Here’s a warm, cozy recipe for Slow Cooker Cracker Barrel–Style Fried Apples — tender apple slices cooked with cinnamon, sugar, and butter until they’re syrupy and full of down-home flavor. Best part? The slow cooker does all the work!
🍏🍎 Slow Cooker Cracker Barrel Fried Apples
Sweet, buttery, and perfect for breakfast or dessert!
✅ Ingredients
- 6–8 medium apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Golden Delicious work best)
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg (optional)
- 2 tbsp cornstarch (for thickening)
- ¼ cup water or apple juice
- 4 tbsp (½ stick) unsalted butter, sliced
- 1 tbsp lemon juice (optional — brightens the flavor)
🍳 Instructions
- Peel and slice apples into thick wedges (about ½-inch thick).
- In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cornstarch.
- Add apples to your slow cooker, then sprinkle the sugar mixture over them.
- Pour in water or apple juice and lemon juice, then top with butter slices.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours, stirring halfway through, until apples are tender but not mushy and the sauce is thick and syrupy.
- Give it a good stir before serving.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
- Over pancakes, waffles, or French toast
- As a side dish with pork chops or ham
- With a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for dessert
- Spoon into a pie crust or cobbler topping for an easy apple bake
📝 Tips
- Want it thicker? Let it cook uncovered for the last 20 minutes.
- Add a splash of vanilla extract for extra depth.
- Make it ahead — stores well in the fridge for up to 5 days.