Apple Snack Squares

I just realized I've had apples coming out of my ears for almost a week now and I haven't made these yet!!! Are you kidding me? What was I thinking?

Mindee posted this recipe last year and I made them right away. And ate them right away.

Now it's your turn. I'm going to the store for butterscotch chips.

Apple Snack Squares

Ingredients
2 cups

sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 1/2 cups self-rising flour*
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 large tart apples; peeled and diced.
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional - but recommended!)
1 cup butterscotch chips

Directions

In a bowl, combine sugar, eggs and oil; mix well. Stir in flour and cinnamon (batter will be thick). Stir in apples and nuts. Spread into a greased 9x13 inch pan. Sprinkle with chips. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until golden and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool before cutting. Makes about 2 dozen.

*If you don’t have self-rising flour on hand and hate to go to the grocery store as much as I do, you can use this substitution:
For each cup of self-rising flour, place 1 1/2 tsp of baking powder and 1/2 tsp of salt in a measuring cup. Add all-purpose flour to equal one cup.

Apple Butter

Last year, I discovered a new fall favorite when I tried Mindee's marvelous Apple Butter recipe. I froze a bunch and have been eating it - and loving it - ever since.

Well, now Joshua loves it too and I have a lot of apples to use. So I thought, let's try another Apple Butter recipe!

Mindee's recipe starts with applesauce and this time around I wanted a recipe that goes from apples to apple butter. And my friend Annie was kind enough to share this one, about which I have heard rave reviews.

Now, this is in the slow cooker right now so I can't tell you how I like it yet, but if smell is any indication, I'm going to LOVE it!

The recipe calls for 4 cups of sugar, and being the great planner that I am, I only had 3 cups of white sugar on hand. So I used 1 cup of brown sugar as well - hope I didn't mess it up! We'll see!

Now, for your enjoyment...

Apple Butter
Makes approximately 4 pints

Ingredients
5 1/2 lbs apples, peeled and finely chopped (I use 3-4 different types of apples)
4 cups sugar
2-3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions
1. Place apples in a large bowl.
2. Combine sugar, cinnamon, cloves and salt.
3. Pour over apples and mix well.
4. Place in crock pot, cover and cook on high for 1 hour.
5. Decrease heat to low; cover and cook on low for 9-11 hours or until thickened and dark brown.
6. Stir occasionally.
7. Uncover and cook on low for 1 hour longer.
8. If desired, whisk until smooth.
9. Spoon into freezer containers, leaving 1/2-inch head space.
10. Cover and freeze.

Applesauce - Slow-Cooker Style

As you might have read on my other blog, we have a LOT of apples to use right now so I may be posting several apple recipes in the near future.

Including this one.

This is an incredibly easy way to make applesauce and it is very yummy. It is another great recipe shared by the Crockpot Lady - so thankful for her!

This applesauce tastes especially good when warm but is delicious cold as well.

I am trying another recipe tonight and I'll keep you posted on how that one turns out!

Crockpot Applesauce

Ingredients
4 large apples, skinned ,cored, and cut in quarters
juice from 1 lemon
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
1 T brown sugar
1/4 cup water

Directions
I used a 4 quart crockpot for the applesauce.

Skin, core, and cut your apples into quarters. Plop the pieces into your crockpot. Add the juice from the lemon, and the water. Pour in the vanilla (imitation or real - either works), and add the cinnamon and brown sugar.



Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours. When the apples are super tender, mash with a potato masher or large fork. 4 hours was long enough with my slow cooker, but it will vary between appliances.
Enjoy!