Slow Cooker Caramel Apple Butter Food

SLOW COOKER CARAMEL APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Combine apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, salt, and cloves in a slow cooker.
• Cook on High until apples are tender enough to easily mash with a fork, 3 to 5 hours. Puree apple mixture with an immersion blender until smooth.
• Microwave unwrapped caramels in a microwave-safe dish until melted, about 30 seconds. Add to slow cooker and cook for 1 to 2 hours.
• Inspect ten 8-ounce jars for cracks and rings for rust, discarding any defective ones. Immerse in simmering water for at least 5 minutes. Wash new, unused lids and rings in warm soapy water.
• Pack apple butter into the hot, sterilized jars, filling the jars to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any residue. Top with lids, and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower jars 2 inches apart into the boiling water using a holder. Pour in more boiling water to cover jars by at least 1 inch. Bring to a rolling boil, cover, and process for 10 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and let rest, several inches apart, for 12 to 24 hours. Press the center of each lid with a finger to ensure the lid does not move up or down. Remove the rings for storage and store in a cool, dark area.

SLOW COOKER CARAMEL-APPLE CRISP

Steps:

• Mix apples, white sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon together in a slow cooker. Drizzle with caramel topping and melted butter.
• Mix cake mix and oatmeal together in a bowl. Cut in butter using 2 knives or a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Place on top of apple mixture in the slow cooker.
• Cook on High until cooked down and golden on top, 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

EASIEST SLOW COOKER APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Estimate which slow cooker the drawerful of apples in the fridge will fit into. Note1: Wrinkled apples are not necessarily "bad". Granny Smiths can look nearly new but be mealy and browning under the skin (toss them), while Braeburn and especially Gala apples may look terrible, but the flesh is still unblemished and evenly colored. Cut out any bad spots, and often an apple browning on one side is fine on the other half. Use the other half. A slow cooker will hold this at 180F or higher for the first couple of hours, then at least 140 for a long time after that. After you cook, mill/sieve, season, cook and reduce by a third, there isnt much original apple shape left. Don't be obsessive. :-). Note 2: The flavor is in the peel, the pectin is in the core and the sugar is in the flesh. Don't peel or core the apples, just wash them, remove the stems and loose seeds, then cut out the "flower" parts opposite the stems, there tends to be powdery dirt and mold there.
• re note 2: Wash the apples, quartering most of them. Pick out any loose seeds. Toss the quarters in the slow cooker. Quarter and add the others if it looks like they will fit, otherwise set them aside.
• Set the cooker on high for at least an hour or two.
• Quarter and add any apples that did not fit, forcing them below the surface. Cook on high an additional hour or two. Skip this step if there were no extras.
• Place a food mill over a large bowl and ladle a portion of apples into it. Crank them through using downward force on the crank, reversing now and then to clear the screen. Pick out the seeds as you go. Repeat until all apples have been milled. You can use a sieve, but it will take a while. Discard the flakes of skin, seeds and stringy bits. Clean the mill IMMEDIATELY, the pulp is acidic and will stain the plating and rust any exposed steel.
• Blend the "applesauce" smooth with the stick blender if it makes you feel good. Clean the blender too.
• Dump them back into the slow cooker. Add: 1/4 tsp allspice, 1/8 - 1/4 tsp (scant) cloves, 1/2- 3/4 tsp cinnamon. Stir and taste. Cook on low for 8 - 12 hours. This should taste good with balanced flavors, but not strong. The seasoning will be concentrated as it cooks and you can adjust later. Note on sugar: Most recipes use double to triple the spices, then add somewhere between 1/2 cup to a full cup of sugar PER PINT of pulp. I suspect a lot of this sugar is to to preserve the butter in pre-refrigeration days and to counter the bitter undertaste of the spices. I tend to use less spice and little if any added sugar. You can always add more later.
• Taste and adjust seasoning, remove lid and cook another 2-4 hours. Keep a close watch and stir the thickened/solids at the edges into the rest. The pulp will darken from an over-cinnamoned applesauce color to chocolate or dark chocolate brown.
• Blend smooth with stick blender or that ice-crushing powered daiquiri pitcher on the counter.
• Chill and eat. Great on crepes, good on toast and I'm told even on steak.

CARAMEL SWIRL APPLE CHEESECAKE (CROCK-POT)

Steps:

• Prepare pan:.
• Grease a 7 or 8 inch spring-form pan with Pam or butter. Cut wax paper to cover bottom and butter it. Make sure the pan fits in your crock-pot. I was able to use an 8 inch spring form in mine. It does not rest on the bottom of the crock-pot but rests on the top edge. Which is a good thing! Or crumble up foil making a ring with it then placing it in the crock pot so the pan rests and stays lifted off the bottom of the crock.
• Crust:.
• Mix all the ingredients for the crust.
• Place in the prepared spring-form pan, using an oiled plastic wrap over the crust press down to form a crust around the bottom and just over the seam of the pan. A nice trick for spreading the crust with ease and no sticking to hands. Discard wrap.
• Topping:.
• In a large pan over high heat add topping ingredients. Bring to a boil and then simmer till reduced about 7 minutes. Set aside keeping in pan.
• Filling:.
• Beat cream cheese and sugar till completely smooth with no lumps. Must be smooth at this point.
• Add remaining ingredients just to mix in do not over beat at this point.
• Pour filling into crust.
• Drizzle the caramel over the filling and swirl lightly throughout.
• Place apple slices in a spoke pattern over filling.
• Reserving the goodness in the pan for deglazing later.
• Pour into the crock pot with foil 1-2 cups hot water. Then place the cheesecake on the foil out of the water.
• Cook on high for 2 1/2 hours. Unplug pot and then rest for 1-2 hours.
• De glaze pan:.
• Deglaze the pan with the cider loosening any of the cinnamon and sugar that remains adding the nuts if using to coat. Reduce to half and set aside till cake has rested 1-2 hours.
• Spread glaze over apples with a pastry brush. Chill before serving.

SLOW-COOKER CARAMEL APPLE FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Heat oven to 300°F. On large cookie sheet, spread bread cubes. Bake 20 to 30 minutes or until dry.
• Line sides of 4- to 5-quart slow cooker with foil that has been folded into thirds; spray with cooking spray. (See tip.)
• In large bowl, beat remaining French Toast ingredients. Fold in bread cubes to coat. Let stand 15 minutes, folding occasionally.
• In 8-inch skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter. Add apples; cook about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, in small bowl, stir together remaining 6 tablespoons butter and remaining Apple-Pecan Filling ingredients until crumbly.
• Spoon half of bread mixture (about 4 cups) into slow cooker. Top with half of the apples. Sprinkle with half of the brown sugar mixture. Repeat layers.
• Cover; cook 2 1/2 to 3 hours on Low heat setting or until temperature reaches 160°F and center is set.
• Remove foil before serving by loosening edges with table knife. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with syrup.

CROCK POT APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Place apples in a large bowl.
• Combine sugar, cinnamon, cloves and salt.
• Pour over apples and mix well.
• Place in crock pot, cover and cook on high for 1 hour.
• Decrease heat to low; cover and cook on low for 9-11 hours or until thickened and dark brown.
• Stir occasionally.
• Uncover and cook on low for 1 hour longer.
• If desired, whisk until smooth.
• Spoon into freezer containers, leaving 1/2-inch head space.
• Cover and freeze.

APPLE BUTTER FOR THE SLOW COOKER

Steps:

• Combine apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, salt, and cloves in a slow cooker.
• Cook on High until the apples are tender enough to easily mash with a fork, 4 to 6 hours.
• Puree apple mixture with an immersion blender until smooth.
• Sterilize the jars and lids in boiling water for at least 5 minutes. Pack apple butter into the hot, sterilized jars, filling the jars to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a knife or a thin spatula around the insides of the jars after they have been filled to remove any air bubbles. Wipe the rims of the jars with a moist paper towel to remove any food residue. Top with lids, and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower jars into the boiling water using a holder. Leave a 2-inch space between the jars. Pour in more boiling water if necessary to bring the water level to at least 1 inch above the tops of the jars. Bring the water to a rolling boil, cover the pot, and process for 10 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, until cool. Once cool, press the top of each lid with a finger, ensuring that the seal is tight (lid does not move up or down at all). Store in a cool, dark area.

AWARD-WINNING CROCK POT APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Place apples in slow cooker in thirds, layering sugar between each layer.
• Add rest of ingredients on top and pack them down as well as you can.
• Cover and cook on high for 1 hour.
• Reduce heat to low. Open and give it a stir. Keep covered and cook 8 hours or until thick and dark brown, stirring occasionally. (You can do this overnight and can in the morning).
• Uncover and cook for the last hour on low.
• If a smoother apple butter is desired, you may puree in blender or food mill.
• Place in sterile jars with lids and process for 10 minutes in hot water bath or you can freeze.
• Note: For more information on canning, you can go to the "Canning Forum" on recipezaar for instructions or to have questions answered.

SLOW COOKER APPLE BUTTER

Steps:

• Place apples and vinegar into a large slow cooker, and place lid on top. Set on High, and cook for 8 hours, then turn to Low, and continue cooking 10 hours more.
• After 18 hours, stir in white sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, clove, and allspice, and cook 4 hours more.