Slow Cooker Spiced Apples

These sweet slow cooker spiced apples taste just like homemade apple pie filling! These apples are cooked with maple syrup, apple pie spice, orange zest, apple cider (or apple juice), butter, and bit of cornstarch (to thicken the juices), making a sweet holiday dessert that is so easy! Plus, a step-by-step video below!

We’ve now officially crossed into the fall season, and while on the inside I’m full on fan-girling over all of the ankle boots, cozy drinks, and candles that smell so good I want to cry, on the outside, I’m still dressing for the eternal summer. 

I love where I live, but there are moments when I wish the calendar and mother nature could get on the same page for once. 

Fall really is just a state of mind around here, so let’s break out the leaf decor, the cinnamon and spices, and bake our way through the fall season. 

For those needing a quick and easy fall dessert that doesn’t require turning on the oven (due to the aforementioned blistering heat), this Slow Cooker Spiced Cinnamon Apples recipe is just what you need in your life. 

Reasons Why These Baked Apples Are A Fall Fav:

• Slow Cooker: There’s nothing easier than using a slow cooker, because in most recipes, you ‘set it and forget it,’ and honestly, that’s the kind of thing everyone can use in their life. 
• Refined Sugar Free: Yep, you heard it right. I made a refined-sugar free baked apple recipe, and it’s so incredible you’d never know it was made with maple syrup instead of sugar. (It’s gluten-free too, which is a win-win of a dessert, especially if you’re serving a big crowd who have varying food allergies!)
• Versatile: Is this dessert? A breakfast topping? A side dish for something savory? The possibilities are endless. 

Try These Apple Recipes Next:

• Slow Cooker Apple Dump Cake
• Apple Cinnamon Muffins
• Caramel Apple Cheesecake
• Apple Pie Coffee Cake
• Apple Upside-Down Cake

Slow Cooker Apples Ingredients:

• Apples: I suggest using a very sweet apple for this recipe, like Honeycrisp apples. They’re one of my favorite apples, especially during the fall season, and they’re worth the pricier price tag. 
• Orange Zest: I like the sweet citrus flavor orange zest provides, but you can use lemon zest as well.
• Pure Maple Syrup: Maple is a wonderful flavor for the fall season, and it pairs so well with the apples. Using pure maple syrup keeps this a refined sugar free apple dessert. However, you can use honey or granulated sugar (or brown sugar) if you’d prefer.
• Apple Cider: Apple cider or apple juice adds extra concentrated apple flavor, as well as adding a little liquid to help the apples bake.
• Apple Pie Spice
• Cinnamon
• Unsalted Butter: This adds richness to the overall flavor of the apples.
• Cornstarch: This helps thicken the apples as they cook, creating a nice apple pie-like filling. 

Five Steps To Make These Slow Cooker Cinnamon Apples:

Step 1: Mix apples, orange zest, maple syrup, spices, apple cider, butter, and cornstarch. 

Step 2: Stir the mixture until everything is combined.

Step 3: Cook.

Step 4: Serve immediately, or keep them on the ‘warm’ setting until ready to serve. 

Step 5: Top with ice cream, caramel sauce, or whipped cream for an even more decadent easy Thanksgiving dessert or Christmas dessert!

Let’s talk about how to serve these spiced apples:

• Dessert: I love using these as a simple fall dessert. It’s very comforting and warm, and it’s perfect with cool whipped cream or cold ice cream. A bit of caramel sauce is a great idea too!
  •   Of course, if you want to keep this refined sugar free, you can make a honey whipped cream, or a maple whipped cream.
    • Caramel Whipped Cream
    • Homemade Whipped Cream
    • Praline Sauce
• Breakfast: These apples are the perfect topping for oatmeal, pancakes, french toast, waffles, over greek yogurt, etc. 
• Savory: These would make a fabulous side dish to any fall dinner, like a pork chop or something similar. 

Quick and Easy Baking Tips:

• Remember, your recipe will only be as good as your apples are. Meaning, if you use old, mealy, or flavorless apples, your slow cooker apples are going to taste old, mushy, and like nothing.
• Because this is made in a crock-pot, this would make an easy Thanksgiving slow cooker dessert. These spiced cinnamon apples are full of fall flavors, and the slow cooker doesn’t take up any oven space, so it makes it a perfect holiday dessert.
• If you don’t want to use maple syrup, you can substitute honey, brown sugar, or granulated sugar.
• This has the texture of apple pie filling, so it’s perfectly cozy! 

Happy fall baking!

(Originally posted 2017; updated 2021)

Here are some other maple recipes you might love:

Maple Glazed Banana Bread

Maple Candied Pecans

Maple Bacon Donuts