Welcome to the comforting embrace of fall flavors with our incredibly easy and utterly delicious Crockpot Cinnamon Apples. This recipe transforms simple apples into a tender, sweet, and perfectly spiced treat that’s ideal as a versatile side dish, a cozy snack, or an effortless dessert. Imagine the delightful aroma filling your kitchen as these apples slowly simmer to perfection, requiring minimal effort but delivering maximum taste. Whether you’re gathering for a holiday meal, looking for a wholesome snack, or craving a warm, sweet topping, these slow cooker apples are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that embodies the essence of homemade comfort.
There’s nothing quite like the convenience of a slow cooker, and this recipe for cinnamon spiced apples truly highlights its magic. Simply set it and forget it! You’ll be amazed at how easily you can achieve perfectly tender apples infused with warm cinnamon, honey, and brown sugar. They come out soft, sweet, and with just the right amount of spice, creating a dish that rivals your favorite fried apples or even those iconic apples from Cracker Barrel. This might just become your new go-to sweet side dish, disappearing quickly from the pot, so don’t be shy about making a generous batch!
The beauty of these slow cooker cinnamon apples lies in their simplicity and versatility. They emerge from the crockpot tender and juicy, bathed in a rich, spiced syrup that will have everyone asking for more. We often find ourselves eating them straight from the slow cooker, but they truly shine when paired with other dishes. Whether you’re a fan of a sweet addition to your breakfast, a delightful accompaniment to a savory meal, or a warm, comforting dessert, these apples fit the bill perfectly. Their comforting aroma alone is enough to make any house feel like home, especially during the cooler months of fall and winter.
Serving Suggestions: Elevate Your Crockpot Cinnamon Apples
While these cinnamon apples are undeniably delicious on their own as a simple snack, their true potential unfolds when you explore their many serving possibilities. They are incredibly versatile and can enhance a wide array of meals, from breakfast to dinner and, of course, dessert.
Savory Pairings for a Complete Meal
For a hearty fall meal, these tender apples are an excellent accompaniment to savory dishes. Their sweetness and spice complement rich meats beautifully. Consider serving them alongside perfectly roasted pork, whether it’s succulent pork chops, a tender loin, or even a flavorful ham. The apples cut through the richness of the pork, creating a balanced and satisfying plate. They also pair wonderfully with various chicken dishes, adding a touch of sweetness to a roasted chicken or a pan-seared breast. Imagine them alongside a festive holiday turkey or even a simple weeknight roast beef for an unexpected, delightful contrast.
Sweet Toppings and Breakfast Delights
These slow cooker apples truly shine as a topping. Spoon them generously over a stack of fluffy pancakes or crispy waffles for an instant fall-inspired breakfast or brunch. The warm, spiced apples melt slightly into the nooks and crannies of your breakfast treats, creating an irresistible combination. For a healthier start to your day, stir them into a warm bowl of oatmeal or yogurt for a flavorful boost. You can even use them as a filling for crepes or a delightful addition to a granola parfait.
Irresistible Desserts
Perhaps the most popular way to enjoy these warm cinnamon apples is as a simple yet elegant dessert. A generous scoop of vanilla ice cream, or even better, a honey cinnamon crunch ice cream like we used, creates a truly amazing combination. The cold, creamy ice cream slowly melts into the warm, spiced apples, forming a decadent sauce. This dynamic duo of warm and cold, sweet and spiced, is a match made in culinary heaven. While we love experimenting with new recipes, this pairing is so perfect it often threatens to become a fall staple in our household. For an extra touch of indulgence, sprinkle with chopped nuts or a dollop of whipped cream.
To Peel or Not to Peel: The Apple Skin Debate
One of the most common questions when preparing cooked apples is whether or not to peel them. The answer, ultimately, is entirely up to your personal preference! Both methods yield delicious results, but there are a few factors to consider that might sway your decision.
Many home cooks, myself included, opt to leave the peels on. We find that the peels soften beautifully during the slow cooking process, becoming almost undetectable in texture. Plus, leaving the skin on saves you a significant amount of prep time – simply core and slice! More importantly, apple peels are packed with essential nutrients, including fiber and vitamins. By keeping them on, you’re boosting the nutritional value of your dish. If you choose to leave the peels, selecting apples with naturally thinner and more tender skins will generally result in a more enjoyable eating experience. The list of apple varieties below can help guide you in making a good choice.
However, if you or your family are particularly sensitive to texture, or prefer a completely smooth apple dish, then peeling the apples beforehand is a good option. This will ensure every bite is uniformly soft and tender. Whichever path you choose, the core flavors of cinnamon, honey, and brown sugar will still shine through, making for a truly comforting and flavorful dish.
Selecting the Best Apples for Cooking
Not all apples are created equal when it comes to cooking. Some varieties hold their shape beautifully, maintaining a pleasant texture, while others tend to break down and become quite mushy. While “mushy” in this case would still be delicious (think homemade applesauce!), for tender cinnamon apples, you generally want varieties that can withstand the slow cooking process without completely losing their form. Here are some of the best apples that will hold up well in your slow cooker and present beautifully:
- Jonagold Apples: A personal favorite, Jonagolds are excellent both raw and cooked. They are a delightful cross between Jonathan and Golden Delicious apples, offering a wonderful balance of sweet and tart flavors. Their firm flesh means they hold their shape well, making them perfect for this recipe. Enjoy them during peak season as they don’t store as long as some other varieties.
- Jonathan Apples: The parent of Jonagold, Jonathan apples are fantastic baking apples. They tend to be a bit more tart than Jonagolds, which can be a great asset if you prefer a less sweet finished product. They are crisp, flavorful, and excellent for cooking.
- Braeburn Apples: Known for their rich, aromatic flavor, Braeburns are another superb choice. Their inherent deliciousness makes them ideal for recipes where the apple is the star, allowing their natural taste to shine through alongside the cinnamon spice.
- Pink Lady Apples: These are a fabulous option thanks to their delightful blend of sweet and tart notes. Pink Lady apples are also known for maintaining their crisp texture and shape wonderfully, even after extended cooking.
- Honeycrisp Apples: Often considered the “holy grail” of apples, Honeycrisps are incredibly versatile. While they are famously crisp for eating raw, their balanced sweetness and firmness also make them suitable for almost any cooking situation, including slow cooking.
- Granny Smith Apples: The quintessential baking apple, Granny Smiths are celebrated for their tartness, which helps to balance the sweetness of this dish. The tartness ensures the final product isn’t overly sugary. Be aware that Granny Smith skins can be a bit tougher than other varieties, so you might consider peeling them if you opt for this apple.
Other excellent apple varieties to consider for baking and slow cooking include Fuji, Crispin (Mutsu), Golden Delicious, and Winesap. Experimenting with different types can lead to exciting variations in flavor and texture, so don’t be afraid to try your local orchard’s recommendations!
Now that you know how to choose the perfect apples and what to serve them with, let’s get to the simple and satisfying recipe for these amazing crockpot cinnamon apples. This recipe is designed to be straightforward, allowing even novice cooks to achieve impressive results with minimal fuss.
Crockpot Cinnamon Apples
Equipment
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Cutting Boards
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Crock-Pot 3.5 Quart Casserole Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 6 apples you’ll want to use a variety that stands up to cooking
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon butter
Instructions
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Core and slice apples, then place them evenly in your slow cooker. A 4-quart slow cooker insert works perfectly for this recipe.6 apples
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Distribute the remaining ingredients over the apples. Ensure the cinnamon, honey, vanilla, brown sugar, and butter are spread evenly to coat all the apple slices.2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 2 Tablespoons honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 Tablespoons light brown sugar, 1 Tablespoon butter
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Cover and cook on low for 4 hours. For best results and to ensure even cooking, gently stir the apples about an hour before they are done. This helps distribute the flavors and sauce.
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If you desire a thicker “syrup” or sauce, you can create a slurry. At the three-hour mark, combine 1-2 teaspoons of corn starch with an equal amount of cold water until smooth. Stir this slurry into the apple juices in the slow cooker and allow it to cook on high for the remaining hour. This will thicken the sauce beautifully.
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Serve warm and enjoy!
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Nutrition Information
“Cooking With Carlee” is not a dietitian or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
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