Description
Cracker Barrel fried apples bring southern comfort straight to kitchen tables with sweet cinnamon magic. Home cooks can easily recreate this classic side dish that warms hearts and delights taste buds in one simple, comforting recipe.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruits:
- 6 Granny Smith or Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
Sugars:
- ⅓ cup (65 grams) granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup (65 grams) brown sugar, packed
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Butter and Liquid:
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- ⅓ cup (80 milliliters) apple cider or water
Instructions
- Carefully prepare crisp apples by removing skin, extracting core, and slicing into uniform half-inch wedges with precision, ensuring consistent thickness for even cooking.
- Shield freshly cut apple slices from oxidation by gently coating them with tangy lemon juice, creating a protective barrier that maintains their pristine appearance and prevents unsightly browning.
- Transfer seasoned apple wedges into slow cooker basin, arranging them in an organized, overlapping pattern to maximize heat distribution and flavor infusion.
- Sprinkle a harmonious blend of ground cinnamon, brown sugar, and nutmeg across apple layers, allowing spices to cascade and intermingle, creating a rich aromatic foundation.
- Dot the spiced apple landscape with delicate butter fragments, strategically placing small clusters to ensure comprehensive moisture and deep caramelization during slow cooking.
- Set slow cooker to low temperature setting, allowing apples to gently transform over 3-4 hours, developing a luxurious, tender texture while concentrating their natural sweetness.
- Periodically peek beneath the lid, carefully stirring contents once midway through cooking to guarantee uniform softening and prevent potential sticking or uneven caramelization.
- Once apples reach a sublime, fork-tender consistency with edges slightly translucent and syrupy, remove from slow cooker and let rest momentarily to stabilize intensified flavors.
- Serve warm as a decadent side dish or dessert, optionally garnishing with a whisper of additional cinnamon or a delicate scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Notes
- Slice apples uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dish.
- Add a pinch of cinnamon to the lemon juice mixture for an extra layer of warm, aromatic flavor that complements the natural sweetness of the apples.
- For a lighter version, swap butter with coconut oil and reduce sugar to create a healthier alternative that still maintains the classic comfort food appeal.
- Opt for tart baking apples like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp to provide a perfect balance of sweetness and slight acidity in the final dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2-4 hours
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg