Pecan Caramel Slow Cooker "Baked" Apple in Clay

Are you up for a sweet treat after the family dinner? How about apples for dessert?

Apples can be made into any dessert at any time of the year, but they're mainly a big hit during the fall and holiday season. I made these baked apples stuffed with nuts, dried fruit, and cooked butter, brown sugar, and maple syrup not in the oven but my VitaClay slow cooker; what a twist! The result is heavenly!

Ingredients:

• 4 large Granny Smith or other firm apples
• 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice
• 1 bowl of cold water
• 1/4 cup + 1 Tablespoon light brown sugar, divided
• 1/4 cup dried cherries or raisins
• 1/4 cup of pecans, chopped
• 3 Tablespoons butter, divided
• 1/2 cup of maple syrup
• 1 cinnamon stick

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, mix the lemon juice into the water. Set aside.
2. Slice the very top of the apple. Remove the core and seeds and make a canal 1 inch thick wide that stop 1/4 inch from the bottom of the apple. Drop the apple into the juice and water mixture. Do the same with the rest of the apples, one at a time. Leave the apples in the water until ready to stuff.
3. Prepare the baked apple filling: Place 1 Tablespoon of brown sugar, 1 Tablespoon of butter, pecans, and cherries into a mixing bowl. Mix the butter and sugar into the nuts and fruit. You can use any type of small dried fruit you desire.
4. Drain the lemon water off the apple one at a time. Stuff each apple with 1/4 of the nut mixture.
5. Pour the maple syrup into your VitaClay. Add in the remaining brown sugar and the remaining butter, then add the cinnamon stick.
6. Add 1 cup water in your Vitaclay pot. (Note, if use VM7800 models, please add 3 cups water in pot). Stand the apples into VitaClay slow cooker (can be placed on top of each other at an angle if needed).
7. Cover your cooker with clay cover and cooker lid. Set on Stew or Fast to cook for 30 minutes, or let apples stay in warm for additional 10 minutes until the apples are tender.
8. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked apples to a bowl.
9. Empty the sauce into a saucepan and place the pan over medium-high heat. Bring the sauce to a boil and allow to cook, occasionally stirring, until reduced to about 1/2 cup and becomes thick.
10. Pour the sauce over the apples before serving.