Spiced Crock Pot Apple Sauce Gourmet Style

I really enjoyed coming up with this recipe.  It's fun to take basic applesauce and make it into something just a bit more fun!  I thought having specks of real vanilla bean in it was a really simple way to make it seem gourmet.  The kids loved it!

Spiced Crock Pot Apple Sauce Gourmet Style

Apples, Peeled, Cored and Sliced
2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
2 cups water
2-4 vanilla beans cut in half the long way leaving about a inch together at the end
1 cup Sucanat (or to desired sweetness depending on the apples)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cinnamon sticks and/or 1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4-1/2 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
1/4 teaspoon Sea Salt
1 drop of Lavender essential oil (optional) 

In 5 quart Crock Pot, put enough apples to fill really full mixed with the Lemon Juice.  Then add the rest of the ingredients and cook on high until apples are nice and soft (at least 4 hours) stirring as often as you would like.  Once apples are cooked remove vanilla beans and cinnamon sticks then blend with a stick blender until smooth.  Place into quart jars and water bath can for 25-30 minutes.  Makes about 2-3 quarts.  If you use the Lavender essential oil be sure to use ONLY ONE DROP a little goes a long way.  You get just a hint of Lavender tastes even more gourmet.  Totally optional though!

To use a full bushel of apples it takes about 3 crock pots full!  So I borrow my Mother-in-Law's crock pot and I have two of my own.  I get 6-8 quarts this way.  You can also use a great big pot on the stove and cook them that way.  It should only take about and hour to cook up on the stove. More or less depending on how much you do.