For those who have never had it, apple butter, like nut butters, dresses up breakfast toast and entices you to eat out of the jar.

Fruit butter novices looking for a chance to test the waters should try Martha Stewart's apple butter. This simple recipe doesn't involve formally preserving the apples, so your butter won't keep for long. If you like the idea of having delicious fall fruit this winter, you will need to can your apples.

Apple butter varieties depend on the chef's taste for spice. Search the Internet for a recipe that sounds good to you, or try this basic recipe from the USDA.

Before you start canning fruit or making preserves, educate yourself on proper procedure to minimize the risk of spoilage. To get started, check out the USDA canning guide.