Greetings, fellow food enthusiasts! As this piece reaches you today, I’m soaring across the vast Pacific Ocean, filled with anticipation for an extraordinary journey. My destination? South Korea, where two of my dearest friends have recently embarked on a new chapter of their lives. The excitement for this trip is truly immeasurable! ♥
First and foremost, I eagerly await the reunion with my friends, Nathan and Kerry. For over a decade, they built a wonderful life and a vibrant community in the Kansas City area. However, as they approached their mid-thirties, a yearning for new horizons led them to a courageous decision. They packed their lives, stepped bravely beyond their comfort zones, and moved halfway across the globe to teach at an international school. Witnessing them cultivate such a rich and fulfilling new life in South Korea, even from afar, has been incredibly inspiring. While their absence is keenly felt back here in the Midwest, I cannot wait to experience their new home and meet the people who have become part of their world.
Let’s be honest, having friends move abroad always provides the perfect motivation to embrace new travel adventures! It’s an opportunity to explore distant lands with the comfort and insight of local connections, transforming a simple vacation into a deeply personal and enriching experience.
So, seizing this incredible opportunity, my good friend Sarah and I planned this journey to visit. This marks my inaugural trip to Asia, and I am absolutely thrilled to immerse myself in Seoul’s vibrant sights, captivating sounds, and intoxicating aromas. We’ve meticulously planned an itinerary that promises a comprehensive “friend-tour” of the city. Our schedule includes visiting many of Seoul’s renowned landmarks, embarking on a poignant day trip to the DMZ, participating in an authentic Korean cooking class, and, of course, indulging in my very first Korean BBQ experience. During the weekdays, while Nathan and Kerry are at work, Sarah and I will venture independently to Japan for a few days, exploring its unique culture and culinary delights. We’ll conclude our grand adventure with a final weekend back in Seoul before returning to the States just in time for Thanksgiving. The anticipation is almost unbearable! I’ll be sharing glimpses of our adventure on my personal Instagram account, so feel free to follow along. And rest assured, a plethora of exciting Korean and Japanese recipes will undoubtedly grace the blog upon my return, as exploring the local cuisine is, for me, half the joy of traveling.
In the interim, while I am away, I’ve prepared a collection of delightful recipes to ensure the blog remains a source of inspiration, especially since many of you are deep into holiday meal planning. To kick things off, we begin today with an ideal make-ahead autumn recipe that — surprise! — can be effortlessly prepared in your slow cooker.
Who’s ready for a truly exceptional Slow Cooker Apple Crisp?
Indeed, you read that correctly! An apple crisp that achieves legitimate crispness, even when crafted in the slow cooker! This recipe challenges the common misconception that slow cooker desserts inevitably turn out soggy. With a simple yet ingenious technique, we ensure a perfectly crunchy topping every single time, making it an ideal choice for busy holidays or any day you crave a comforting, homemade dessert without constant oven monitoring.
The foundation of this scrumptious dessert begins with a vibrant blend of cinnamon and sugar-coated apples. These warm, tender apples form the heart of the crisp, providing a burst of autumnal flavor with every bite. When preparing this base, I offer a crucial pro tip: invest in high-quality cinnamon. As the dominant spice in this recipe, its caliber profoundly impacts the overall taste, transforming a good crisp into an unforgettable one. Don’t underestimate the power of premium cinnamon to elevate your baking!
I recently had the illuminating experience of attending a “cinnamon class” hosted by McCormick, an event I truly geeked out over! It unequivocally confirmed my long-held observation: not all ground cinnamon found on grocery store shelves is created equal. I’ve noticed significant flavor discrepancies among different brands over the years but was never quite sure how to distinguish the best. Thankfully, McCormick experts shared valuable insights on identifying pure, high-quality cinnamon:
- It should possess a deep, rich mahogany hue.
- The coloring should be uniform throughout the spice.
- Its aroma should be intensely warm and woody, immediately noticeable.
- When tasted, it should deliver a distinct “red-hot” cinnamon punch, a sign of its potency and freshness.
Keeping these tips in mind when selecting your next bottle of cinnamon will prevent you from ending up with a bland or stale batch that could underperform in your recipes. For this Slow Cooker Apple Crisp, I used a fresh bottle of McCormick Ground Cinnamon for both the apples and the crispy oat topping, and the results were absolutely perfect. Its rich flavor truly shined through.
Once your flavorful apple mixture and the delightful crumble topping are ready, the assembly is straightforward. Begin by spreading the cinnamon-coated apples evenly across the bottom of a large slow cooker. For this recipe, I find this particular model works exceptionally well, accommodating the ingredients perfectly for even cooking. The goal is to create a flat, consistent layer, ensuring all the apples cook thoroughly and absorb the wonderful spice blend.
Next, generously sprinkle the crispy oat topping over the apples, ensuring an even distribution. Now, here’s the game-changing secret to achieving an actual crispy topping in a slow cooker: place a clean kitchen towel or several layers of paper towels over the slow cooker opening before firmly placing the lid on top of the towel(s). This ingenious method acts as a moisture trap, absorbing any condensation that accumulates on the underside of the lid. Without this barrier, those drips would fall back onto your delicious topping, rendering it soggy. The towel ensures that the heat from the slow cooker perfectly bakes the topping, allowing it to become wonderfully crisp and golden brown. I’ve personally employed this technique countless times across a variety of slow cooker recipes, and it has consistently delivered fantastic results, making it an indispensable trick in my cooking repertoire. (Please see the notes section of the recipe for an important disclaimer regarding the use of the towel method.)
Then, once the aroma of sweet cinnamon and baked apples fills your kitchen, signaling that it’s time for a truly delightful dessert…
…simply remove the lid and the moisture-absorbing towel(s). What you’ll discover is a beautifully cooked Slow Cooker Apple Crisp, featuring wonderfully tender, warm cinnamon apples crowned with that perfectly crispy almond-oat topping. Dish up a generous scoop of this inviting dessert, and prepare for a taste sensation that embodies comfort and deliciousness.
This gorgeous dessert is now yours to savor and enjoy. To elevate the experience even further, I wholeheartedly recommend serving this warm apple crisp with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream and a luscious drizzle of warm caramel sauce. The combination of warm apples, crisp topping, cold ice cream, and sweet caramel creates a symphony of textures and flavors that is truly irresistible. However, feel free to personalize your serving with whatever additions sound most appealing to you – you genuinely cannot go wrong with this delightful creation. Whether you prefer a dollop of whipped cream, a sprinkle of extra nuts, or simply enjoying it as is, it’s bound to be a crowd-pleaser.
So, whether you’re seeking to simplify your Thanksgiving feast preparations, looking for an impressive yet easy dessert for a holiday party, or simply find yourself craving the comforting taste of apple crisp, be sure to give this slow cooker method a try! Its ease, deliciousness, and perfect texture make it an ideal choice for any occasion. I am confident that you and your loved ones are going to absolutely adore this recipe!
Slow Cooker Apple Crisp
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 180 minutes
- Total Time: 195 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
Description
This Slow Cooker Apple Crisp recipe is made with warm cinnamon apples, a delicious oatmeal-almond topping, and baked until it’s nice and “crispy” in the crock-pot. So delicious!
Ingredients
Slow Cooker Apple Crisp Ingredients:
- 8 apples, peeled, cored and thinly-sliced (firm varieties like Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji work best)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons McCormick Ground Cinnamon (use a high-quality cinnamon for best flavor)
- pinch of salt
- cinnamon oat crumble (recipe follows below)
- optional serving suggestions: vanilla ice cream, warm caramel sauce, whipped cream
Cinnamon Oat Crumble Ingredients:
- 1 cup (uncooked) old-fashioned oats
- 2/3 cup sliced almonds (or pecans, walnuts for variation)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (or a gluten-free blend for GF option)
- 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon McCormick Ground Cinnamon
- pinch of salt
- 4 tablespoons melted butter or coconut oil
Instructions
To Make The Slow Cooker Apple Crisp:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the peeled, cored, and thinly sliced apples with lemon juice, tossing gently to coat. Sprinkle the brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt evenly over the apples, and toss again until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Pour this entire apple mixture into the bowl of a large slow cooker, ensuring it forms an even layer across the bottom.
- Prepare the cinnamon oat crumble using the instructions provided below. Once the crumble is ready, sprinkle it evenly over the apple mixture in the slow cooker.
- To ensure a crispy topping, place a clean dish towel or several sheets of paper towels directly over the opening of the slow cooker. Then, carefully place the slow cooker lid on top of the towel(s). The towel will absorb the steam and condensation that typically forms on the lid, preventing it from dripping back onto the crumble and keeping it wonderfully crisp.
- Cook the apple crisp on high for 3-4 hours, or on low for 6-8 hours, until the apples are fork-tender and the topping is golden and crisp. Once cooked, remove the lid and discard the towel(s). Serve the warm apple crisp immediately, perhaps with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce for an extra treat.
To Make The Cinnamon Oat Crumble:
- Using the same large mixing bowl (no need to clean it if you just used it for the apples), whisk together the old-fashioned oats, sliced almonds, all-purpose flour, packed brown sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt until well combined. Drizzle the melted butter (or coconut oil for a vegan option) over the dry mixture. Stir or whisk until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined and the mixture is crumbly.
Notes
*If you are making this recipe vegan, ensure you use coconut oil in place of butter. Additionally, be sure to opt for vegan ice cream and/or caramel sauce if you choose to include serving suggestions. For those making this recipe gluten-free, carefully verify that all your ingredients, particularly the oats and flour, are certified gluten-free to avoid cross-contamination.
**Important Safety Disclaimer: While the towel method is highly effective for achieving a crispy topping in a slow cooker, I must legally advise that using a towel with your slow cooker could pose a fire hazard if not monitored carefully. You employ this method at your own risk. I have personally used this technique dozens of times with various recipes without any issues. However, different slow cooker models heat up to varying temperatures. If this is your first time trying the towel method, I strongly recommend checking the towel about an hour into the cooking process to ensure it is not becoming excessively hot or showing any signs of scorching. Always prioritize safety in the kitchen.
This post has been sponsored by McCormick, the trusted maker of the ground cinnamon that is a constant staple in my pantry. Your continued support for the brands that make this site possible is greatly appreciated! This post also contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission on purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you.