Slow Cooker Stewed Apples (Printable Version)

Tender apples gently simmered with cinnamon, honey, and hints of lemon for a naturally sweet compote.

# What You'll Need:

→ Fruit

01 - 6 large apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji), peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch chunks

→ Sweeteners & Flavors

02 - 1/4 cup honey
03 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
04 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice

→ Liquids

05 - 1/4 cup water

→ Optional Additions

06 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
07 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
08 - Pinch of salt

# Directions:

01 - Place peeled, cored, and chopped apples into the slow cooker.
02 - Drizzle honey and lemon juice over the apples, then sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg if using.
03 - Pour water into the slow cooker and add a pinch of salt if desired, then stir gently to combine all ingredients.
04 - Cover and cook on low for 3 hours, stirring once or twice during cooking until apples are tender and juicy.
05 - Stir in vanilla extract if using, just before serving.
06 - Serve warm as is or use as a topping for oatmeal, pancakes, yogurt, or dessert with ice cream.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It requires barely ten minutes of prep and then completely forgets about you while it cooks.
  • One pot transforms into something that tastes like you fussed all morning.
  • Works equally well drizzled over pancakes at breakfast or served warm with vanilla ice cream after dinner.
02 -
  • Don't peel the apples ahead of time and leave them sitting—they'll oxidize and turn an unattractive brown even with lemon juice, so do this right before cooking.
  • Resist the urge to cook it longer for a smoother texture; the apples break down beautifully in three hours, and longer cooking turns everything into baby food.
03 -
  • If your slow cooker tends to run hot, you can pull the apples out at two and a half hours and check their tenderness rather than waiting the full three—this takes the guesswork out of your particular machine.
  • A tiny splash of brandy stirred in at the end elevates this from everyday to something special without being obvious about it.
Go Back