Easy Slow Cooker Applesauce

I came up with this recipe after I had bought too many apples for me to eat before they started getting soft. I didn’t want to waste them or my money so I used what I had in my house for spices and poof! Out came this recipe. You can really use any kind of apple you want, Mac’s are usually less expensive than most other kinds of apples. The coriander and lemon juice add great brightness to the apples. I like to eat it plain, but it’s great stirred into hot cereal, or on top of your favorite vanilla ice cream with a little caramel sauce on the side, it tastes like an apple turnover! I know that the spices seem minimal, but they add such a great flavor that’s not overpowering.

• Ready In: 6 hrs 20 mins
• Serves: 5

Ingredients

• 10 -12  mcintosh apples
• 1⁄8 cup water
• 2  cinnamon sticks
• 4  tablespoons real maple syrup
• 1  pinch salt
• 1⁄8 teaspoon clove
• 1⁄8 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1⁄8 teaspoon  fresh ground ginger
• 1  lemon, juice of

Directions

1. Peel, core, and slice apples into bite sized pieces.
2. Pour 1/8 C of water and apples into the slow cooker.
3. Add salt, maple syrup, cloves, coriander, ginger, and lemon juice and stir so all apple slices are coated.
4. Place cinnamon sticks so that they are sticking into the container on three sides.
5. Turn the slow cooker on low and let cook for 6-7 hours or until the apples are very soft to pierce and most of the liquid is evaporated.
6. Turn off the slow cooker and take out the whole cinnamon sticks. For a chunky texture, mash with a potato masher, for a smooth texture, put into a food processor/blender or use an immersion blender until you reach the desired texture.