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This crockpot (slow cooker) applesauce recipe is a family favorite. Eat it as a snack, or serve it alongside a holiday ham or roast turkey.

I was nearly ousted from the family last night. I put a comment on the Cookin' Canuck Facebook page to say that my mother-in-law's applesauce recipe was cooking in the crockpot and I would be posting the recipe. About 30 minutes later, my brother-in-law commented, "Noooo...can't post the family recipe..." and later "Just won't feel the same knowing that millions of people across the country will be enjoying it" (a million people - in my dreams).

I had to respect his unwillingness to share his mum's recipe and his loyalty to this applesauce of all applesauces. The only way to resolve this dilemma was to go to the source. I called my mother-in-law to ask for her blessing which, luckily for all of you, she happily gave. So, if you make this recipe, please give a nod of thanks to several generations of women who have made this recipe for the families that always appreciated its wonderful flavor and warmth. To my brother-in-law: I hereby pledge to put a copyright on this recipe if I ever get millions of readers and to take all other family recipes to the grave with me.

The recipe:

Peel, core, quarter and slice 5 medium-sized Gala and 5 medium-sized Yellow Golden Delicious apples. Now, if you have one of these handy-dandy apple peelers, your work will be done in about 5 minutes. My kids fight over who gets to be the first peeler operator of the season.

Place all of the apple pieces in a large bowl and add ¼ cup granulated sugar and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. The original recipe calls for ¾ to 1 cup of sugar. Each year, I have decreased the amount of sugar by a little bit. No one seems to have noticed, so I've decided to stick with the lower sugar version. The waistband on my jeans thanks me.

Stir well.

Pour ¼ cup water or apple juice into the bottom of a large crockpot (slow cooker) and add the apple mixture.

Cover, turn the crockpot setting to Low, and cook for about 8 hours, stirring occasionally and breaking up the apple slices with a wooden spoon as they soften. If you have a faster-paced life, crank the crockpot up to high and cook for 5 hours. It's that easy.

Other family apple recipes:

Smitten Kitchen's Mom's Apple Cake
Simply Recipes' Mom's Baked Apple Slices
A Whisk & a Spoon's Mom's Banana Apple Bread

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