Cooper’s Mill offers a wide variety of apple butters, and other fruit jellies, jams and much more. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

By Ken Drenten

I like apple butter. I mean, I really, really like it. And of all the apple butters I’ve tried, I like Cooper’s Mill apple butter the very best.

I’m not completely sure how they do it at the Bucyrus, Ohio, factory, but they make some very fine apple and fruit jams, jellies and butters. It’s darker, thicker, richer and just tastes better than others I’ve tasted — and I’ve tasted many.

Apple butter is typically low in sugar, which is another reason to like it. Cooper’s Mill offers a no sugar added variety, which has only 2 mg of sugar per one tablespoon serving.

Actually, I do know a little about the Cooper’s MIll story. David and Miriam Cooper began Cooper’s Mill in 1969 alongside their Bucyrus home with just a picnic table and a desire to share their homegrown fruits and vegetables with others.

The cider mill, which dates back to 1912, uses copper kettles made by Bucyrus Copper Kettle Works to cook the fruit they use. They use fresh Midwestern fruit, much of it sourced from Ohio.

Cooked in small batches over open wood fires, apples and other fruit mixes are continuously stirred with electric motors for 4-1/2 hours before canning. Products are packed in one-half pint, one pint and one quart canning jars.

Decades have passed and the Cooper tradition continues under the ownership and management of brothers Jason and Justin McMullen. The McMullens continue to produce the same high-quality, homemade jams, jellies and apple butter using the same Cooper family recipes that have been used for more than 50 years, with no artificial ingredients or sweeteners.

Cooper’s Mill & Market in Bucyrus offers a wide variety of their products. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

Cooper’s Mill’s products come in a wide range of flavors, including Black Raspberry Jam, Peach Jam, and Red Raspberry Jam. They also offer barbeque sauces, salsas, syrups, salad dressings, applesauce and much more. I especially like their Apple Bourbon BBQ Sauce and Sweet Vidalia Onion Relish.

If you visit Cooper’s Mill & Market, you can pair their best homemade butters, jams and jellies with baked goods for a delicious treat.

The market features the complete line of Cooper’s Mill products, premium meats and cheeses, boxed lunch offerings, baked goods, homemade fudge, specialty gifts, produce and much more.

The country market and gift shop is open year-round for shopping.  It’s located in the heart of North Central Ohio at the junction of the SR 30 (Lincoln Highway) bypass and SR 4 on the north edge of Bucyrus, 1414 N. Sandusky St., Bucyrus (800-708-4215). Hours are Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Ken Drenten is creator and editor of Dusty-Tires.com, a travel blog for out-of-the-ordinary places in Ohio.

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