Easy Slow Cooker Apple Sauce

If I am not moving in a whirlwind of activity during the daytime, I think I'd actually lose my balance. Since breakfast needed to cook 20 minutes with no help from me I had to occupy myself.  Surplus or orchard apples and a slow cooker, criss cross applesauce!  It's so simple and makes a great healthy snack or addition to a packed lunch.  The scent is amazing.  I've noticed in the past few weeks our neighborhood has had new homes go up for sale.  If I had an open house this time of year, forget baked cookie smell, I'd cook up some applesauce in my slow cooker and leave a big bowl of local apples to sample.  No applesauce to share though, that's all for the owners who have to work at a spotless house!

Ingredients

8-10 apples
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp honey
1/2 cup water
brown sugar or maple syrup to taste (optional)

Directions

1. Peel apples.  I usually cut them in four around the core then half those pieces.
2. Combine all ingredients, expect optional sugar, in slow cooker and mix together.
3. Cook on low for 6 hours.
4. Mash apples with potato masher for a homey chunky sauce or use immersion blender or mixer for smoother sauce.  
5. Taste the sauce.  If you want it sweeter add a tablespoon of brown sugar or maple syrup at a time until it suits your taste.  If you want more cinnamon add it now.
6. Sauce keeps for 3 weeks in the fridge.  You can also jar in for longer storage.  Serve warm or chill for later, yummy both ways.  Enjoy!