It’s that quiet, golden part of fall when everything smells like cinnamon and you start craving something warm and sweet without turning on the oven. That’s exactly where these Slow Cooker Cracker Barrel Fried Apples come in. They taste like a hug in apple form—rich, syrupy, and softly spiced. Even better, they only take about 15 minutes of hands-on prep.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
These apples are comforting, sweet, and just the right amount of soft.
You only need six ingredients and a slow cooker—no fancy tools.
These Slow Cooker Cracker Barrel Fried Apples taste like the inside of a homemade apple pie but are even easier to make.You can serve them so many ways: dessert, side dish, or even on breakfast.
They’re also super budget-friendly and make your house smell amazing.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Honey crisp apples (or Granny Smith, Gala, Fuji): Tart + sweet with a firm bite
- Brown sugar: Adds depth and that molasses-rich sweetness
- Cinnamon: Essential cozy spice
- Vanilla extract: Rounds out the flavor
- Cornstarch: Helps thicken the syrupy sauce
- Butter: Melts in for that glossy, rich finish
To keep the flavor true to classic Slow Cooker Cracker Barrel Fried Apples, you can use either salted or unsalted butter—whatever you have on hand.
Don’t have honey crisp? Go with any tart apple. Just avoid Red Delicious—they get mushy.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the apples
To make Slow Cooker Cracker Barrel Fried Apples, wash, peel, and slice your apples into ¼-inch pieces. Try to keep the sizes even so they cook evenly.
Step 2: Layer in the slow cooker
Add your sliced apples to a 6-quart slow cooker.
Sprinkle the brown sugar, cinnamon, cornstarch, and vanilla extract right on top.
Then add the cubed butter and gently toss to coat everything.
Step 3: Cook to perfection
Set your slow cooker to HIGH and cook for 2 to 3 hours.
Stir every 45 minutes or so to make sure the apples cook evenly and don’t stick.
Important note: Don’t use LOW. The apples lose too much texture and become mushy.
Step 4: Serve warm
Once your apples are soft and caramelized in a thick syrup, switch to WARM until you’re ready to eat.
The smell at this point is pure magic.
Serving Suggestions
These apples work with almost anything. Here are a few easy ways to enjoy them:
- Spooned over vanilla ice cream or greek yogurt
- Layered on buttermilk pancakes, french toast, or oatmeal
- Served warm with a dollop of whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel
- Paired with glazed ham, pork chops, or ribs for a Cracker Barrel-style meal
- Tucked into a dump cake, empanadas, or used as a pie filling
They’re also perfect with other cozy apple desserts like these Baked Apple Fritters That Taste Like Fall.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftover apples in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To reheat, just warm them in the microwave or toss in a skillet over low heat.
Freezing isn’t ideal—the texture will go soft and watery.
FAQs
Can I use these apples as pie filling?
Yes! They have the perfect tender texture and thick syrup for pies, dump cakes, or even hand pies.
What’s the best apple variety to use?
Honey crisp, Granny Smith, Gala, or Fuji all work beautifully. Each adds a slightly different balance of tartness and sweetness.
Can I cook them on LOW instead of HIGH?
I don’t recommend it. Cooking on LOW tends to make the apples too mushy. HIGH is best for that just-right tender bite.
Slow Cooker Fried Apples – Cracker Barrel Copycat Recipe Card
Slow Cooker Cracker Barrel Fried Apples | Delicious Copycat
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
Description
These Slow Cooker Cracker Barrel Fried Apples taste like warm pie filling. Sweet, spiced, and syrupy, they’re easy to prep and make the house smell like fall.
Ingredients
6 medium honey crisp apples (about 3 lbs), peeled and sliced into ¼” pieces
½ cup brown sugar (packed)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons cornstarch
¼ cup butter, cubed
Instructions
1. Wash, peel, and slice apples into ¼” pieces.
2. Place apple slices evenly in a 6-quart slow cooker.
3. Sprinkle brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and cornstarch over apples.
4. Add cubed butter on top and stir until evenly coated.
5. Cover and cook on HIGH for 2–3 hours, stirring occasionally, until apples are tender and caramelized.
6. Switch to WARM and serve as a side or dessert.
Notes
Use tart apples like Granny Smith or Gala if preferred.
Do not cook on LOW—apples will become too mushy.
Add a squeeze of lemon juice for brightness if desired.
Delicious served over ice cream, pancakes, or alongside pork dishes.
Recipe makes a syrupy, pie-filling-like consistency.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Slow Cooker Recipes
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8th of recipe
- Calories: 209
- Sugar: 34g
- Sodium: 53mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Carbohydrates: 41g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 0.5g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
More Such Recipes
If you love cozy apple dishes, here are a few more to try:
- Easy Crescent Roll Apple Turnovers for a Quick Dessert
- Healthy Small Batch Apple Crumble Bars Perfect for Snacking
- Slow Cooker Apple Butter You Can Make at Home
- Baked Apple Fritters That Taste Like Fall
Final Thoughts
These Slow Cooker Cracker Barrel Fried Apples bring warmth, sweetness, and a little nostalgia to the table.
In fact, if you’ve ever wanted an easy way to make Slow Cooker Cracker Barrel Fried Apples at home, this is the one to save.
They’re simple to make, endlessly versatile, and always a hit.
If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear how you served them! Leave a comment or tag me on Pinterest or Facebook.