Today I am sharing a recipe that is near and dear to my heart.
Baked Apples are a recipe my Dad made often when I was growing up. I come from a family of foodies and my Dad liked to cook just as much, or maybe more, than everyone else. This was one of his specialties. Now both of my parents have to watch their sugars and carbs and they sadly cannot enjoy desserts as often anymore. I was born with a big ol’ sweet tooth and as luck would have it, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes during my second pregnancy. So I had to cut out my beloved sweet tea and many of my favorite sweet treats and desserts. The gestational diabetes went away after Stella was born but I do still try to eat sweets in moderation, just like my parents.
So when the American Diabetes Association contacted me to share their Gift of Hope program, I was ready to sign up right away and spread the word! This is such a fantastic program that helps fund research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes. I hope you visit their website here: http://shopdiabetes.org/giftofhope.aspx to view the annual Holiday Gift catalog and make a purchase to support this wonderful cause!
This recipe for Slow Cooker Low Sugar Pecan and Cranberry Stuffed Apples is diabetic friendly and what you would call a “skinny” recipe. I reduced the sugar and calories from the traditional baked apple recipe. I substituted golden monk fruit sweetener for the brown sugar and used low sugar juice and dried cranberries. I also switched out the ice cream for vanilla Greek yogurt. Surprisingly I didn’t miss the extra sugar and this dessert even tasted better than the original {sorry Dad}!
View the American Diabetes Association Gift of Hope program and the annual Holiday Gift catalog here: http://shopdiabetes.org/giftofhope.aspx
View the digital catalog here:
http://shopdiabetes.org/digitalgiftofhope
Connect with the American Diabetes Association
Slow Cooker Low Sugar Pecan and Cranberry Stuffed Apples
Makes 6
Ingredients
- 6 large baking apples cored
- 2 tbsp butter {or non hydrogenated margarine} melted
- 1/4 cup brown sugar {or use a substitute like golden monk fruit sweetener}
- 1/4 cup low sugar dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup pecans chopped {plus additional for topping}
- 1 tsp apple pie spice
- 1/2 cup no sugar added cranberry juice
- Greek yogurt for topping
Instructions
- In a small bowl mix together cranberries, pecans, apple pie spice, and brown sugar {or substitute}.
- Add apples to a large slow cooker and fill the openings with the mixture, pressing and stuffing down the center.
- Pour juice then butter on top of apples.
- Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
- Serve warm topped with a dollop of yogurt, extra chopped nuts, and drizzled with the sauce from the slow cooker.
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For The Love of Food Blog
Start with 6 large apples.
Any apple will do but I like sturdy Golden Delicious, Gala, and Cortland apples.
Any apple will do but I like sturdy Golden Delicious, Gala, and Cortland apples.
Core the apples {no worries if it looks messy like mine-they will be filled}.
Place all the apples in your slow cooker.
I just tried this Monk Fruit sweetener over the weekend at ShiftCon in New Orleans and I love it!
It is the perfect substitute for brown sugar {which I use a lot!}.
It is the perfect substitute for brown sugar {which I use a lot!}.
I found no sugar and low sugar ingredients for this recipe including the juice and cranberries.
In a small bowl mix together cranberries, pecans, apple pie spice,
and brown sugar {or substitute}.
This looks good enough to eat!
Fill the openings with the filling mixture.
Press and stuff the filling down the center of each apple.
For the liquid I like to add a juice along with a couple tablespoons of melted butter.
I used cranberry juice this time but I have also used apple juice and cran-apple.
Water works fine too if you want to skip the juice!
I used cranberry juice this time but I have also used apple juice and cran-apple.
Water works fine too if you want to skip the juice!
Pour the butter and juice on top of each apple.
Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
Perfectly cooked and ready to eat!
These apples are so soft you can cut them with a spoon.
Serve warm topped with yogurt, extra chopped nuts, and drizzled with the sauce from the slow cooker.
I can’t wait to make this dessert for my parents
and I know my Dad will love it as much as I do!
This post is sponsored by the American Diabetes Association in conjunction with Blog Meets Brand and I have been compensated for my participation. All opinions are my own.
This look so yummy.. Watery mouth. Thanks for sharing. keep sharing like this. We get to know about new recipes from your site thanks.
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My Mother would have loved this dish! Baked apples were one of her favorites.
Great looking dessert! Love that you used the slow cooker for it! YUM!
Yum! Can't wait to give this a try!