Holiday Recipe Spectacular ~Crock Pot Apple Butter: An Awesome Gift In a Jar! 12/16/11

What better gift than a homemade one?  Make these with your kids, and make your Christmas giving extra special this year.



Step 1:
About 15 apples (depends on the size of your crock pot and your apples - I used a 5 qt crock pot and had medium sized apples)
1 cup apple cider

Peel, core, and thinly slice all the apples until your crock pot is full. Turn it on high, add cider and cook for about an hour, then turn heat to low and cook about 8-10 hours.

Step 2:

2 - 2 1/2 cups sugar
4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

When you take off the lid, the apples should be reduced to about half their volume and most of the chunks should be gone.  Add sugar and spices, stir until well mixed and cook on low for approximately 8 more hours. If its still not smooth, blend with an immersion blender or in a food processor or blender.  Spoon into jars and enjoy. Keep refrigerated for about 2 weeks or can by processing in a water bath.

Holiday Recipe Spectacular - Dessert - Butter Horns

If you’re looking for buttery and light, this delicate dessert will headline any holiday party!  Thanks mom!

Butter Horns

2 cups flour         

1cup butter, softened

½ cup sour cream

¼ t salt

¼ t baking powder         

1 cup (divided) sugar

2 eggs                  

2/3pecans, finely chopped

¾ t cinnamon

Directions

Into large bowl, measure flour, salt, baking powder, ½ sugar and one egg yolk.  (Place egg white in small bowl and set aside.) Mix ingredients until dough holds together. Shape into ball and refrigerate 2-3 hours (or place in freezer for 40 minutes.) In small bowl, stir pecans, cinnamon and sugar. Preheat oven to 375◦.  Roll one-third of dough on floured counter or mat into 10” round.  With pastry brush, brush with egg white.  Cut into 12equal wedges.  Place one teaspoon sugar/nut mixture in center of each wedge and roll up from curved edged.  Place cookies on ungreased baking sheet; curve into crescent.  Brush with egg white and sprinkle with sugar/nut mixture.  Bake cookies 10-12 minutes until light brown.  Remove to wire racks to cool.  Store in tightly covered container.  Makes 4 dozen cookies.