Description
Cracker Barrel Fried Apples bring southern comfort straight to your kitchen with minimal effort. Cinnamon-spiced slices simmer slowly, creating a luscious dessert that whispers memories of homestyle cooking you’ll savor to the last delicious bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 6 large apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji), peeled, cored, and sliced
- ½ cup (100 grams / 3.5 ounces) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (50 grams / 1.8 ounces) brown sugar, packed
Spices and Thickeners:
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Liquid and Flavor Enhancers:
- ½ cup (120 milliliters / 4 fluid ounces) apple juice or apple cider
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Meticulously cleanse and segment crisp apples into uniform half-inch wedges, carefully arranging them within the slow cooker’s spacious interior.
- Craft a fragrant seasoning blend by harmoniously mixing granulated and brown sugars with warming cinnamon, optional nutmeg, and cornstarch in a compact mixing vessel.
- Delicately shower the sugared spice mixture over the apple slices, gently tumbling them to ensure each wedge receives an even, luxurious coating.
- Cascade apple juice or cider across the seasoned fruit, then strategically distribute small butter cubes throughout the mixture to enhance richness and depth.
- Secure the slow cooker’s lid and initiate a gentle cooking process – selecting low temperature for approximately 4-5 hours or high temperature for 2-3 hours, monitoring until apples transform into tender, luscious morsels.
- Midway through cooking, tenderly redistribute the apples to promote uniform softening and caramelization.
- Upon reaching optimal tenderness, gracefully incorporate vanilla extract, stirring to infuse an aromatic essence throughout the dish.
- Present these sumptuous apples while warm, perfect as an accompaniment, indulgent dessert, or decadent topping for various culinary creations.
Notes
- Opt for firm, tart apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp to maintain texture and prevent turning into applesauce during slow cooking.
- Adjust sugar levels based on apple sweetness; taste the apples first to determine the right amount of sugar needed.
- Create a gluten-free version by using cornstarch or replacing it with arrowroot powder for thickening the sauce.
- Enhance flavor by adding a splash of bourbon or rum during the last 30 minutes of cooking for a more complex taste profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 159
- Sugar: 26 g
- Sodium: 1 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 0.5 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg