Slow Cooker Cracker Barrel Fried Apples Recipe
Enjoy these Slow Cooker Cracker Barrel Fried Apples, a deliciously tender and sweet treat made with tart apples slowly cooked to perfection. This easy recipe combines cinnamon, nutmeg, and buttery sweetness, ideal as a side dish or dessert with a comforting, homestyle taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 35 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Apples
- 6 large tart apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and sliced into ½-inch thick slices
Coating Mixture
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Additional Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- ¼ cup apple cider or water
- Optional: ½ teaspoon vanilla extract for extra depth
Instructions
- Prepare the apples: Peel, core, and slice the apples into ½-inch thick slices. Add them to your slow cooker, ensuring they are evenly spread.
- Mix the coating: In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, granulated sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until well combined to ensure an even coating on the apples.
- Combine everything: Sprinkle the sugar mixture evenly over the apples in the slow cooker. Dot the butter pieces on top. Drizzle with lemon juice and apple cider or water, distributing evenly to add moisture and flavor.
- Slow cook: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 2 hours. Stir the apples gently halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking and prevent sticking. The apples should be tender but maintain some texture without becoming mushy.
- Thicken the sauce: For a thicker glaze, remove the slow cooker lid for the last 15–20 minutes of cooking. Stir gently so the sauce reduces slightly and coats the apples well.
- Optional finish: Stir in the vanilla extract at the end of cooking to add a rich, warm, bakery-style flavor to your fried apples. Serve warm for best taste.
Notes
- You can use either Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apples based on your preference for tartness or sweetness.
- Adjust the amount of sugar to taste, especially if using naturally sweeter apples.
- For a thicker sauce, don’t skip the step of cooking with the lid off at the end.
- Serve as a side dish with pork or chicken, or as a warm dessert topped with ice cream or whipped cream.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days and reheated gently.
Keywords: Slow Cooker Fried Apples, Cracker Barrel Fried Apples, Easy Slow Cooker Dessert, Autumn Side Dish, Cinnamon Apples
