You might think apple butter and applesauce are the same, but they're not. Both applesauce and apple butter are made by cooking apples with water and spices until softened. They are then both turned into a sauce like consistency with a blender or other device. The main difference is that apple butter is cooked for a longer time so that it reduces it to a creamy, glossy butter-like spread. To illustrate, think of applesauce as a light, runny apple soup and apple butter as a thick, caramelized apple jam. You can also preserve apple butter for a longer duration than applesauce.