Slow-Cooker Applesauce

This slow-cooker applesauce is adapted from the recipe, Overnight Apple Butter, by Martha Stewart.

I really like this recipe.  I like how old-fashioned the applesauce is, how it tastes, plus, I like the color-a deep brown.

 Instead of leaving the slow-cooker lid ajar for most of the cooking hours to thicken up the apples into a butter, I prefer leaving the lid securely on the crock pot throughout the entire duration of cooking so that it cooks into applesauce!I think an assortment of different types of apples make the best flavor for applesauce.  A couple of tart ones are nice in the mix, too!

Peel and quarter apples for 5 pounds.  Put all the ingredients in the crock pot:  1 anise star, the apples, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt, 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice,   and 2 cups good-quality apple cider.

Cover and cook on high setting for 1 1/2 hours.  Stir, then reduce the heat to low for 1 hour.  Remove the anise star.  Cook an additional 7-9 hours.  Refrigerate or preserve into jars.apple of your eye