apple sauce in the slow cooker

If you’ve never made apple sauce from scratch, then you are in for a real treat and the first thing you’ll be wondering is what the heck is in those little cups at the grocery store. This could not be easier or healthier, and I don’t even bother peeling the apples – simply rinse, core and slice. Spice and sweeten it up any way you like – ginger, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, cardamom or nutmeg in any combination for spice, and brown sugar, honey, maple syrup, or even a few tablespoons of jam to bring the sweet factor. Once you’ve got the basic recipe down, add other fruits to make all sorts of delicious combos – and all you’ll need to do is hit up the freezer section for a few bags of frozen fruit and you’ll be some serious competition for what’s lining the shelves at the grocery store. So let’s make some apple sauce …

click here to jump down to the apple sauce in the slow cooker recipe

1. Give your apples a rinse.

2. Start slicing – just cut around the core.

3. Pile the chunks in a bowl.

4. Assemble the other ingredients.

5. Douse ’em with lemon.

6. Add a slice or 2 of peel along with the juice.

7. And the rest of the players.

8. Give it a good stir.

9. Pile it all in the slow cooker.

10. Add the water – it could be apple juice or cider.

11. Cover and let it go.

12. The apples will puff up and all will be bubbly.

13. All puffy and bubbly.

14. They’re right up against the lid.

15. Take a masher and start deflating.

16. All smashed down.

17. And serve it up.

yield serves 4-6

1. Wash, core, slice into chunks and put into a large bowl:

4-5 lbs. apples

2. Add the following to the apples and mix thoroughly:

1 lemon, juiced
2-3 trips of lemon peel
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon or 1 stick broken into pieces
2″ piece of ginger, grated

3. Put the apple mixture into your slow cooker and drizzle with the following:

1 cup water

4. Cook on high for 4-6 hours. The apples will rise and puff up while they cook. Remove the lid and using a potato masher, deflate the apples, replace the lid and turn on low for a few more minutes.