Description
This crockpot applesauce recipe features a delightful cinnamon brown swirl, perfect for busy families seeking a healthy and hearty snack or side dish. It’s a wholesome, family-friendly addition to any meal prep repertoire.
Ingredients
- 3.5 pounds fresh apples, mixed sweet and tart varieties
- 0.5 cup packed light brown sugar (or 0.25 cup maple syrup)
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 0.5 cup water or unsweetened apple cider (or orange juice)
- 0.25 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Prep Your Apples: Peel, core, and chop apples into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces, ensuring uniformity for even cooking.
- Combine Ingredients: Place chopped apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, water (or cider), and salt into a slow cooker. Stir gently to coat everything.
- Slow Cook Perfection: Cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until apples are very tender and easily yield to a fork. If apples seem too dry, add another 0.25 cup of water or cider.
- Mash It Up: Once cooked, use a potato masher or a fork to mash apples to your desired consistency. For a super smooth sauce, use an immersion blender or regular blender (with caution for hot liquids). Taste and adjust sweetness or cinnamon if needed before serving.
Notes
To achieve a richer, deeper flavor, cook on low heat. For a super smooth applesauce, use an immersion blender. This recipe is flexible; maple syrup can be substituted for brown sugar, and orange juice can replace apple cider. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 240 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 0.75 cup (180g)
- Calories: 150 calories
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 70 mg
- Fat: 0.5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 0.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg