Along with the mustang grapevines we found on the property, we noticed that one of them was climbing through a large crab apple tree. I was told as a kid that crab apples taste bad if eaten off the tree (and they do because of course as a kid when you are told you shouldn’t do something it’s the first thing you are gonna do when no one is looking) and since I didn’t know anyone that makes anything using crab apples, I’ve always just ignored them. Recently we mentioned to my mother-in-law that we have a crab apple tree on the property that produced a ton of crab apples this year. When we mentioned that we wish that we could eat them so they wouldn’t go to waste she told us about crab apple jelly and crab apple butter. I had no idea that was even a possibility but she told us that it is delicious and that we should find a recipe and give it a try. Unfortunately, this all unfolded a little too late in the season and the crab apples are all gone or are rotting. But I have saved this recipe for crab apple butter from The 104 Homestead and Halfway Oak Farm and this crab apple jelly recipe from Common Sense Homesteading so that if we have a decent crop of crab apples again next year we can try them out. I can’t wait! Have a great day and God bless!
About Brandon
Author of Lone Star Farmstead, Brandon is a full time paramedic who, along with his family, is working toward a goal of increasing self-sustainability. He writes in the hope of helping others through information and encouragement along their own journey.