Crock Pot Apple Butter

Ingredients:

• 5 1/2 pounds apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped
• 4 cups sugar (I used 2 cups honey and 1 cup brown sugar with great results!)
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp cloves
• 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions:

• Place apples in crock pot.  In a bowl, combine remaining ingredients.  Pour over the apples and mix well.
• Cover and cook on High for 1 hour.
• Reduce heat to Low and cook 9-11 hours, stirring occasionally.  Mixture should thicken and turn dark brown.
• Uncover and continue cooking on Low for 1 hour.  If you like your butter to be smooth, stir with a whisk.
• Spoon into containers and store in the refrigerator or freezer.

Baked Pineapple Dessert

Ingredients:

• Fresh pineapple chunks
• Brown sugar
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• 1-2 TBS melted butter

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 375.
• Place pineapple chunks in baking dish.  Sprinkle with brown sugar.  Add a few dashes of cinnamon and nutmeg to taste.  Drizzle with melted butter.
• Bake for about 20 minutes.  Look for the brown sugar to melt and start to caramelize, and the edges of the pineapple to brown slightly.
• Allow to cool for a few minutes before enjoying over a bowl of ice cream!

Peaches & Cream

This is such a delicious summer-y dessert that is sure to please a crowd! The only hang-up is that you have to plan ahead for this one to give everything enough time to chill!

Ingredients:

Crust-

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup flour
• 2 TBS sugar

Filling-

• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 8 oz cool whip

Topping-

• 1 cup sugar
• 3 TBS cornstarch
• 1 1/4 cups cold water
• 3 oz dry peach Jell-o
• 5 cups peeled & sliced peaches (If you want to 'cheat' and use canned peaches, you'll still come out with awesome results, so don't feel a bit guilty about taking a shortcut! Just be sure to drain them!) ;)

Instructions:

Crust-

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a small bowl, stir sugar and flour together. Melt butter and add to sugar & flour mixture. Press into 9" x 13" pan.
• Bake for 8-10 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.

Filling-

• Whip all 3 ingredients together until they reach the consistency of melted marshmallows.
• Spread on cooled crust.

Topping-

• Combine first 3 ingredients in a small pan. Heat to boiling. Boil until thick.
• Remove from heat and add Jell-o. Stir until dissolved.
• Place peaches in a bowl. Pour Jell-o mixture over them and stir well. Cool completely.
• Spoon cooled peach mixture over crust and filling. Chill for at least one hour.

Apple Cranberry Crisp

A yummy twist on the classic apple crisp! The cranberries make for great eye appeal, too!

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup and 1/2 TBS flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats (quick-cooking works fine too)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup cold butter
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
• 4 apples, peeled and cubed
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries (fresh or frozen are great too!)
• 1/4 cup maple syrup

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter square pan.
• Combine 3/4 cup flour, brown sugar, oats, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry blender. Fold in pecans. Set aside.
• Place apples in pan. Add cranberries, maple syrup, and remaining flour. Mix well.
• Spread topping over apple mixture.
• Bake 40-50 minutes.

Peach Shortcakes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 cup + 2 tsp sugar, divided
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp lemon zest
• 4 oz cream cheese, cubed
• 1/3 cup + 1 TBS milk, divided
• 3 large fresh peaches, sliced
• 1 1/2 TBS lemon juice
• 1 cup thawed whipped topping

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Mix flour, 2 TBS sugar, baking powder, and zest in large bowl. Cut in cream cheese with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in 1/3 cup milk until mixture becomes dough.
• Divide dough into 8 equal balls. Place on baking sheet. Flatten to 1/2" thickness and brush tops with remaining milk. Sprinkle with 2 tsp sugar.
• Bake 12-15 minutes.
• Combine peaches, remaining sugar, and lemon juice.
• To serve, cut shortcakes in half and fill with peaches and whipped topping.