Homemade Applesauce Recipe
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Try this easy Homemade Applesauce Recipe! It's subtly sweet, gently spiced with cinnamon, has a great chunky texture, and uses only five ingredients.
As this recipe simmers, it fills the house with a smell better than any candle you've ever had. My son once came out of his room just to find out what smelled so good and said it reminded him of apple pie, but it's much easier to make. Everything cooks in one pot on the stove or in a slow cooker, and you don't need any special equipment.
Here's Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It's really simple. Just add everything, stir, let it simmer, and then mash.
- You only need five ingredients, and it's ready in about 30 minutes.
- You can adjust the sweetness and spice to your liking. Add more or less sugar and cinnamon, or leave out the sugar for an unsweetened version.
- You can also make it in a slow cooker if you prefer not to watch the stove.
Ingredients You'll Need
The recipe card at the bottom of the post contains the full list with all of the amounts. Refer to that when you're cooking.
- Apples: About 4 pounds, or 8 medium apples. See the tip below for the best varieties to use.
- Water: This helps the apples cook down into a soft, saucy texture.
- Granulated sugar: It adds a bit of sweetness, but you can leave it out if you want unsweetened applesauce.
- Ground cinnamon: Adds some warmth. Adjust the amount to your taste, or skip it if you would rather maintain a pure apple flavor.
- Lemon juice: Brightens the flavor and makes the applesauce taste even more like apples.
In Photos: How To Make Homemade Apple Sauce
You are going to love how easy this recipe is! It's practically impossible to mess up, and it's basically just dump, stir, simmer, and mash. Couldn't be simpler!
Step 1: Peel & Prep
Start by peeling your apples. You'll need about 4 pounds of apples, which translates into 8 medium-sized apples. (See below for the best varieties of apples to use.)
This recipe should yield about 2 quarts of applesauce. If you want to make a bigger or smaller batch, you can scale the recipe up or down very easily, so just halve or double it as needed.
Cut the apples in half, then into quarters, then slice out the cores.
Step 2: Add Ingredients To Your Dutch Oven
Toss them into a big pot (here's a link to the kind of pot I like: enameled cast iron Dutch oven), and add water, sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice.
If you prefer unsweetened applesauce, you can totally leave the sugar out. Personally, I like mine a little bit sweet, so I've noted the recipe with some sugar but not a whole ton. To me, it's just sweet enough.
The same goes for cinnamon. If you don't like it you can leave it out, or if you love it you can add more. Definitely season this applesauce to your own taste.
Lemon juice will brighten up the flavors and make it taste even more "apple-y."
Step 3: Cook
Give everything a quick stir, then place the pot on the stove over medium-high heat. (See below for crockpot applesauce instructions.)
Cover, and allow it to come to a simmer.
Let everything cook until hot and steamy.
You'll know the applesauce is done cooking when the apples are very tender. You should be able to pierce them with the tip of a sharp knife, and it should slip in and out easily, without any resistance.
Step 4: Mash
Once they're ready, take it off the heat and mash it up! I use this kind of gadget: potato masher, but you could also use a fork or a wooden spoon, or whatever you have on hand! For a smoother puree, a blender, food processor, or stick blender would work great.
Once you've got the texture you like, you're all set!
Enjoy this applesauce warm, cold, or at room temperature.
Helpful Tips and Tricks
- Use Honeycrisp for a sweeter sauce with a chunkier texture; Granny Smith if you like a bit more tartness. Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Crispin, McIntosh, Braeburn, Rome, Pink Lady, and Macoun are also good choices. Red Delicious is usually not recommended.
- If you want to use a slow cooker, just add all the ingredients, stir, and cook on low for four hours. Then mash as you like.
- If you're using applesauce as an egg substitute in sweet baked goods, use a quarter cup of applesauce for each egg. You might also want to add an extra half teaspoon of baking powder for a lighter texture.
- Store your applesauce in an airtight container in the fridge for one to two weeks, or freeze it for six to nine months. Thaw in the fridge before serving. If you can and seal it properly in a boiling water bath, unopened jars will keep in the pantry for two to four months.
CAN YOU CAN APPLESAUCE?
This applesauce can be processed in canning jars, for longer shelf life.
Fill sterilized jars all the way up with applesauce while it's still hot, allowing a half-inch or so of headspace. Place brand new lids in hot water to soften their seals, and wipe the rims of the jars with a clean cloth.
Place the lids on top of the jars, and screw on the rings. Submerge the jars completely in boiling water, and allow them to process for 10 to 20 minutes.
Then remove them from the hot water and allow them to cool. As they cool, you should hear the lids "pop," or suction down. This is how you know you've got a safe, airtight seal. If the button on the lid still moves up and down when you press it, it did not create a proper seal and you should submerge them in boiling water again.
For more in-depth, step-by-step instructions on how to can (with pictures!) check out this recipe post: strawberry jam.
HOW LONG WILL IT LAST?
If you choose to can your applesauce, it will last in the cupboard (unopened) for 2 to 4 months.
But you don't have to can it. If you don't want to bother with that, just place it in an airtight container in the fridge. It should keep there for a week or two.
You could also freeze homemade applesauce! It should stay good in the freezer for around 6 to 9 months. Allow it to thaw in the fridge several hours to a day before you plan to serve it.
More Apple Recipes
- Dutch Apple Pie
- Irish Apple Tart
- Apple Cinnamon Pop Tarts
- Apple Fritters
- Applesauce Muffins
- Apple Pie Bars
Get 15 Amazing Apple Recipes For Fall here, too!
Ingredients
- 8 (1456 g) apples,, medium (about 4 pounds)
- 1 cup (236.59 g) water
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons (9.86 g) ground cinnamon, (or to taste)
- 1 ½ tablespoons (22.18 g) lemon juice , (juice of half a lemon), or to taste
Instructions
- Peel, quarter, and core the apples.
- Place the apples, water, sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice in a large pot and stir to combine.
- Cook over medium-high heat until simmering.
- Continue to simmer, covered, until the apples are soft (approx. 20 minutes).
- Mash the applesauce to the desired texture.
Author
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Have a question about this recipe? Ask AI:
I don't believe tbe applesauce canning instructions are safe. Apples are not acidic enough to deep bath process (unlike tomatoes), and should always be pressure canned to avoid health risk of food poisoning. Please check with the local Home Extension services in your area. Freezing is another safe alternative.
I'm not so sure- I just researched it and I think it should be perfectly safe unless you are living at a very high altitude. Source: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can_02/applesauce.html.
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