Easy Slow Cooker Baked Apples You Can Set and Forget

These slow cooker baked apples are simple to put together, crowd-pleasing, and smell oh-so-good. Easy. Warm. Delicious.

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Made with crisp apples, warming spices, and a handy slow cooker this recipe for slow cooker baked apples is a simple and nourishing dessert. Grab your coconut milk ice cream, stat.

Can You Use Any Kind of Apple for This Recipe?

collage of images of slow cooker baked apples showing the different states of the recipe and how to make slow cooker spiced apples.
Slow cooker baked apples could not be easier and your house will smell like heaven. – Credit: Organic Authority Studio

Yes, you can. However, most importantly, choose organic apples, as their conventional counterparts are frequently found on the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen list. Besides, organic apples boast more antioxidants and polyphenols than conventional apples.2

While any apple would technically work, we recommend firm apples such Fuji or Honeycrisp.

BTW if you’re still using your mother’s CrockPot, today’s modern slow cookers have come a long way. It’s seriously time you replace it with a more modern version. We used GreenPan’s Elite Slow Cooker to make this recipe because it’s non-toxic and PFAS-free (so no forever chemicals). You can read the full review here.

And, if you love seasonal apples as much as we do, try some of our other apple recipes: Cinnamon Apple Toast (a sweet alternative to avocado toast), Sweet Potato Bowl with Apples (an upgrade to boring oatmeal), and No-Bake Apple Bars (a nutrition-packed make-ahead snack or breakfast).

If you make this recipe we’d love for you to follow and tag us on Instagram @organicauthority showing off your creation!

Health Benefits of Apples

image of 3 fresh apples cored on a natural wood cutting board for slow cooker desserts
Slow cooker desserts aren’t just for fall; they work well in the summer, too, because you won’t have to heat up your whole kitchen. – Credit: Organic Authority Studio

Not only are they crunchy, sweet, apples are some of the healthiest fruits around.

Rich in Vitamin C and Fiber

Apples have an impressive amount of vitamin C and fiber, as well as other phytonutrients, minerals, and vitamins – most of which are found in the skin of apples, FYI.

One medium apple contains roughly five grams of fiber, a nutrient essential for an optimally functioning digestive system. Fiber is also necessary for slowing down carbohydrate metabolism and keeping blood sugar levels steadied.

High in Phytonutrients

Phytonutrients, or compounds that act like antioxidants in the body, are abundant in apples. These include quercetin, catechin, phloridzin and chlorogenic acid, all of which have been shown to reduce oxidative stress and combat inflammation, according to a 2004 review on apple phytochemicals published in Nutrition Journal.1

image of the slow cooker baked apples filling mixture for the spiced apples
These cinnamon apples are filled with whole-food ingredients that add tons of nutrition. – Credit: Organic Authority Studio
image of three cored apples filled with cinnamon spice mixture for the baked apple recipe
A baked apple recipe that goes in the slow cooker means you can set them and forget them. – Credit: Organic Authority Studio
Image of a GreenPan slow cooker, a non-toxic option for slow cooker recipes
Slow cooker recipes mean you have something that you can look forward to all day. – Credit: Organic Authority Studio

Numerous epidemiological studies associate apple consumption with decreased risk of many chronic diseases including heart disease, cancer, and asthma. In vitro and animal studies have also shown that apples exhibit high antioxidant activity, can inhibit cancer cell growth, decrease lipid oxidation, and lower cholesterol, according to the review.1

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Slow Cooker Baked Apple Recipe

Image of plated slow cooker baked cinnamon apples served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream which pairs well with spiced apples
Cinnamon apples, spiced apples, it doesn’t matter what you want to call ’em, you’ll want to eat ’em a la mode. – Credit: Organic Authority Studio

Did you need another excuse to don some boots, grab your flannel, and pick some organic apples to make these slow cooker-baked cinnamon apples?

Prep time: 10 min Cook time: 4 hrs Total time: 4 hr 10 min Servings: 4

Ingredients

Baked Apples

Preparation

  1. In a small bowl mix together pecans, raisings, oats, coconut oil, spices, and sea salt. Set aside.
  2. Using a sharp pairing knife, carefully core the center of the apple. Make a small hole in the center of the apple, leaving about ½ inch of apple at the bottom.
  3. Gently fill each apple with nut and raisin mixture and place in the slow cooker.
  4. Pour water or apple juice into the bottom of slow cooker and around apples.
  5. Add in cinnamon sticks.
  6. Set the slow cooker to low and cook for 4 hours, or until apples are soft and easily pierced with a fork.
  7. Remove apples from slow cooker and serve each with a scoop of coconut milk ice cream.
  8. Enjoy while warm!

Cooking Tools I Used

Image of GreenPan Slow Cooker on a white marble countertop with marble subway backsplash and a window. Also on the counter gifts wrapped in light green and tied with a white ribbon.

Elite 6-Quart Slow Cooker | Premiere Stainless Steel

Price: $249.99*

SHOP GREENPAN NOW

*At time of publish.

Premiere Titanium Cutlery 8-Piece Knife Block Set with Walnut Handles

Premiere Titanium Cutlery 8-Piece Knife Block Set with Walnut Handles

Price: $199.99*

SHOP GREENPAN NOW

*At time of publish.

Platinum Silicone 7-Piece Utensil and Crock Set | Gray

Platinum Silicone 7-Piece Utensil and Crock Set | Gray

Price: $119.99*

SHOP GREENPAN NOW

*At time of publish.

FAQs

Can you make these baked apples in advance?

Absolutely! And, depending on the capacity of your slow cooker, you could double or triple the recipe to have more on hand.

When the time comes, heat these up in a saute pan with a lid and a 1/4 cup of water at the bottom of the pan. You could also heat them up in the air fryer or microwave.

Are baked apples still healthy?

Yes, baked apples are still full of good nutrients. However, cooking tends to decrease the vitamin C since it’s particularly susceptible to heat. Since these are cooked with their skin on, most of the fiber and some of the phytochemicals are retained.3

Are baked apples naturally vegan?

Yes, baked apples are naturally vegan and as long as you don’t add any animal-based ingredients such as butter, then they remain so.
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Sources:

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC442131/
  2. http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf803961f
  3. https://www.nutritionletter.tufts.edu/ask-experts/which-is-healthier-cooked-or-raw-apples/
By Kate Gavlick
Kate Gavlick is a nutritionist with a Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition (MSCN). Hailing from Portland Oregon, and ... More about Kate Gavlick
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