One of my favorite fall treats is slow cooker baked apples. These apples are baked to perfection in the slow cooker. Crockpot baked apples filled with brown sugar, cranberries, and walnuts, they're a perfect autumn dessert.
Get ready for a delightful blend of tart cranberries and warm cinnamon as they slowly simmer away in your slow cooker - there's nothing quite like it! These slow cooked sweet treats make an enjoyable snack or guilt-free dessert with just a few simple ingredients.
This simple dessert is super easy to make, and is perfect for busy weeknights when you're pressed for time. Not only does this baked apples in the crock pot recipe come together quickly, but you to can get creative with your favorite flavors.
From honey to maple syrup, cinnamon to cranberries, possibilities are endless when it comes to customizing your own batch of crockpot baked apples.
Ingredients You'll Need
Baked apples in the crock pot are a perfect dessert on cozy autumn nights. They're easy to make, requiring just a few simple ingredients, and they're sure to be huge hit at the table. While they are popular in the fall, cranberry stuffed apples are delicious any time of the year!
For best results, use apples that bake firm so they hold together better when cooked. Some varieties get so soft textured that they fall apart just lifting them onto dessert plates. The best apples to use for stuffing and baking are Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Cosmic Crisp, and Fuji, Gala, and old fashioned Pippins.
- Granny Smith apples - Or your favorite apples - Honeycrisp or Cosmic Crisp hold up well and have a great balance of sweet and tart also.
- Cranberries - Dried, any brand.
- Brown sugar - light or dark.
- Walnuts - Coarsely chopped.
- Cinnamon - Ground.
- Nutmeg - Ground.
- Garnish - Whipped cream or Vanilla ice cream to serve with these hot cranberry stuffed apples.
PRO TIP: For the most attractive cranberry stuffed apples, use green or yellow apples. Red apples bake up brown on the outside, while green and yellow apples bake into a golden amber color.
Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
How To Make Crockpot Baked Apples
This crockpot wonder requires is fast and easy to prepare, and only takes about two hours to cook – so once everything’s in the slow cooker, all you need to do is walk away! You could start this right after coming home from work, and have a fruity, warming dessert by the time dinner has been served!
Read on to learn how to make these delicious, cranberry stuffed morsels of yummy goodness!
Core The Granny Smith Apples
- Using a melon baller or an apple coring tool, remove the cores from the Granny Smith apples, leaving the bottom intact (don't go all the way though when coring). This will prevent all the yummy cranberry stuffing ingredients from leaking out while the baking.
Mix The Cranberry Walnut Filling
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, dried cranberries, chopped walnuts, cinnamon, and nutmeg until blended. You can use any brown sugar you like, to include Swerve brown sugar replacement (this dessert is great if you're a Weight Watcher!).
Stuff The Apples
- Spray the interior of the slow cooker with some non stick cooking spray so the baked apples don't stick when you lift them out later. You could also use a crockpot liner bag, or one of the new stretchy silicone liners that fit slow cookers.
- Spoon the brown sugar, walnut, and cranberry mixture into the cores of each apple, and set inside the slow cooker. Be sure to pack the stuffing in so it gets down deep inside the core cavities.
Bake Apples With Cranberries
- Cook on LOW for 2 hours, watching closely to not overcook. If left too long, the apples will start to fall apart in the slow cooker. The LOW setting can vary slightly from slow cooker to slow cooker. Apples should be tender, but still slightly firm.
- Lift each baked apple out of the slow cooker using a wide slotted spoon, spatula, or if they are still firm enough, tongs. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream, and any remaining chopped walnuts if you like. Even a drizzle of maple syrup, while simple, is divine!
Serving Suggestions
Perfect as either a side dish or dessert, these delicious treats are the perfect way to celebrate the season of apple-picking and crisp autumn days. Not only do they look stunning on the table, but their sweet and tart flavor is sure to be a hit with everyone at your dinner table.
And best of all: no fuss when it comes to making them!Crockpot Cranberry Stuffed Apples can be served warm or cold. They are also delicious topped with whipped cream, ice cream, or a dollop of yogurt.
Baked apples are also great for breakfast alongside a bowl of oatmeal or pancakes.
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Substitutions and Variations
Here are a few delicious variations when making baked apples in the crockpot. If you don't have a slow cooker, you can also bake these in a Dutch oven in the oven. Prepare the apples according to the recipe instructions, then set inside a Dutch oven or casserole baker.
Bake in the oven at 350 F for 35 minutes, or until the apples are soft when pierced with a knife.
- Use different types of apples, such as Fuji, Gala, or Pink Lady.
- Use different types of dried fruit, such as raisins, blueberries, or cherries.
- Add nuts, such as almonds, pecans, or hazelnuts.
- Use different spices, such as ginger, cardamom, or cloves.
- Top the apples with a dollop of yogurt or crème fraîche.
Equipment
Equipment can have a big impact on how a recipe turns out. Below are some of my favorite pieces of equipment that I use when making crockpot baked apples with walnuts and cranberries.
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Storage and Reheating
- Crockpot cranberry stuffed apples can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They can also be frozen for up to 2 months.
- To reheat, thaw the apples overnight in the refrigerator and then reheat them in the microwave on for 1 - 2 minutes, or until heated through.
Tips for Success
Here are a few tips for making crock pot baked apples with cranberries:
- Use firm apples, such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp.
- Don't punch a hole in the bottom of the apples!
- Don't overfill the apples with the filling.
- You can add other ingredients to the filling, such as raisins, coconut, or pecans.
- Serve the apples immediately, or let them cool and refrigerate for later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can make this recipe without a slow cooker. To do this, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Core the apples and stuff them with the filling. Place the apples in a baking dish and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the apples are tender.
You can substitute other types of apples for the Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apples, such as Fuji, Braeburn, or Gala, as they hold up nicely when baked also.
More Delish Ideas
Crockpot Cranberry Stuffed Apples
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 Apples Granny Smith, cored
- ¼ cup Cranberries dried, any brand
- ¼ cup Brown sugar light or dark
- 2 tablespoon Walnuts coarsely chopped
- ¼ teaspoon Cinnamon ground
- ⅛ teaspoon Nutmeg ground
- Garnish whip cream, vanilla ice cream, yogurt
Instructions
- Using a melon baller or an apple coring tool, remove the cores from the Granny Smith apples, leaving the bottom intact (don't go all the way though when coring).6 Apples
- In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, dried cranberries, chopped walnuts, cinnamon, and nutmeg until blended.¼ cup Cranberries, ¼ cup Brown sugar, 2 tablespoon Walnuts, ¼ teaspoon Cinnamon, ⅛ teaspoon Nutmeg
- Spray the interior of the slow cooker with some non stick cooking spray so the baked apples don't stick when you lift them out later.
- Spoon the brown sugar, walnut, and cranberry mixture into the cores of each apple, and set inside the slow cooker.
- Cook on LOW for 2 hours, watching closely to not overcook. If left too long, the apples will start to fall apart in the slow cooker. The LOW setting can vary slightly from slow cooker to slow cooker. Apples should be tender, but still slightly firm.
- Serve with whipped cream or ice cream, and any remaining chopped walnuts if you like.
Notes
- Use firm apples, such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp.
- Don't punch a hole in the bottom of the apples!
- Don't overfill the apples with the filling.
- You can add other ingredients to the filling, such as raisins, coconut, or pecans.
- Serve the apples immediately, or let them cool and refrigerate for later.
- You can also make this recipe without a slow cooker. To do this, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Core the apples and stuff them with the filling. Place the apples in a baking dish and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the apples are tender.
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