So this all happened because I bought a big bag of Courtland apples. They’re one of my favourites for  making apple crisp as they’re tart and hold their shape nicely. Problem was, however, that this particular batch of apples were not quite as fresh as I thought and were threatening to become mealy – yuck! I don’t know about you, but I’m not a fan of mealy apples! We do our best to avoid food spoilage, so that left 2 solutions: make multiple apple crisps (Robb’s vote), or experiment with other ideas (Sue’s vote…guess who won?).

I thought it would be fun, and make the house smell amazing to make applesauce in the slow cooker. I also thought it would be more flavourful and colourful to add raspberries. I added 3 small chopped dates to add a little sweetness. This is a great way to sweeten naturally, and lends an almost caramel-like taste – yum!

The great thing about homemade applesauce is that it’s super simple, requires few ingredients, is economical, and you know everything that’s in it! In addition to enjoying on its own, it makes a great base for a smoothie bowl. Simply add your favourite ingredients to increase the nutrient density and fibre content.

Since the apples I purchased were not organic, I elected to peel them. If using organic apples, leave the skins for added nutrients and fibre!

Slow Cooker Apple Raspberry Sauce

3 lbs of apples – I used Cortland – peeled, cored, and cut into 1 inch chunks
2 cups raspberries – I used frozen
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup apple juice or cider
2 T fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 – 3 small chopped dates *optional for added sweetness*

Place ingredients in slow cooker, mixing well. Set on Low for 8 hours, or Medium for 4 hours. When done, apples should be very soft. Use an immersion blender to blend until smooth. Store in sealed container in fridge for about a week, or freeze for a month or two. Enjoy this sugar-free treat!