Description
Cracker Barrel Fried Apples showcase Southern comfort with sweet, cinnamon-spiced simplicity in this slow cooker recipe. Homemade goodness fills kitchens with warm, nostalgic aromas that welcome friends and family to the table.
Ingredients
- 6 large apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji), peeled, cored, and sliced
- ½ cup (100 grams / 3.5 oz) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (50 grams / 1.8 oz) brown sugar, packed
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- ½ cup (120 ml / 4 fl oz) apple juice or apple cider
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter, cubed
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preparation: Core and slice apples into uniform wedges, arranging them evenly within the slow cooker.
- Seasoning Blend: Whisk together granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cornstarch in a small bowl, ensuring thorough integration of dry ingredients.
- Coating Process: Sprinkle the spice mixture over apple slices, gently tossing to create an even, glossy coating that embraces each apple wedge.
- Liquid and Fat Integration: Pour apple juice or cider over the seasoned fruit, then dot the surface with butter cubes to enhance richness and develop complex flavor profiles.
- Cooking Technique: Cover and cook on low setting for 4-5 hours or high setting for 2-3 hours, allowing apples to transform into tender, caramelized delicacies with minimal intervention.
- Final Touches: Midway through cooking, gently stir the apples to promote even softening, then stir in vanilla extract during the final moments of cooking to elevate the aromatic experience.
- Serving Suggestion: Transfer the warm, luscious apples to a serving dish, ready to complement desserts, breakfast items, or enjoy as a standalone treat with a luxurious, velvety texture.
Notes
Choose Firm Apples: Select sturdy varieties like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Braeburn that maintain structure during slow cooking and prevent turning mushy.
Prevent Apple Browning: Toss apple slices with lemon juice immediately after cutting to preserve their fresh appearance and prevent enzymatic oxidation.
Adjust Sugar Sensitivity: Reduce added sugars for diabetic-friendly version or use natural sugar alternatives like stevia or monk fruit for lower-calorie preparation.
Control Moisture Levels: If mixture appears too liquid midway, remove lid briefly to allow excess moisture to evaporate and concentrate flavors during final cooking stage.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 158
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 1 mg
- Fat: 3 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 0.5 g
- Cholesterol: 7 mg