Crock Pot Apples with Lemon Sauce

As the weather gets warmer ( oh please let it be soon) we tend to eat lighter.  We gravitate away from the oven to the grill and the crock pot. Winter or summer we can make delicious dinners AND desserts all year round in our crock pots.  This very easy Crock Pot Apples with Lemon Sauce dessert has an elegant look and taste to it.  The Lemon Sauce takes apples up to “top notch” with it’s delicious flavor and creaminess.  Feel free to switch the apples out for pears for a nice variation.  Adding a scoop of ice cream to the apples with a dollop or two of the lemon sauce would make an excellent summer treat!  You’ll find reasons to make this dessert no matter what the season.  Enjoy!

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Crock Pot Apples with Lemon Sauce

Makes 6 servings

Ingredients:

6 medium apples or pears, cut in half (I used gala apples)

1 teaspoon finely shredded lemon zest ( 1 lemon gave me the juice and zest needed for the recipe)

2 Tablespoons lemon juice

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Pinch of cinnamon

1 – Eight ounce block cream cheese , softened and cut into cubes

1 /4 cup whipping cream

3 tablespoons crushed nuts

Directions:

You can peel the apples if you desire, but it’s not necessary. Cut the apples in half , core the middle out with a melon baller.  Places the apples in a large bowl, add lemon zest and lemon juice, toss lightly to coat.  Add the brown sugar, nutmeg and dash of cinnamon, gently toss to coat.  Transfer the apple mixture into a 31/2 – 4 quart crock pot.  Place the lid on the crock pot, place on high setting for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until apples are tender but still retain their shape.

Carefully transfer the apples from the crock pot to a large bowl with a slotted spoon.  Pour the crock pot juices into a medium size sauce pan.  Place the cubed softened cream cheese and whipping cream into the pan.  Over low to medium heat, whisk and warm the mixture until the cream cheese has melted into the liquid.  Place 2 apple halves into dessert glasses, spoon lemon sauce over the apples and top with crushed nuts.  

 You can adjust the sauce consistency and flavor by adding a touch more lemon or add cream to achieve the results you want.