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Sweet Cider Lake Recipe

The first thing that comes to mind when you think about autumn is the smell of apple pie baking in the oven.

In this article we’ll look at how to make an easy, delicious, and healthy version of this popular fall treat.

What Type Of Sweetener Do You Use In Your Sweet Cider Lake Recipe?

I like using organic cane sugar for my recipes because it has no additives or preservatives.

If you are on a budget, however, regular granulated white sugar can be used as well.

Sweet Cider Lake Recipe

How Much Sugar Do You Add To Your Sweet Cider Lake Recipe?

This recipe calls for 2 cups (500 mL) of granulated white sugar.

If you want to cut back on the amount of sugar used in your recipe, try using honey instead.

Honey has less than half the calories as white sugar so it can be used in place of some or all of the sugar called for in this recipe.

Just keep in mind that honey will have a slightly different taste from regular sugar since its flavor profile includes both fructose and glucose.

You could also substitute maple syrup for the granulated white sugar if you prefer.

Maple syrup contains more nutrients and minerals than regular white sugar but it does not contain any added preservatives like refined sugars often do.

Other options for adding sweetness to your sweet cider lake recipe

If you don’t want to go overboard on the sugar content of your sweet cider lake recipe, there are several ways to reduce the amount without sacrificing flavor.

Try replacing half the sugar with either brown sugar or molasses.

The molasses option provides additional iron, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, manganese, copper, potassium, sodium, protein, fiber, and B vitamins.

Brown sugar adds more carbohydrates which helps give your body energy during exercise.

Both types of sugar provide similar amounts of calories so you should choose whichever one suits your preference best.

Another way to get rid of excess sugar while keeping the same flavor profile is by using agave nectar instead of white sugar.

Agave nectar is derived from the sap of the blue agave plant.

Blue agaves are native to Mexico where they grow naturally.

They produce large quantities of thick, clear juice that is rich in antioxidants, enzymes, amino acids, and minerals such as magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, and vitamin C.

On average, 1 cup (250 mL) of agave nectar contains approximately 70% fructose which makes it comparable to white sugar in terms of caloric value.

How Much Water Do You Add To Your Sweet Cider Lake Recipe?

You will need 1 cup (250 ml) of boiling water for every 2 cups (500 ml) of apple juice or cider.

If you are using fresh apples, cut them into quarters and then peel off their skins.

Cut out the cores from each quarter so they can be sliced more easily.

You should have 8 cups (1.9 liters) of peeled and cored apples after doing all of this work.

Put the apples in a large pot and pour enough warm water over them to cover them by two inches (5 cm).

Add one teaspoon (5 ml) of cinnamon per quart (liter) of apples if you want it to taste like traditional apple pie filling.

Let the mixture simmer until the liquid has reduced slightly.

Remove the pan from heat and let cool completely.

When the apples are cooled, put them in a food processor and pulse them several times until they form a paste.

Then transfer the mixture back to the slow cooker and stir well to combine everything together thoroughly.

Pour the prepared apples into the bottom of the crockpot and set aside while you prepare the topping.

For the topping, mix 4 tablespoons (60 g) brown sugar, 3 teaspoons (15 ml) flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg in a bowl.

Stir in 5 tablespoons (75 ml) melted butter.

Use a fork to blend the ingredients together until they are evenly mixed.

The topping should stick together when pressed between your fingers.

Pour the topping onto top of the apples in the crockpot, spreading it as thin as possible across the entire surface.

Cook on low setting for 6 hours or high setting for 3 hours.

Your sweet cider lake recipe should be ready to eat once the topping is done cooking.

What Type Of Apples Do You Use In Your Sweet Cider Lake Recipe?

I like using Gala or Pink Lady apples.

These are two varieties that hold their shape well during cooking and have a nice tart flavor.

If you don’t want to use fresh apples, then you can also buy frozen, canned, or dried apples from the grocery store.

They work just fine!

Do You Add Any Other Fruit To Your Sweet Cider Lake Recipe?

There are many different recipes out there on the web that involve adding different fruits into their sweet cider lake recipe.

Some people like to mix it up by including pineapple or rhubarb as well.

But what I recommend is sticking to one main ingredient because if you try to include too many things, then all those ingredients will dilute the flavor of your final product.

So stick to just apples, sugar, and water.

Rhubarb

If you want to go crazy with your sweet cider lake recipe, here’s a great way to prepare it using fresh rhubarb instead of apples.

You can even add some cinnamon sticks to give it more flavor.

Pineapple

People who love sweet cider lakes often prefer to use pineapple instead of apples.

Although I don’t personally have a problem with eating plain old apples, I know that some people enjoy this particular variation of the traditional dessert.

How Long Do You Cook Your Sweet Cider Lake Recipe?

This recipe takes approximately two hours from start to finish.

You need to let it simmer for around 1 hour 30 minutes before serving.

The longer you leave it cooking, the more flavorful it will be!

If you prefer your desserts on the sweeter side, then increase the amount of sugar by half or double the measurement.

For example, if you want to sweeten up the recipe, just take out one cup (250ml) of water and replace it with 2 cups (500ml) of sugar instead.

What Type Of Vessel Do You Cook Your Sweet Cider Lake Recipe In?

This is one of those recipes where it really matters what kind of pan or pot you choose.

You want something big enough to hold all of the ingredients, but small enough so they don’t overcook too quickly.

If you have a large stockpot, then go ahead and use it.

But if you only have a smaller saucepan, consider using two pans instead of just one.

If you are cooking on the stovetop, I recommend using a large skillet or sauté pan.

If you’re doing it on the grill, you can use a cast iron Dutch Oven (or similar) as well.

The important thing here is that you have room to move around without having everything touch each other.

You may also need to increase the heat slightly once the ingredients start boiling because some fruits release their juices more easily than others.

Use a wide-bottomed frying pan

A good choice would be a 10 inch skillet with sides high enough to allow for a shallow layer of liquid in the bottom.

A 12-inch skillet should work fine as well.

There isn’t anything wrong with using a larger pan, but there will be less surface area which means your food will take longer to finish cooking.

Also, because the pan is wider, you won’t get quite as many bubbles from the steam rising off the top.

Preheat your pan before adding the ingredients

Before putting the ingredients into the pan, turn down the burner under them to medium low.

Once the pan has heated up, put in the rest of the ingredients except for the apple slices and stir until combined.

Then pour in the sliced apples and give them a quick stir again.

Let the mixture boil while stirring occasionally until the apples begin to soften and break apart.

That’s the point where you might want to remove the pan from the heat.

If not already softened, the apples should still be firm enough to pick up with a fork after being stirred through the mixture.

Use a slow cooker

You can certainly make this in a standard crockpot, but you’ll probably end up spending more time cleaning it out afterwards than you did preparing it.

Instead, try making it in a pressure cooker like Instant Pot.

Just fill the insert halfway full with water, place the lid on it, and set the temperature control to “high pressure”.

Add the remaining ingredients in order listed above and wait for 15 minutes to pressurize.

When it’s done, let it naturally depressurize for 5 minutes, then open the lid carefully.

Remove the cooked apples from the pot and serve immediately.

Sweet Cider Lake Recipe

How Do You Serve Your Sweet Cider Lake Recipe?

This recipe is perfect for making into a cake or cupcake form.

You can also pour it out onto plates like a sauce, but if you want something more substantial, try serving it as a pie filling.

Cake Form

You will need:

1/4 Cup butter (softened)

3 Cups flour

1 1/2 Teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 Cup brown sugar

1 Cup honey

Zest from one orange

2 Eggs beaten well

1 Cup milk

Peel and grate two large oranges

1/2 Cup raisins

1/2 Cup chopped walnuts

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Sauce Form

You will need:

1/2 Cup butter (softened)

3 Cups flour

1/2 Teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1 Cup brown sugar

1 Cup honey

Zest from one orange

2 Eggs beaten well

1 Cup milk

Peel and grate two large oranges

1/2 Cup raisins

1/2 Cup chopped walnuts

Heat the butter over medium heat until melted.

In a separate bowl combine all dry ingredients.

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.

Grease a 9×13 pan with cooking spray then spread batter evenly across the bottom of the pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.

Pie Filling

You will need:

1/2 Cup butter (softened)

3 Cups flour

1/2 Teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 Cup brown sugar

1 Cup honey

Zest from one orange

2 Eggs beaten well

1 Cup milk

Peel and grate two large oranges

1/2 Cup raisins

1/2 Cup chopped walnuts

Heat the butter over medium heat until melted.

In a separate bowl combine all dry ingredients.

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.

Grease a 9×9 inch pan with cooking spray and set aside.

Pour mixture into prepared pan and bake for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown.

Sweet Cider Lake Recipe

What Are Some Of Your Favorite Toppings For Your Sweet

While I love apple pie, it can be hard to find one that doesn’t have refined sugars or corn syrup (or both).

One way to fix this problem is by making your own homemade pumpkin pie filling using real ingredients like canned pumpkin, maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cardamom instead of processed sugars and artificial flavors.

I also recommend adding fresh berries on top of your sweet cider lake recipe.

This will give it extra sweetness and color without making it too cloying.

You could even swap out the apples used in this recipe for pears if you prefer something different!

If you want to try my pear-apple cobbler, check this recipe out.

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