Slow Cooker Cracker Barrel Fried Apples Recipe
This Slow Cooker Cracker Barrel Fried Apples recipe delivers tender, flavorful apples simmered slowly with a mix of brown and granulated sugars, warm cinnamon and nutmeg spices, and a buttery glaze. Perfect for an easy, comforting side or dessert, this recipe mimics the beloved dish from the iconic Cracker Barrel restaurants with minimal effort using a slow cooker.
- 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
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Apples
- 6 large tart apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and sliced
Sugar and Coating
- 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
Liquids and Flavorings
- 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 these sliced apples to your slow cooker bowl evenly.
- Mix the coating: In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, granulated sugar, cornstarch, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until well combined.
- Combine everything: Sprinkle the prepared sugar and spice mixture evenly over the apples in the slow cooker. Scatter the butter pieces on top of the apples. Drizzle lemon juice and apple cider (or water) evenly over the mixture.
- Slow cook: Cover the slow cooker with its lid and cook on the LOW setting for 2 hours. Stir the apples gently once halfway through cooking to ensure even cooking and coating. The apples should become tender but still hold their shape without turning mushy.
- Thicken the sauce: For a thicker glaze, remove the lid during the last 15–20 minutes of cooking time. Stir gently to allow the sauce to thicken and coat the apples beautifully.
- Optional finish: Stir in the vanilla extract at the end of cooking for a richer, bakery-style depth of flavor. Serve warm and enjoy.
Notes
- Use tart apple varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp for the best balance of sweetness and tartness.
- Adjust the sugars to taste depending on your desired sweetness level.
- If the sauce is too thin after slow cooking, stirring with the lid off will help thicken it.
- Adding vanilla extract is optional but highly recommended to enhance the flavor.
- You can also serve these fried apples warm over pancakes, waffles, or ice cream for a delicious treat.
Keywords: slow cooker fried apples, cracker barrel fried apples, slow cooked apples, autumn side dish, fall dessert, crockpot apples
