22/10/2023
4 lbs apples about 12, cored & quartered
▢ 1 orange quartered and unpeeled
▢ 3 cinnamon sticks
▢ 1 tsp whole cloves
▢ 1 tsp allspice berries
▢ ½ tsp ground nutmeg or 1 whole nutmeg
▢ ¼ cup light brown sugar (or honey, dark brown sugar, maple syrup, coconut sugar, etc.)
▢ 10-12 cups water Put apples, orange, cinnamon sticks, cloves, cinnamon sticks, ground nutmeg and brown sugar in the container of a slow cooker (at least 5 quarts).
Pour water over the ingredients in the crock pot until covered by about ½” (this is usually about 10 cups water), stir with a wooden spoon to combine.
Turn crockpot on to high and cook the mixture for 4 hours.
After 4 hours, remove the orange pieces and discard them.
Then, use a potato masher to mash the cooked apples (this should be easy to do).
Continue cooking on high for an additional 1 hour, with the lid about halfway ajar.
Strain the mixture through a fine metal sieve into a large glass bowl (I use an 8 cup batter bowl, this recipe makes about 8 cups or 2 L).
Gently press out the liquid from the apple mixture in the strainer into the bowl. (note: if you have a smaller strainer you may need to do this in a few batches. Discard the apple/spice mixture after you have pressed the liquid out, then repeat with another portion).
Store in a glass jar with a lid for up to 1 week.