Slow Cooker Cracker Barrel

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🍎 Slow Cooker Cracker Barrel–Style Fried Apples

A cozy, old-fashioned comfort dessert made easy in the slow cooker

🌟 Introduction

Slow Cooker Cracker Barrel Fried Apples are a warm, sweet, and cinnamon-kissed dish that brings pure comfort to the table. Inspired by the famous Cracker Barrel side dish, these tender apples taste like a cross between apple pie filling and old-fashioned fried apples—without standing over the stove. Perfect as a side dish, dessert, or topping, this recipe fills your home with the most inviting aroma and delivers nostalgic flavor in every bite.

🧺 Ingredients

  • 6–8 apples (Golden Delicious, Fuji, Gala, or Granny Smith), peeled, cored, and sliced
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup brown sugar (light or dark)
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional but recommended)
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch (optional, for thicker sauce)
  • 2 tablespoons water or apple juice (only if using cornstarch)
  • Pinch of nutmeg (optional)
  • Pinch of salt (enhances sweetness)

👩‍🍳 Instructions

  1. Prepare the apples
    Peel, core, and slice the apples into even slices (about ¼-inch thick).
  2. Layer in the slow cooker
    Place the sliced apples into the slow cooker.
  3. Add sweetness and spice
    Sprinkle granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg (if using), and salt evenly over the apples.
  4. Add butter
    Dot the apples with butter pieces.
  5. Optional thickener
    If you prefer a thicker sauce, whisk cornstarch with water or apple juice and pour over the apples.
  6. Cook low and slow
    Cover and cook on:

    • LOW for 3–4 hours, or
    • HIGH for 1½–2 hours

    Stir gently once or twice during cooking.

  7. Finish with vanilla
    Stir in vanilla extract during the last 15 minutes of cooking.

🍯 Cooking Method Explained

This slow-cooker method mimics traditional skillet-fried apples by gently breaking down the fruit while allowing sugars and butter to create a rich syrup. The low heat prevents burning and ensures perfectly tender apples infused with cinnamon warmth.

📜 History

Fried apples trace their roots to early American and Southern cooking, where apples were often sautéed with butter and sugar as a simple, affordable treat. Cracker Barrel popularized this version as a signature comfort-food side, served warm and buttery alongside hearty meals. The slow cooker version honors that tradition while making it effortless for modern kitchens.

🧪 Formation & Texture

As the apples cook, their natural juices combine with butter and sugar to form a glossy, caramel-like sauce. The apples soften but keep their shape, creating a tender yet slightly chunky texture—never mushy when cooked properly.

❤️ Why Everyone Loves This Recipe

  • Warm, nostalgic flavor
  • Minimal ingredients
  • Hands-off cooking
  • Perfect balance of sweet and spice
  • Tastes just like Cracker Barrel

🍽️ Serving Ideas (For the Lovers!)

  • Spoon over vanilla ice cream 🍨
  • Serve with pancakes, waffles, or French toast
  • Pair with pork chops or ham
  • Use as apple pie or cheesecake topping
  • Enjoy straight from the bowl with a spoon 😍

🥰 Conclusion

Slow Cooker Cracker Barrel Fried Apples are the definition of simple comfort food. With tender apples, rich buttery syrup, and warm cinnamon spice, this dish is easy enough for everyday meals yet special enough for holidays and gatherings. Whether served as a side or dessert, it’s guaranteed to win hearts and bring smiles.

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