Applesauce & Applebutter - Crockpot style
First thing I did was core and quarter a peck of Rambo apples. No, not this Rambo...
...THIS Rambo
After I quarted them I peeled each piece and plunked them in the crockpot. I know it sounds weird to quarter and then peel but I read this tip somewhere else and it really did seem easier to me.
So after I had a crockpot full of apples (I was using my 6 quart Nesco) I added a cup of water and about 1/4 cup of lemon juice. Then I sprinkled a generous amount of cinnamon over the top. I didn't use sugar at this point because I was still debating on what to use my apples for.
I let them cook on low overnight. The next morning I discovered the apples were cooked through but there was a significant amount of "juice" in the bottom. Next time I will omit the water and just toss the apples with the lemon juice.
I scooped my apples out and poured all the liquid from the crockpot.
Next I took about 3 cups of apples and put them back into the crockpot in order to make applebutter. Since it was a pretty small batch I just added vanilla, brown sugar, white sugar, ground cloves and more cinnamon to taste. No exact measurements needed. I left that mixture in the crockpot for another 3 hours.
The remaining apples were smooshed (yes thats the techinical term) into applesauce and I choose not to add any sweetner because I will be using it for baking. If I were eating it plain, then I would have definitely added some sugar.
I put a cup of the applesauce into freezer bags and pushed the air out while flattening the bag. In all I had 4 cups of applesauce to put into my freezer and 3 cups of applebutter that I divided into two containers.
Why did I lay them flat?
As you can see my freezer stays a bit on the full side. And the chest freezer downstairs is just as full as this one so it helps to save space.
Remember the "juice"? I used it to make pancakes and topped mine with a few of the apples.
4 comments:
Yum - That sounds delicious. I might try it, except to not add in the sugar, as Greg is diabetic.
Yum. I think that needs to be said again. Yum.
And your freezer looks like mine. I have one in the kitchen. One outside in the storage room. Along with a chest freezer. AND another fridge/freezer in the basement. I don't know how we manage to keep them all rather full, but we have nothing to eat :-)
Are you KIDDING? This is FANTASTIC! Loving this...printing this out...even the picture of Rambo, 'cause that's just funny.
Oh what appley goodness!!
I am cutting carbs out right now (sucky) or I'd be all over this!!
You are evil...but I *heart* you anyway!
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