How to make old-fashioned apple crisp in a slow cooker (video)

A fruit crisp may not be as pretty as pie, but I’ve always liked it better. The crunchy topping is the perfect counterpoint to tender fruit, and it won’t get soggy if served a la mode — which I highly recommend. Apple crisp is especially good since apples don’t release as much liquid as berries or cherries. As they cook down in the sugar and spices, they form a delicious caramel-y sauce.

The apple layer in a crisp can be made with little more than apples, sugar and cinnamon, but a squeeze of lemon for tartness, a dribble of vanilla for sweetness and a bit of cornstarch for thickening will make your crisp stand out from the rest.

Cooktop Cove

Slow Cooker Old-Fashioned Apple Crisp

15 minutes

3 hours, 30 minutes

3 hours, 45 minutes

APPLE LAYER:

1 tablespoon butter

6 apples, peeled, cored and chopped (I like Fuji or Honeycrisp)

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 tablespoon cornstarch

⅓ cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Dash of sea salt

CRISP LAYER:

1 cup old-fashioned oats

⅔ cup brown sugar

½ cup chopped pecans

⅓ cup all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon cinnamon

⅛ teaspoon sea salt

8 tablespoons butter, softened

Make the apple layer: Spread the butter around the inside of a 6-quart slow cooker, and then add the apples, lemon juice and vanilla. Toss to combine.

Sprinkle in cornstarch, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Toss to combine.

Make the topping: Combine oats, brown sugar, pecans, flour, cinnamon and sea salt in a large bowl. Add butter and use your fingers or a fork to blend into the dry ingredients until combined.

Sprinkle topping over the apples. Lay a sheet of paper towels over the top of the slow cooker and cover with the lid. Cook on high for 3½ hours, or until apples are tender and top is crisp.

Pro tip: To maximize crunch, remove lid and paper towels and cook uncovered for the last half hour of cooking time.

Note: All slow cookers are a little bit different in temperature and calibration. This recipe was tested in Cooktop Cove's Test Kitchen using this slow cooker, which is available for purchase here.

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