened it should be refrigerated and used within a few weeks, similar to jam.