Appetizers, Snacks, and Spreads
Creamy Artichoke Dip
Jessica Stoner
West Liberty, OH
Makes 7-8 cups
Prep. Time: 15-20 minutes
Cooking Time: 1-1½ hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 3-qt.
2 14-oz. cans water-packed artichoke hearts, coarsely chopped (drain one can; stir juice from other can into Dip)
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded, part-skim mozzarella cheese
8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup mayonnaise
½ cup shredded Swiss cheese
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
2 Tbsp. plain yogurt
1 Tbsp. seasoned salt
1 Tbsp. chopped, seeded jalapeño pepper
1 tsp. garlic powder
Dippers: tortilla chips
1. In slow cooker, combine artichoke hearts, cheeses, mayonnaise, lemon juice, yogurt, salt, jalapeño pepper, and garlic powder.
2. Cover. Cook on Low 1 hour, or until cheeses are melted and Dip is heated through.
3. Serve with tortilla chips.
Variation:
Add 2 10-oz. pkgs. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry, to Step 1.
Steven Lantz
Denver, CO
Red Pepper-Cheese Dip
Ann Bender
Ft. Defiance, VA
Makes 4-5 cups
Prep. Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 2 hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 3-qt.
2 Tbsp. olive oil
4-6 large red peppers, cut into 1” squares
crackers and/or pita bread
½ lb. feta cheese, crumbled
1. Pour oil into slow cooker. Stir in peppers.
2. Cover. Cook on Low 2 hours.
3. Serve on crackers or pita bread, topped with feta cheese.
Barb Yoder
Angola, IN
Makes about 3½ cups
Prep. Time: 20-30 minutes
Cooking Time: 7-8 hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.
1½ cups chopped onion
6-oz. can tomato paste
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 minced cloves garlic (1 tsp.)
1½ tsp. crushed dried basil
½ tsp. dried thyme
15-oz. can chopped tomatoes, with juice drained but reserved
1 large zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced thin
salt and pepper to taste
slices of French bread or baguette
1. Mix all ingredients except bread in slow cooker.
2. Cover. Cook on Low 7-8 hours.
3. If mixture is stiffer than you wish, stir in some of reserved tomato juice.
4. Serve hot or cold on top of French bread or baguette slices.
Hot Cheddar Mushroom Spread
Amber Swarey
Honea Path, SC
Makes 3¼-½ cups
Prep. Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 1-1½ hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 2-qt.
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup (4 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese
⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 4½-oz. cans sliced mushrooms, drained
half an envelope Ranch salad dressing mix
minced fresh parsley
assorted crackers
1. Combine mayonnaise, cheeses, mushrooms, and dressing mix in slow cooker.
2. Cover. Cook on Low 1 hour, or until cheeses are melted and Dip is heated through.
3. Sprinkle with parsley and serve with crackers.
Nacho Dip
Rose Hankins
Stevensville, MD
Makes 3-4 cups
Prep. Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 3-4 hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.
4 cups (16 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese
14-oz. can diced tomatoes, drained, with juice reserved
7-oz. can chopped green chilies, drained
1 cup chopped onions
1 Tbsp. cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. hot pepper sauce
tortilla chips
1. Mix all ingredients except chips in slow cooker.
2. Cover. Cook on Low 3-4 hours.
3. Stir before serving. If Dip is stiffer than you like, stir in some of reserved tomato juice
4. Serve with tortilla chips for dipping.
I like to keep a basket full of small gifts by the door to give to guests as they leave. These are simple gifts like home-made dip mixes in jars or freshly baked cookies, wrapped in colorful papers or gift bags. Sending friends home with a little something extra is a fun way to end a get-together.
Mary Rogers, Waseca, MN
Lavina Hochstedler
Grand Blanc, MI
Anna Stoltzfus
Honey Brook, PA
Kathi Rogge
Alexandria, IN
Makes 5-6 cups
Prep. Time: 5-10 minutes
Cooking Time: 1-2 hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 3-qt.
24-oz. jar hot salsa
15-oz. can chili with beans
2 2¼-oz. cans sliced ripe olives, drained
12 ozs. mild cheese, cubed
tortilla chips
1. Combine all ingredients except tortilla chips in slow cooker.
2. Cover. Cook on Low 1-2 hours, or until cheese is melted, stirring halfway through.
3. Serve with tortilla chips.
Hot Hamburger Dip
Kristi See
Weskan, KS
Makes 7-8 cups
Prep. Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 1-2 hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 2-qt.
1 lb. ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
1 lb. Velveeta cheese, cubed
8-oz. can tomatoes and green chilies, undrained
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
½ tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. garlic powder
½ tsp. pepper
10¾-oz. can tomato soup
10¾-oz. can cream of mushroom soup
corn chips
little barbecued smokies
1. Brown ground beef and onions in skillet. Drain off drippings. Place beef and onions in slow cooker.
2. Add remaining ingredients, except corn chips and smokies, and stir well.
3. Cover. Simmer until cheese is melted.
4. Serve with corn chips and little barbecued smokies.
Cheesy Hot Bean Dip
John D. Allen, Rye, CO
Makes 4-5 cups
Prep. Time: 10 minutes • Cooking Time: 2 hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 2-qt.
16-oz. can refried beans
1 cup salsa
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded Jack and cheddar cheeses, mixed
1 cup sour cream
3-oz. pkg. cream cheese, cubed
1 Tbsp. chili powder
¼ tsp. ground cumin
tortilla chips
1. Combine all ingredients except chips in slow cooker.
2. Cover. Cook on High 2 hours. Stir 2-3 times during cooking time.
3. Serve warm from cooker with chips.
Note:
This bean dip is a favorite of ours. Once you start on it, it’s hard to leave it alone.
We have been known to dip into it even when it’s cold.
Nanci Keatley
Salem, OR
Makes 7-8 cups
Prep. Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 1-2 hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.
8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
¾ cup mayonnaise
1 lb. ground beef
1 envelope taco seasoning
12-oz. jar salsa
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese
garnishes: 4 cups lettuce, shredded; 2 medium tomatoes, chopped; 1 small onion, chopped
tortilla chips
1. In good-sized mixing bowl, mix together cream cheese, sour cream, and mayonnaise. Spread in bottom of lightly greased slow cooker.
2. Brown ground beef in skillet, breaking up clumps of meat with a wooden spoon as it browns. Drain off drippings.
3. Mix taco seasoning and salsa into browned meat. Spoon mixture over cream cheese mixture in slow cooker.
4. Sprinkle shredded cheddar over top.
5. Cover. Cook on Low 1-2 hours, or until cheese is melted.
6. Serve with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and tortilla chips.
TNT Dip
Sheila Plock
Boalsburg, PA
Makes 8 cups
Prep. Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 1-1¼ hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 3-qt.
1½ lbs. ground beef
10¾-oz. can cream of mushroom soup
half a stick (4 Tbsp.) butter, melted
1 lb. Velveeta, cubed
1 cup salsa
2 Tbsp. chili powder
tortilla chips and/or corn chips
party rye bread
1. Brown ground beef in skillet. Drain off drippings. Place browned beef in slow cooker.
2. Add all remaining ingredients, except chips and bread, to slow cooker. Mix well.
3. Cover. Cook on High 1-1¼ hours, or until cheese is melted. If you’re at home, stir occasionally during cooking.
4. Serve with tortilla chips, corn chips, and/or party rye bread.
Variation:
To change the balance of flavors, use only 1 lb. browned ground beef and add 1½ cups salsa.
Note:
My son has hosted a Super Bowl party for his college friends at our house the past two years. He served this Dip the first year, and the second year it was requested.
His friends claim it’s the best Dip they’ve ever eaten. With a bunch of college kids it disappears quickly.
Hot Beef Dip
Paula Showalter
Weyers Cave, VA
Makes about 3 cups
Prep. Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 2-3 hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 2-qt.
2 8-oz. pkgs. cream cheese, softened
2 cups (8 oz.) mild cheddar cheese, grated
1 green bell pepper, chopped fine
1 small onion, chopped fine
¼ lb. chipped dried beef, shredded
assortment of crackers
1. Combine cheeses in slow cooker.
2. Fold in pepper, onions, and beef.
3. Cover. Cook on Low 2-3 hours.
4. Serve hot with crackers.
Variation:
For more kick, add a few finely diced chili peppers to Step 2.
Annie C. Boshart
Lebanon, PA
Makes 8 cups
Prep. Time: 15-30 minutes
Cooking Time: 30-60 minutes
Ideal slow cooker size: 3-qt.
½ lb. lean ground beef
½ lb. hot Italian sausage
1 large onion, finely chopped
salt to taste
2 tsp. hot pepper sauce, or more or less to taste
2 16-oz. cans refried beans
4-oz. can chopped green chilies, drained
2-3 cups (8-12 oz.) grated Monterey Jack cheese
¾ cup hot, or mild, taco sauce
tortilla chips or corn chips
garnishes: chopped tomatoes, chopped green onions, chopped ripe olives, smashed ripe avocado, sour cream
1. In skillet, sauté meats with onion until browned. Drain off drippings. Season meat with salt and hot pepper sauce to taste.
2. Meanwhile, spread refried beans in lightly greased slow cooker.
3. Spoon browned meat over refried beans.
4. Top with chopped chilies.
5. Sprinkle with grated cheese.
6. Pour taco sauce on top of cheese. (Do not stir.)
7. Heat in slow cooker for 30-60 minutes on Medium High, or until Dip is heated through.
8. Serve with chips and garnishes.
Cheesy Sausage Dip
Marissa Pinon
Rio Rancho, NM
Cynthia Morris
Grottoes, VA
Makes 4-5 cups
Prep. Time: 15-25 minutes
Cooking Time: 30-60 minutes
Ideal slow cooker size: 3- to 4-qt.
1 lb. loose sausage
14½-oz. can Rotel tomatoes—hot, medium, or mild
2 lbs. Velveeta, or 3 8-oz. blocks cream cheese, cut into 1” squares
chips and/or tortilla scoops
1. Brown sausage in skillet, breaking up clumps of meat as it browns. Drain off drippings.
2. Transfer sausage to slow cooker. Stir in tomatoes and cheese cubes.
3. Cover. Cook on Low until melted, stirring occasionally.
4. Once cheese melts, turn slow cooker to “Keep Warm” or Low setting. Serve with chips or tortilla scoops.
Bacon Cheese Dip
Genelle Taylor
Perrysburg, OH
Makes 6 cups
Prep. Time: 10-20 minutes
Cooking Time: 2 hours or less
Ideal slow cooker size: 3-qt.
2 8-oz. pkgs. cream cheese, cubed
4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup half-and-half
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. dried minced onion
1 tsp. prepared mustard
16 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
tortilla chips and/or French bread slices
1. Combine first six ingredients in slow cooker.
2. Cover. Cook on Low 2 hours, or until cheeses are melted. Stir occasionally if you’re home and able to do so.
3. Just before serving, stir in bacon.
4. Serve warm with tortilla chips and/or French bread.
Amy Bauer
New Ulm, MN
Makes 3½ cups
Prep. Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 1 hour
Ideal slow cooker size: 3-qt.
10-oz. pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 lb. Velveeta, or your choice of soft cheese, cut into ½” cubes
3-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
14½-oz. can Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies, undrained
8 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
crackers and/or chips
1. Combine all ingredients except bacon, crackers and chips in slow cooker.
2. Cover. Heat on Low 1 hour, or until cheeses have melted and Dip is heated through. Stir occasionally if you’re around to do so.
3. Just before serving, stir in crumbled bacon.
4. Serve warm with crackers and/or chips.
Variation:
This is also tasty with half a package of spinach.
Creamy Pizza Dip
Rosalie Buckwalter
Narvon, PA
Makes 4½ cups
Prep. Time: 15-20 minutes
Cooking Time: 2-4 hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 3-qt.
8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, cubed and softened
¾ cup salad dressing, or mayonnaise (regular or light)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
8 oz. sliced pepperoni, chopped
2 ripe plum tomatoes, chopped
10 large, black olives, chopped
4 crusty Italian rolls, toasted if you wish, and then cut into ½” cubes and/or crackers
1. Mix all ingredients, except rolls and crackers for dipping, in slow cooker.
2. Cover. Cook on High 2-4 hours, or until cheese is melted and Dip is heated through.
3. Turn on Low to keep warm while serving.
4. Remove cover. Allow to cool slightly before serving with rolls and/or crackers for dipping.
Cheese Pizza Fondue
Annie C. Boshart
Lebanon, PA
Makes 6-7 cups
Prep. Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 1¼ hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 2-qt.
1 lb. ground beef
½ cup chopped onions
3 8-oz. cans pizza sauce with cheese
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
¾ tsp. oregano
¼ tsp. garlic powder
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
cubed French bread, tortilla chips, crackers
1. Brown ground beef and onion in skillet. Stir frequently with wooden spoon, breaking up clumps of meat. When brown, drain off drippings. Spoon meat and onion into slow cooker.
2. Add pizza sauce, cornstarch, oregano, and garlic powder to slow cooker. Stir into meat mixture.
3. Cover. Cook on Low 1 hour, or until mixtures bubbles and thickens. Stir occasionally if you’re able to.
4. Add cheese gradually, stirring well until it melts.
5. Serve hot with bread cubes, chips, and/or crackers for dipping.
I served this to my family as a main dish for supper. I made angel-hair pasta and we put the fondue over it as a sauce. We loved it! I also offered breadsticks for dipping into the sauce.
I like to set up an appetizer table so that I don’t feel as pressured if I’m running a little late with my meal. I try to make appetizers that can be prepared ahead and quickly set out.
Kristine Martin, Newmanstown, PA
Meatless Pizza Fondue
Virginia Graybill
Hershey, PA
Makes 4 cups
Prep. Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 3 hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 3-qt.
29-oz. jar meatless spaghetti sauce
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese
¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried minced onion
¼ tsp. garlic powder
1 lb. unsliced loaf Italian bread, cut into cubes
1. Combine spaghetti sauce, cheeses, oregano, onion, and garlic powder in slow cooker.
2. Cover. Cook on Low 3 hours, or until cheese is melted and sauce is hot.
3. Serve with bread cubes.
Note:
Each Christmas season, we have an evening set aside for a fondue meal. This recipe is always a hit.
Note from Tester:
I had some leftover sauce that I served as a topping for steamed cauliflower. My family loved it!
Slow Cooker Reuben Dip
Allison Ingels
Maynard, IA
Makes 5 cups
Prep. Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 3-4 hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 3-qt.
8 oz. sour cream
2 8-oz. pkgs. cream cheese, softened
8-oz. can sauerkraut, drained
3 2½-oz. pkgs. dried corned beef, finely chopped
6-oz. pkg. shredded Swiss cheese
rye crackers and/or rye party bread
1. Combine all ingredients except crackers and/or bread in slow cooker.
2. Cover. Heat on Low 3-4 hours, or until cheeses are melted.
3. Serve from cooker with rye crackers or rye party bread.
Char Hagner
Montague, MI
Makes about 50-60 meatballs
Prep. Time: 30-45 minutes
Cooking Time: 2 hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 3- to 4-qt.
Meatballs:
2 lbs. ground beef
⅓ cup parsley flakes
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
½ tsp. garlic powder
2 Tbsp. minced onion
1 cup cornflake crumbs
2 eggs
½ cup ketchup
Sauce:
1 can jellied cranberry sauce
12-oz. bottle chili sauce
2 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine Meatball ingredients until well mixed.
2. Form into 50-60 Meatballs and put in lightly greased 9x13 baking pan.
3. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, or until Meatballs are cooked through. (Cut one open to test.)
4. While meatballs are baking, combine Sauce ingredients in saucepan. Heat over low heat until jellied sauce and brown sugar melt. Stir frequently.
5. Place baked Meatballs in slow cooker. Pour Sauce over Meatballs, making sure that all are covered in Sauce if you’ve layered them into the cooker.
6. Cover. Cook on Low 2 hours, or until Sauce is bubbly.
7. Turn slow cooker to Warm and serve with toothpicks.
Variations:
1. Use 1 lb. ground beef and 1 lb. ground pork instead of 2 lbs. ground beef.
2. Use 10¾-oz. can condensed tomato soup, mixed with 1 tsp. prepared mustard, instead of chili sauce.
Jane Geigley
Honey Brook, PA
3. Here’s an alternative meatball recipe:
2 egg whites
2 lbs. ground turkey
2 green onions with tops, sliced
4 tsp. grated orange peel
2 tsp. reduced-sodium soy sauce
½ tsp. black pepper
⅛ tsp. cayenne pepper, optional
Follow Steps 1-3 above, and then continue with rest of recipe.
Mary Ann Bowman
East Earl, PA
Buffalo Chicken Dip
Gail Skiff
Clifton Park, NY
Makes 3-4 cups
Prep. Time: 30-40 minutes
Cooking Time: 1 hour
Ideal slow cooker size: 2- to 3-qt.
8-oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
½-¾ cup bleu cheese dressing
½ cup bleu cheese crumbles
½ cup buffalo wing sauce (I use Anchor Bar Buffalo Wing Sauce)
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
celery sticks and/or your favorite chips
1. Mix cream cheese, dressing, blue cheese crumbles, and sauce in slow cooker.
2. Stir in chicken.
3. Cover. Heat on Low 1 hour, or until cheeses melt and Dip is heated through. Stir several times during the hour if you’re home and able to do so.
4. Serve warm with celery sticks and/or your favorite chips.
Keep it simple. Too many different items, especially finger foods, are a lot of work. A few (3-4) very nice items will be remembered and enjoyed.
Carol Findling, Carol Stream, IL
Nanci Keatley
Salem, OR
Makes 4 cups
Prep. Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 4-6 hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.
4 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 bottle Asian sweet chili sauce (we use May Ploy brand)
1. Cut chicken into bite-size pieces. Place in slow cooker.
2. Pour bottle of sauce over chicken. Stir together well.
3. Cover. Cook on Low 4-6 hours, or until chicken is fully cooked.
4. Serve with toothpicks.
Tester’s Idea
This is also good as a main dish served over cooked rice.
Sweet and Sour Chicken Wings
Irma H. Schoen, Windsor, CT
Makes 6-8 servings
Prep. Time: 15 minutes • Cooking Time: 7 hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 3- to 4-qt.
1½ cups sugar
1 cup cider vinegar
½ cup ketchup
1 chicken bouillon cube
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
¼ tsp. salt, optional
¼ tsp. pepper, optional
16 chicken wings
¼ cup cornstarch
½ cup cold water
1. On stove in medium-sized saucepan, mix together sugar, vinegar, ketchup, bouillon cube, soy sauce, and salt and pepper if you wish.
2. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir to dissolve sugar and bouillon cube.
3. Put wings in slow cooker. Pour sauce over wings.
4. Cover. Simmer on Low 6½ hours, or until wings are tender but not dry.
5. A few minutes before end of cooking time, combine water and cornstarch in a small bowl. When smooth, stir gently into wings and sauce.
6. Cover. Simmer on High until liquid thickens, about 30 minutes.
7. To serve, keep cooker turned to Low. Stir occasionally.
Hot Crab Dip
Cassandra Ly
Carlisle, PA
Miriam Nolt
New Holland, PA
Makes 6-7 cups
Prep. Time: 10-15 minutes
Cooking Time: 3-4 hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 3-qt.
½ cup milk
⅓ cup salsa
3 8-oz. pkgs. cream cheese, cubed
2 8-oz. pkgs. imitation crabmeat, flaked
1 cup thinly sliced green onions
4-oz. can chopped green chilies, drained
assorted crackers and/or bread cubes
1. Grease interior of slow cooker.
2. Combine milk and salsa in slow cooker.
3. Stir in cream cheese, crabmeat, onions, and chilies.
4. Cover. Cook on Low 3-4 hours, stirring every 30 minutes if you’re home and able to do so.
5. Serve with crackers and/or bread.
Donna Lantgen, Rapid City, SD
Makes 5 cups
Prep. Time: 10 minutes • Cooking Time: 2 hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 2-qt.
3 8-oz. pkgs. cream cheese, softened
2 6-oz. cans crabmeat, drained
1 can broken shrimp, drained
6 Tbsp. finely chopped onions
1 tsp. horseradish
½ cup toasted almonds, broken
assorted crackers and/or bread cubes
1. Combine all ingredients, except crackers and/or bread cubes, in slow cooker.
2. Cover. Cook on Low 2 hours.
3. Serve with crackers or bread cubes.
Variation:
Add 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce to Step 1 for added zest.
Dorothy VanDeest • Memphis, TN
Liver Paté
Barbara Walker
Sturgis, SD
Makes 1½ cups paté
Prep. Time: 10-15 minutes
Cooking Time: 4-5 hours
Cooling Time: 1-2 hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 1½-qt.
1 lb. chicken livers
½ cup dry wine
1 tsp. instant chicken bouillon granules
1 tsp. minced fresh, or dry, parsley
1 Tbsp. instant minced onion
¼ tsp. ground ginger
½ tsp. seasoning salt
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
¼ tsp. dry mustard
half a stick (4 Tbsp.) butter, softened
1 Tbsp. brandy
crackers and/or toast cubes
1. In slow cooker, combine all ingredients except butter, brandy, crackers, and/or toast cubes.
2. Cover. Cook on Low 4-5 hours. Let stand in liquid until cool.
3. Drain. Place in blender or food grinder.
4. Add butter and brandy. Process until smooth.
5. Serve with crackers and/or toast cubes.
Snack Mix
Yvonne Boettger
Harrisonburg, VA
Makes 14 cups
Prep. Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 2 hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 5-qt.
8 cups Chex cereal, of any combination
6 cups from the following: pretzels, snack crackers, goldfish, Cheerios, nuts, bagel chips, toasted corn
¾ stick (6 Tbsp.) butter, melted
2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. seasoning salt
½ tsp. garlic powder
½ tsp. onion salt
½ tsp. onion powder
1. Combine 14 cups of dry ingredients in slow cooker.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine butter and seasonings.
3. Pour over dry ingredients in slow cooker. Toss until well mixed.
4. Cover. Cook on Low 2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes.
Variation:
To liven up the Snack Mix a bit more, increase Worcestershire sauce to 4 Tbsp. and add a dash of Tabasco sauce.
Dorothy van Deest
Memphis, TN
Sharon Miller
Holmesville, OH
Makes 13 cups
Prep. Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 3-4 hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 4- to 5-qt.
¾ stick (6 Tbsp.) butter, melted
1-oz. packet taco seasoning mix
¾ tsp. ground cinnamon
⅛-¼ tsp. cayenne, depending on your taste preferences
2 cups pecan halves
2 cups roasted cashews, unsalted
2 cups walnut halves
2 cups whole almonds, unblanched
3 cups goldfish, or bite-size cheese, crackers
2 cups pretzel nuggets or sticks
1. Mix butter and seasonings in slow cooker.
2. Add all remaining ingredients and toss together gently.
3. Cook uncovered on Low 3-4 hours, stirring every 30 minutes until nuts are toasted. Turn off heat.
4. Serve from slow cooker with large spoon, or pour into big serving bowl.
Tip:
You can make this a day before your party. Just be sure to store it in an airtight container.
Christmas Sugared Walnuts
Lavina Hochstedler
Grand Blanc, MI
Makes 3-4 cups
Prep. Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 2-3 hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 2- to 3-qt.
1 lb. walnut pieces
1 stick (8 Tbsp.) unsalted butter, melted
½ cup confectioners sugar
1½ tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. ground ginger
¼ tsp. ground allspice
⅛ tsp. ground cloves
1. In slow cooker, stir walnuts and butter together until combined.
2. Add confectioners sugar, stirring to coat nuts evenly.
3. Cover. Cook on High 15 minutes. Then reduce heat to Low.
4. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally until nuts are coated with a crisp glaze, about 2 hours.
5. Transfer nuts to a serving bowl.
6. In a small bowl, combine spices. Sift over nuts, stirring to coat evenly.
7. Cool nuts completely before serving.
Caramel Peanut Butter Dip
Genelle Taylor
Perrysburg, OH
Makes about 1½ cups
Prep. Time: 20 minutes
Ideal slow cooker size: 1-qt.
30 caramels, unwrapped
1-2 Tbsp. water
¼ cup, plus 2 Tbsp., creamy peanut butter
¼ cup finely crushed peanuts, optional
sliced apples, unpeeled
1. In a microwave-safe bowl, microwave caramels and water for 1 minute on High. Stir. Microwave 1 minute more, or until smooth.
2. Add peanut butter and mix well. Microwave 30 seconds on High, or until smooth.
3. Stir in peanuts if you wish.
4. Transfer to a 1-qt. slow-cooker. Turn to Warm while serving.
5. Serve with sliced apples.
Note:
Red and green apples look very festive for the holiday season.
Have a popcorn and cranberry stringing party.
Lena Sheaffer, Port Matilda, PA
Chunky Sweet Spiced Apple Butter
Jennifer Freed
Harrisonburg, VA
Makes 4 cups
Prep. Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 8 hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 2- to 3-qt.
4 cups (about 1¼ lbs.) peeled, chopped Granny Smith apples
¾ cup packed dark brown sugar
2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
half a stick (4 Tbsp.) butter, divided
1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. ground cloves
1½ tsp. vanilla
1. Combine apples, sugar, vinegar, 2 Tbsp. butter, cinnamon, salt, and cloves in slow cooker.
2. Cover. Cook on Low 8 hours.
3. Stir in remaining 2 Tbsp. butter and vanilla.
4. Cool completely before serving, storing, or giving away.
Pumpkin Butter
Emily Fox
Bethel, PA
Makes approximately 6½ cups
Prep. Time: 5-10 minutes
Cooking Time: 11-12 hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 3-qt.
6 cups pumpkin purée
2¾ cups light brown sugar
2½ tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1. Mix pumpkin purée, brown sugar, and pumpkin pie spice together in slow cooker.
2. Cook uncovered on Low for 11-12 hours, depending on how thick you’d like the butter to be. Cool.
3. Serve on bread or rolls for seasonal eating.
Note:
Refrigerate or freeze until ready to use.
Tip from Tester:
You could replace 3 cups pumpkin purée with 3 cups applesauce for a different twist on pumpkin butter.
Pear Butter
Betty Moore
Plano, IL
Makes 2-3 pints
Prep. Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 11-13 hours
Ideal slow cooker size: 4-qt.
10 large pears (about 4 lbs.)
1 cup orange juice
2½ cups sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cloves
½ tsp. ground allspice
1. Peel and quarter pears. Place in slow cooker.
2. Cover. Cook on Low 10-12 hours. Drain. Discard liquid.
3. Mash or purée pears. Add remaining ingredients. Mix well and return to slow cooker.
4. Cover. Cook on High 1 hour.
5. Place in hot sterile jars and process, following the instructions of your canning equipment. Allow to cool undisturbed for 24 hours.
Use Christmas cookie-baking time as an opportunity to teach your children about how to measure ingredients, break eggs, and pour milk. Share your special cooking secrets. For example, I keep two knives or narrow spatulas in hot water while frosting cookies. When one gets sticky, I’m prepared with a fresh hot knife.
Orpha Herr, Andover, NY