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Who knew that the best way to make baked apples wasn’t in the oven at all, but in your slow cooker! These Slow Cooker Baked Apples are so comforting. A lightly sweetened grain-free crisp topping is stuffed inside of a hollowed-out apple and cooked slowly in apple cider until it’s tender, soft and so delicious. Perfect for a holiday dinner because it makes individually portioned desserts. Serve as is with the self-made sauce, or with ice cream or homemade caramel.

Slow cooker baked apples with ice cream and caramel.

Crock Pot Baked Apples

Nothing makes your home smell more delicious than apples and cinnamons. These Slow Cooker Baked Apples not only make your house smell incredible, but they’re also the easiest hands-off dessert for a holiday celebration! Utilizing your slow cooker when you are hosting a holiday meal is the smartest way to check off the sweets from your to-do list, and everybody is going to love these!

A slightly sweet nut mixture is “baked” inside apples in the slow cooker. They are so comforting and are almost like individual apple crisps in an edible container! Plus, the cider the apples are cooked in transforms into a super delicious self-made sauce, perfect for spooning on the apples.

This fuss-free recipe is gluten and grain free, made with unrefined sweeteners, and optionally Paleo-friendly.

Steps to make baked apples.

Ingredients Needed

  • Gala Apples
  • Walnuts
  • Pecans
  • Maple Sugar or Coconut Sugar
  • Raisins
  • Cinnamon
  • Apple Pie Spice (optional)
  • Salt
  • Butter
  • Maple Syrup
  • Apple Cider

Substitutions

Nuts: Swap in any nuts you like for this recipe. Alternatively, to make this nut-free you could use rolled oats!

Sugars: Use either of the two sugars listed, or if you don’t mind the addition of a refined-sugar you could substitute in light brown sugar.

Spices: Use your favorite spices that pair well with apple if you don’t have apple pie spice–such as nutmeg, allspice, clove, ginger, etc.

Butter: To make this dairy-free, ghee will work equally as well in this recipe. You could also use coconut oil, but of course that will change the flavor profile of the apples. I also suggest using only 1 teaspoon of coconut for each apple as opposed to 1-1/2 teaspoons of butter.

Apple Cider: If you didn’t have this on hand, you could replace it with water, but you’ll lose out on some of that sweet sauce that is made from baking the apples in the cider.

A plate of baked apples with caramel.

Best Apples for Baking

Not all apples are created equally when it comes to baking. While they all taste delicious, different apples perform better for cooking, eating and baking. For this recipe specifically, we’re calling for Gala apples. We like the sweetness and the texture of Galas for this recipe. If you can’t find those apples, look for these other options:

  • Cortland
  • Honey Crisp
  • Golden Delicious

Look for an apple that is as uniformly round and somewhat large.

How to Core an Apple

Coring the apple here serves two purposes. The first being to obviously remove the stem and the seeds. But by removing the stem and the seeds you create a cavity for which you can then fill with that delicious grain-free crisp!

To core it, slice off about 1/2″ an inch from the top. Then either using a melon baller, a small ice cream scoop, a spoon or a pairing knife, you can dig or cut out a hole around the stem and seed pod. Use whichever method works best for you. Just be careful not to crack the apple, so you must be a little patient with this!

Slow cooker baked apples on a plate with toppings.

How to Serve Baked Apples

These slow cooker baked apples can be served warm, with a drizzle of the apple cider it was cooked in. Or go ahead and serve them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and/or homemade caramel sauce!

Can they be made ahead of time?

Yes! You can make these up to two days ahead of time. They look the prettiest right after they are made, but you can make these ahead and warm them back up again. You can actually put them right back in the slow cooker with a little apple cider or water to warm up. Heat on low until it reaches your desired temperature!

If you like this apple recipe, check out these others:

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Slow cooker baked apples with ice cream and caramel.

Easy Slow Cooker "Baked" Apples

5 from 1 vote
Who knew that the best way to make baked apples wasn't in the oven at all, but in your slow cooker! These Slow Cooker Baked Apples are so comforting. A lightly sweetened grain-free crisp topping is stuffed inside of a hollowed-out apple and cooked slowly in apple cider until it's tender, soft and so delicious. Perfect for a holiday dinner because it makes individually portioned desserts. Serve as is with the self-made sauce, or with ice cream or homemade caramel.
Servings 6 Baked Apples
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup finely diced walnuts
  • 1/2 cup finely diced pecans
  • 1/4 cup maple sugar or coconut sugar
  • 1/4 cup raisins
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon apple pie spice optional
  • Pinch of salt
  • 6 large Gala apples
  • 3 tablespoons butter diced into small cubes
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup fresh apple cider

Instructions

  • Mix together walnuts, pecans, sugar, raisins, cinnamon, apple pie spice and salt. Set aside.
  • Using a sharp paring knife, cut ½” from the top of the apple and eat or save for another purpose. Using a melon baller (or small cookie scooper, or knife) remove the core and seeds from each apple and discard.
  • Transfer about 2 heaping tablespoons of the nut mixture into each apple, and place into a large slow cooker.
  • Place about ½ of a tablespoon of butter over each apple.
  • Pour the maple syrup and apple cider around the apples.
  • Cover, and cook on high for 2 to 2-½ hours until the apples are fork-tender, but not falling apart.
  • Serve warm with cooking liquid spooned over the top, or add ice cream, caramel, or dairy-free whipped cream.

Notes

If you can't find Gala apples, use Cortland, Honeycrisp or Golden Delicious instead.
Find out guide to make Paleo and Vegan Caramel here.
This recipe was originally published in 2016, and updated and republished with new photographs in 2020.
Keyword: Slow Cooker Baked Apples
Course: Dessert
Method: Slow Cooker
Author: Lexi's Clean Kitchen


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  1. Hi Lexi,
    Ive just printed this recipe to try in my new slow cooker, as Im on apple binge this week, Just made apple salad with balsamic viniagrette last night. Anyway, the recipe says to cook for 2 – 2.5 hours but the cooking time at the top of the sheet says 1hr 15 min cooking time? which one is it?

  2. Lexi these look so good and I can just imagine the smell! I have everything I need so I will be cooking these when I get home for dessert tonight. Loving these recipes and can’t wait for the book!