Three Easy Apple Recipes #RecipesforFall

Every Fall we look forward to our annual apple-picking trip. We're fortunate enough to have some amazing orchards nearby. This year, we may have over-done it a bit and ended up bringing home WAY too many apples. Fortunately, we have plenty of easy apple recipes on hand to remedy the situation! Enjoy...

1. Personal Apple Pie Baked in the Apple

• 4 medium size apples, 2 small apples
• 1 pie crust 
• 1/4 c sugar
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg

1. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Slice off the top of the 4 medium apples and discard. 
3. Remove the inside of each apple with a spoon or melon baller. Be careful not to puncture the peel of the apples.
4. Peel and chop the 2 small apples finely. (These apples will be part of the filling.)
5. Mix the chopped apples, sugars, cinnamon and nutmeg in a bowl. 
6. Fill hollow apples with mix.
7. Roll out the pie crust and slice into 1/4 inch strips.
8. Cover the top of each filled apple in a lattice pattern with the pie crust strips.
9. Place apples in a shallow pan or baking dish, adding a thin layer of water in the bottom.
10. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
11. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-20 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
12. Allow to cool some before serving.

2. Apple Butter

• approximately 8 medium size apples, peeled, cored, sliced
• 2 c sugar
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. cloves
• 3/4 cup water
• pinch of salt

1. Put all of the peeled, cored and sliced apples into a crockpot and set on low.(You may want to use a food processor on the slices for a little starter jam.)
2. Add the remaining ingredients and stir until evenly mixed. 
3. Cover and cook on low setting overnight or until the butter is of a thick, spreadable consistency (about 8 to 10 hours). Stir every other hour in the beginning, but more frequently as the butter thickens to prevent burning.
4. If the apple butter has too much liquid, remove the lid and cook on high until thickened. 
5. Allow to cool.
6. Put in container for refrigerator storage or freeze for longer storage.

3. Cinnamon Applesauce

• 8-10 apples (enough to fill the top of a crockpot)
• 1 c of brown sugar

1. Peel and slice apples.

2. Place in crockpot. Add brown sugar.

3. Bake on high for 4 hours or until chunky and tender.

4. Allow to cool.

5. Store in a container for refrigerator storage or freeze for longer storage.